Associations between psychosocial factors and generalized pathological internet use in Chinese university students: A longitudinal cross-lagged analysis

This short-term longitudinal study examined the reciprocal associations among preexisting psychosocial variables (shyness, loneliness, and interpersonal relationships), maladaptive cognitions, and generalized pathological Internet use (GPIU) in a Chinese sample. A total of 361 university freshmen (138 males; mean age = 18.57 years) participated in the study. Cross-lagged panel analysis indicated that (i) the associations among shyness, maladaptive cognitions, and GPIU were dynamic and bidirectional, and the increased maladaptive cognitions bidirectionally mediated the relation between shyness and GPIU across time; (ii) the association between interpersonal relationships and GPIU was dynamic; and (iii) the association between loneliness and GPIU was dynamic and bidirectional. Additionally, (iv) shyness and GPIU had higher stability than interpersonal relationships, loneliness, and maladaptive cognitions did and (v) gender differences were identified in GPIU (T1 and T2). Interventions for GPIU and implications for future studies were discussed. •Associations, shyness, maladaptive cognitions, and GPIU, dynamic and bidirectional.•Association, interpersonal relationships and GPIU, dynamic and bidirectional.•Association, loneliness and GPIU, dynamic and bidirectional.•Male students have a higher GPIU score than female students.