A Network Analysis of Anxiety–Depression Symptoms Among Chinese Adolescents: Similarities and Differences Between Problematic and Non-Problematic Internet Users

Problematic Internet use is recognized as a significant public health concern among adolescents. Previous research has shown that adolescents with problematic Internet use tend to experience higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-problematic Internet users. Nevertheless, when it comes to differences in specific symptoms, the evidence is less clear-cut. This study conducted Gaussian graphical model and Bayesian network analysis to compare the network structures of anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms among adolescents with problematic and non-problematic Internet use. A total of 1,139 Chinese adolescents (540 problematic Internet users, <i>M</i>_age = 15.96; 599 non-problematic Internet users, <i>M</i>_age = 16.03) were included in the study. The results showed that compared to adolescents with non-problematic Internet use, most anxiety symptoms (e.g., <i>inability to stop or control worries</i>) emerged as upstream nodes with significant downstream effects on a series of emotional symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents with problematic Internet use. "<i>Fear of something terrible happening</i>," "<i>irritability</i>," "<i>feeling fearful</i>" and "<i>feeling effortful</i>" were symptomatic targets for intervening problematic Internet use and improving mental health. These findings offer novel data-driven insights on the core symptoms and directional relationships of anxiety-depression comorbidity network among Chinese adolescents with different Internet use states.