Low empathy is associated with problematic use of the Internet: Empirical evidence from China and Germany

• The present study investigates empathy and problematic use of the Internet.
• Low empathy is associated with more problematic use of the Internet.
• We present data from Germany and China with converging evidence.

As empathy has not been investigated in the context of problematic use of the Internet, we conducted a study to test for a potential link. In samples from China (N = 438) and Germany (N = 202), two self-report measures for empathic behavior and one self-report measure for problematic Internet use (PIU) were administered in adolescents/students. Across both cultures lower empathy was associated with more PIU. The present study underlines the importance to take into account empathy related questionnaires for a better understanding of Internet overuse in the future.