Gender differences in the relationship between internet addiction and depression: A cross-lagged study in Chinese adolescents

The present study explored the role of gender in the association between Internet addiction and depression. Three-wave longitudinal panel data were collected from self-reported questionnaires that were completed by 1715 adolescents in grades 6-8 in China. Cross-lagged structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationship between Internet addiction and depression. In male adolescents, depression was found to significantly predict subsequent Internet addiction, suggesting that depression was the cause of Internet addiction and supporting the mood enhancement hypothesis. In female adolescents, Internet addiction was found to significantly predict subsequent depression, indicating that Internet addiction leads to depression and supporting the social displacement hypothesis. These results indicate that the relationship between Internet addiction and depression depended on gender. In addition, it was found that males and females exhibit different behavioral patterns and motivations of Internet usage. Males were more likely to use the Internet for pleasure and less likely to surf the Internet to search for information, compared with females. Although both males and females were prone to surfing the Internet alone, males were more likely to go online with friends compared with females. These findings suggest that gender-specific preventative and interventional strategies should be developed to reduce Internet addiction.