Longitudinal relationship between internet addiction and psychotic-like experiences among Chinese college students

Jan 6, 2025Comprehensive psychiatry

Internet addiction and psychotic-like experiences linked over time in Chinese college students

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Abstract

The prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among college students was 11.3%.

Higher baseline scores on the Internet Addiction Diagnosis Questionnaire (IADQ) were associated with an increased risk of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) one year later.
Longitudinal data indicated that IA at baseline predicted later PLEs, with a specific link to unusual thoughts and negative PLEs.
Baseline psychotic-like experiences did not predict future internet addiction.
The findings suggest that targeted interventions for internet addiction may help reduce certain types of psychotic-like experiences.

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BACKGROUND: While previous cross-sectional studies have suggested a link between psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and internet addiction (IA), longitudinal evidence remains scarce. This study aimed to explore the prospective relationship between IA and PLEs among college students.

METHOD: A total of 636 college students (80 % female) were assessed in November 2022 and again one year later. IA was measured using the Internet Addiction Diagnosis Questionnaire (IADQ), and PLEs were assessed with the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16). Demographic, psychological, and environmental factors were collected and controlled. Multiple logistic regression and cross-lagged panel analyses examined the longitudinal associations between IA and PLEs.

RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of IA and PLEs was 11.3 % and 16.8 %, respectively. Higher baseline IADQ scores (Adjusted odds ratio = 1.035; 95 % confidence interval = 1.002-1.069; p = 0.036) were independently associated with an increased risk of PLEs at follow-up, while baseline PQ-16 scores were not linked to later IA. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that IA at baseline predicted later PLEs (β = 0.082, p = 0.043), whereas baseline PLEs did not predict IA (β = 0.049, p = 0.255). Specifically, IA predicted unusual thoughts (β = 0.122, p = 0.003) and negative PLEs (β = 0.111, p = 0.008), but not perceptual abnormalities (β = 0.040, p = 0.301).

CONCLUSION: IA may be an independent risk factor for PLEs in college students, particularly for unusual thoughts and negative PLEs, but not for perceptual abnormalities. Targeted interventions addressing IA may help reduce PLEs.

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Longitudinal relationship between internet addiction and psychotic-like experiences among Chinese college students

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