The Journal of psychologyOct 31, 2018

Loneliness may link shyness and problematic internet use over time in Chinese university students

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Updated Mar 30, 2026

Abstract

In a sample of 291 Chinese university students, relationships among shyness, loneliness, and generalized pathological Internet use (GPIU) were found to be dynamic and bidirectional.

Shyness at T1 predicted increased loneliness at T2, while loneliness at T2 predicted increased shyness at T3.
GPIU at T1 was associated with increased loneliness at T2, and loneliness at T2 was linked to increased GPIU at T3.
Loneliness served as a bidirectional mediator in the relationship between shyness and GPIU, affecting the dynamics over time.
The strength of relationships among shyness, loneliness, and GPIU was stronger for men compared to women.

Simplified

This 1-year longitudinal study examined the bidirectional mediating role of loneliness in the association between shyness and generalized pathological Internet use (GPIU) in a sample of 291 Chinese university students (143 men, mean age = 19.07 years). A fully cross-lagged panel design was used in which shyness, loneliness, and GPIU were assessed at 3 time points separated by 6-month intervals (named T1, T2, and T3). The results indicated that relationships among shyness, loneliness, and GPIU were dynamic and bidirectional. Specifically, T1 shyness positively predicted increased T2 loneliness, T2 shyness positively predicted increased T3 loneliness, and T2 loneliness positively predicted increased T3 shyness. Additionally, T1 GPIU positively predicted increased T2 loneliness, T2 GPIU positively predicted increased T3 loneliness, and T2 loneliness positively predicted increased T3 GPIU. Loneliness was found to play a bidirectional mediating role in the association between shyness and GPIU. Specifically, T1 shyness and T3 GPIU were mediated through increased loneliness at T2, and T1 GPIU and T3 shyness were mediated through increased loneliness at T2. Furthermore, relationships among shyness, loneliness, and GPIU were the same across the 2 groups, with the strength of relationships being stronger for men.

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Loneliness may link shyness and problematic internet use over time in Chinese university students

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