Does Mobile Internet Use Affect the Depression of Young Chinese Adults? An Instrumental Variable Quantile Analysis

Author:

Chen Yuyan,Wu Lin,Guo Zenghua

Abstract

Background: With the advancement of the digital age, the links between mobile Internet use (MIU) and mental health have attracted the attention of scholars. This paper focuses on the relationship between MIU and depression across the entire distribution of young adults’ depression. Methods: Based on nationally representative data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we explore whether and to what extent MIU affects depression in young adults in China through instrumental variables. In addition, we employ a quantile regression approach to explore the depression–MIU gradients and examine potential mediation mechanisms by exploiting variation in several potential intermediates available. Results: 2SLS estimate suggests that MIU is associated with a decrease in young adults’ depression by 1.526 points. Besides, the effect of MIU was only significantly negative at the 0.8 to 0.96 quantiles. Discussions: MIU reduces the level of depression in people with higher levels of depression, older age, and who use the Internet for communicative purposes. However, there is no significant gender difference in MIU. In addition, young people will improve their feeling of social comparison when using mobile Internet, thus making them less depressed. Conclusions: MIU has a significant positive impact on depression among young Chinese adults.

Funder

Major Program of National Fund of Philosophy and Social Science of China

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Reference46 articles.

1. Prevalence of mental disorders in China: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

2. The 48th Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development 2021 http://www.cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/202109/t20210915_71543.htm

3. The 47th Statistical Report on China’s Internet Development 2020 http://www.cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/202102/t20210203_71361.htm

4. Depression and Anxiety as well as the Comorbid of Them in Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder;Luo;Chin. J. Tissue Eng. Res.,2005

5. Association between Online Social Networking and Depression in High School Students: Behavioral Physiology Viewpoint;Pantic;Psychiatr. Danub.,2012

Cited by 2 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3