TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of internet addiction among Chinese adolescents
T2 - A comprehensive meta-analysis of 164 epidemiological studies
AU - Zheng, Mu Rui
AU - Wu, Xiao Dan
AU - Chen, Pan
AU - Si, Tong Leong
AU - Rao, Shu Ying
AU - Zhu, Han Yu
AU - Su, Zhaohui
AU - Cheung, Teris
AU - Ng, Chee H.
AU - Xiang, Yu Tao
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Background: Internet Addiction (IA) among Chinese adolescents is a growing concern that is associated with considerable psychological, social, and academic problems. Although numerous past studies on IA prevalence in China have been conducted, the findings have been mixed. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the pooled IA prevalence among adolescents in China and its associated factors. Methods: Both English (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO) and Chinese (Wan Fang, CNKI) databases were systematically searched. Pooled prevalence and study heterogeneity were analyzed using the random effects model, while the factors contributing to prevalence variation were identified using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Results: A total of 164 studies involving 737,384 adolescents were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled IA prevalence was 10.3 % (95 % CI: 9.1 %–11.7 %). In the subgroup analyses, differences in IA prevalence were significantly associated with the assessment tools (Q = 32.8, p < 0.001) and publication years (Q = 20.6, p < 0.001). In the meta-regression analyses, rural residence (β = 1.82, p = 0.030) and junior student level (β = 0.26, p = 0.002) were positively associated with the prevalence of IA, while only child status (β = −1.28, p = 0.033) was negatively associated with the prevalence of IA. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, IA among adolescents in China was common and associated with rural residence, junior student level, and only-child status. Given the detrimental impacts of IA, the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for this population is critical.
AB - Background: Internet Addiction (IA) among Chinese adolescents is a growing concern that is associated with considerable psychological, social, and academic problems. Although numerous past studies on IA prevalence in China have been conducted, the findings have been mixed. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the pooled IA prevalence among adolescents in China and its associated factors. Methods: Both English (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO) and Chinese (Wan Fang, CNKI) databases were systematically searched. Pooled prevalence and study heterogeneity were analyzed using the random effects model, while the factors contributing to prevalence variation were identified using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. Results: A total of 164 studies involving 737,384 adolescents were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled IA prevalence was 10.3 % (95 % CI: 9.1 %–11.7 %). In the subgroup analyses, differences in IA prevalence were significantly associated with the assessment tools (Q = 32.8, p < 0.001) and publication years (Q = 20.6, p < 0.001). In the meta-regression analyses, rural residence (β = 1.82, p = 0.030) and junior student level (β = 0.26, p = 0.002) were positively associated with the prevalence of IA, while only child status (β = −1.28, p = 0.033) was negatively associated with the prevalence of IA. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, IA among adolescents in China was common and associated with rural residence, junior student level, and only-child status. Given the detrimental impacts of IA, the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies for this population is critical.
KW - Chinese adolescents
KW - Internet addiction
KW - Meta-analysis
KW - Prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001363254&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104458
DO - 10.1016/j.ajp.2025.104458
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40157216
AN - SCOPUS:105001363254
SN - 1876-2018
VL - 107
JO - Asian Journal of Psychiatry
JF - Asian Journal of Psychiatry
M1 - 104458
ER -
