Examining problematic internet use, mattering, and distress in interpersonally vulnerable senior high school students: A longitudinal study during summer holidays and academic terms

Background: Problematic Internet Use (PIU) among adolescents is a growing concern. This longitudinal study examined changes in PIU between summer holidays and the academic period among Chinese senior high school students (n = 710; M_age: 16.68, SD = 0.54; 50 % female), focusing on interpersonally vulnerable individuals.

Methods: Anti-Mattering Scale (AMS) and UCLA Loneliness Scale was applied to identify the interpersonally vulnerable groups. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), Mixed ANOVA and Network Analysis (NwA) were employed to identify differences and interrelationships between groups at the two described times, in terms of PIU, mattering, and distress.

Results: An interpersonally vulnerable group was identified with higher PIU severity, lower mattering perception, higher fear of not mattering, and higher distress compared to their peers (21.5 % of the total analyzed sample). PIU levels were higher during holidays than the academic term for all groups. The interpersonally vulnerable group showed higher reductions in fear of not mattering and distress from holidays to academic period. NwA revealed the central role of loneliness and distress in mediating the relationships between mattering and PIU.

Conclusions: Interpersonally vulnerable adolescents are at higher risk for PIU, particularly during holidays. Targeted interventions promoting a sense of mattering and belonging are needed to mitigate PIU risk and support healthy development among this group.