Work

Longitudinal Associations Between Problematic Internet Use and Future Time Perspective Among Adolescents: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Previous studies have identified associations between problematic Internet use (PIU) and future time perspective (FTP), but their temporal ordering remains unclear. This study examined longitudinal associations between PIU and three FTP dimensions—future-positive, future-negative, and task orientation—among Chinese adolescents. The analytic sample comprised 802 senior high school students (Mage = 15.72 years, SD = 0.89; 57.0% female) who completed measures of PIU and FTP twice at a six-month interval. An observed-variable cross-lagged panel model was estimated while accounting for autoregressive stability, prospective associations among FTP dimensions, and effects of gender, age, and baseline self-reported academic standing. At both waves, PIU was negatively correlated with future-positive and positively correlated with future-negative and task orientation. Higher PIU at Time 1 was prospectively associated with lower future-positive and higher future-negative at Time 2. In the reverse direction, higher task orientation at Time 1 was prospectively associated with higher PIU at Time 2. No paired cross-lagged coefficients differed significantly in magnitude. The findings indicate modest, dimension-specific longitudinal associations between PIU and FTP. Distinguishing among FTP dimensions may improve theoretical understanding and inform broader school-based assessment and support.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs16081412

Authors: Haiping Hao, Erxing He, Geyang Hu, Qiao Hu

Institutions: Southwest University, Huainan Normal University, University of Macau

Language: English

Topic: Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654