Factors affecting pathological Internet use among Chinese university students

High rates and serious negative consequences of pathological Internet use (PIU) have been reported among young adults; thus, we aimed to identify the impacts of demographic, socioenvironmental, and psychological factors on PIU in this population. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 501 Chinese university students, who completed Young’s Internet Addiction Test, the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and the Coping Style Questionnaire. Results showed that age, gender, father’s refusal or denying, and father’s overprotectiveness had positive impacts on PIU, whereas the rural/urban nature of the area in which participants grew up and mother’s emotional warmth and understanding had negative impacts on PIU. Further, greater psychoticism and use of the avoidant coping style were related to higher PIU, whereas greater use of the self-blaming coping style was associated with lower PIU. These factors should be considered when developing interventions aimed at decreasing PIU.