The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
With the rapid development of digital technology, mobile Internet use is increasing in popularity in China. Previous studies have shown that mobile Internet use has a positive or negative effect on mental distress. Using CFPS2020 data, this paper finds that mobile Internet use significantly alleviat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.966606/full |
| _version_ | 1797990607902212096 |
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| author | Mingming Teng |
| author_facet | Mingming Teng |
| author_sort | Mingming Teng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the rapid development of digital technology, mobile Internet use is increasing in popularity in China. Previous studies have shown that mobile Internet use has a positive or negative effect on mental distress. Using CFPS2020 data, this paper finds that mobile Internet use significantly alleviates mental distress in Chinese adults. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that mobile Internet use can significantly alleviate mental distress among adults between the ages of 30 and 70, without a bachelor's degree or residing outside the province of Hubei. Furthermore, mobile Internet use significantly reduces mental distress through two mediators: trust and happiness. It also shows that watching short videos or learning online is associated with reduced mental distress, as opposed to online shopping, chatting, or playing games. However, the mental distress of new mobile Internet users in 2020 has not been alleviated. This paper enriches the relevant theoretical research and provides a practical reference for using the mobile Internet to ease mental distress during epidemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:39:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0fcdc2f23cc470c931044ef5c7842de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:39:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0fcdc2f23cc470c931044ef5c7842de2022-12-22T04:34:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-10-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.966606966606The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemicMingming TengWith the rapid development of digital technology, mobile Internet use is increasing in popularity in China. Previous studies have shown that mobile Internet use has a positive or negative effect on mental distress. Using CFPS2020 data, this paper finds that mobile Internet use significantly alleviates mental distress in Chinese adults. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that mobile Internet use can significantly alleviate mental distress among adults between the ages of 30 and 70, without a bachelor's degree or residing outside the province of Hubei. Furthermore, mobile Internet use significantly reduces mental distress through two mediators: trust and happiness. It also shows that watching short videos or learning online is associated with reduced mental distress, as opposed to online shopping, chatting, or playing games. However, the mental distress of new mobile Internet users in 2020 has not been alleviated. This paper enriches the relevant theoretical research and provides a practical reference for using the mobile Internet to ease mental distress during epidemics.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.966606/fullmobile Internet usemental distressCOVID-19 pandemicregressionmechanism analysis |
| spellingShingle | Mingming Teng The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Public Health mobile Internet use mental distress COVID-19 pandemic regression mechanism analysis |
| title | The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | The impact of mobile Internet use on mental distress among Chinese adults during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | impact of mobile internet use on mental distress among chinese adults during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | mobile Internet use mental distress COVID-19 pandemic regression mechanism analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.966606/full |
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