Reciprocal associations between shyness, self-esteem, loneliness, depression and Internet addiction in Chinese adolescents

Background: The present study aimed to test reciprocal longitudinal associations among shyness, self-esteem, loneliness, depression, and Internet addiction. Method: A total of 1047 junior middle school students participated in the study. Shyness, self-esteem, loneliness, depression and Internet addiction were assessed at two time-points separated by 12-months. Structural equation modeling was used to test for reciprocal longitudinal associations. Results: Cross-lagged analysis revealed that (i) baseline shyness significantly and positively predicted Internet addiction 12 months later; (ii) baseline Internet addiction positively predicted later self-esteem; (iii) baseline loneliness positively predicted later Internet addiction, and baseline Internet addiction also positively predicted later loneliness; (iv) and, finally, baseline depression positively predicted later Internet addiction, and baseline Internet addiction also positively predicted later depression. No other lagged effects were significant. Conclusions: The results suggested that shyness is an antecedent to Internet addiction, whereas self-esteem is the outcome of Internet addiction. Results also suggest loneliness and depression are antecedents to Internet addiction.