Vol. 2 No. 9 (2025)

Research Articles

A Study on the Mechanisms by Which Chinese Parenting Styles Influence Adolescent Internet Addiction Behaviors

Published 2025-09-30

  • Zhangyi Ye
    • ,
  • Yang Wang
    • ,
  • Wei Guo

Zhangyi Ye
Daejin University, Pocheon 11159, South Korea

Yang Wang
Daejin University, Pocheon 11159, South Korea

Wei Guo
Namseoul University, Cheonan 31020, South Korea

Abstract

With the widespread availability of the internet, adolescents are spending increasing amounts of time online, particularly influenced by online games and short videos. Prolonged internet use can lead to declining academic per-formance, reduced social skills, and mental health problems. Research has found that parenting styles have a significant impact on adolescents’ internet use. Based on parenting style theory, this study explores how parental media intervention under four different parenting styles influences adolescent inter-net addiction behaviors, and, drawing on self-determination theory and social cognitive theory, analyzes how family education can reduce the risk of inter-net addiction by meeting children’s emotional needs and enhancing self-reg-ulation abilities. The study recommends promoting the authoritative parenting style and integrating efforts with schools and the state to establish collabora-tive mechanisms to better help adolescents avoid excessive internet use.

Keywords

Internet addiction, parenting, parental media intervention, adolescents

PDF

References

  1. Deng, H. L. (2023). Research on the evolution of live streaming regulation policies (Doctoral dissertation). South China University of Technology. https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27151/d.cnki.ghnlu.2023.001843
  2. Feng, Q., & Song, S. (2024). “Growth trap” of online games: Rural adolescents’ gaming activities, media intervention, and social reproduction. Journal of Social Science of Hunan Normal University, 53(04), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.19503/j.cnki.1000-2529.2024.04.016
  3. Feng, Y., & Gao, H. J. (2025). Policy analysis of China’s online protection for minors from the perspective of technological governance: Based on national policy texts from 2004 to 2024. China Youth Study, (05), 48–57. https://doi.org/10.19633/j.cnki.11-2579/d.2025.0051
  4. Feng, Y. H., Jiang, Y. B., Liu, Z. Y., Yan, K., Zeng, K., & Liu, J. (2025). Longitudinal effects of parental psychological control on rural middle school students’ smartphone addiction: A moderated mediation model. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33(03), 545–550. https://doi.org/10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2025.03.018
  5. Hou, S. X. (2025). Risks of pan-moralization in adolescents’ online expression: Manifestations, mechanisms, and governance innovations. Reference of Teaching in Middle School Politics, (16), 1, 4–8.
  6. Peng, C. Z. (2017). Application of self-determination theory in adolescents’ physical exercise. Wushu Studies, 2(11), 116–122. https://doi.org/10.13293/j.cnki.wskx.006921
  7. Shi, J. (2022). The influence of Minnan family education on middle school students’ achievement motivation (Master’s thesis). Minnan Normal University. https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.27726/d.cnki.gzzsf.2022.000482
  8. Wang, L., Chu, X. P., Peng, C. D., & Yue, L. (2020). The spillover mechanism of family role interactions on paternalistic leadership development: Evidence from diary tracking of family business executives. Management World, 36(08), 98–110. https://doi.org/10.19744/j.cnki.11-1235/f.2020.0121
  9. Wang, T. F., Liu, N., Xing, H. Y., Zhu, X. C., & Li, C. L. (2025). The construction of youth’s social mentality and spiritual world. Youth Exploration, (03), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.13583/j.cnki.issn1004-3780.2025.03.001
  10. Xu, H., Zhang, J. X., & Zhang, M. L. (2008). A review of the impact of parenting styles on children’s social development. Psychological Science, (04), 940–942, 959. https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.2008.04.064
  11. Xu, P., & Yang, W. X. (2024). Parenting in the digital age and adolescents’ prosocial behavior. Youth Studies, (01), 13–26, 94.
  12. Yang, X., & Song, J. Y. (2025). Parenting styles, parent-child relationships, and adolescents’ psychosocial development. Population Journal, 47(01), 78–93. https://doi.org/10.16405/j.cnki.1004-129X.2025.01.006
  13. Yu, Q., Wang, J., Tao, J., Wang, Y., & Zhai, Y. (2025). The impact of parent-child communication on adolescent internet addiction: A chain mediation model of depression and self-esteem. Science Consult, (12), 204–207.
  14. Zhang, K., Sun, J. Y., & Hu, L. (2022). Research progress on the relationship between attachment, childhood abuse, and somatization pain symptoms. Journal of Psychiatry, 35(01), 104–108.
  15. Zhang, W., Zhang, L., & Wu, Z. X. (2023). A correlation analysis model between children’s excessive electronic device use and family parenting. Journal of Hebei North University (Natural Science Edition), 39(05), 31–38.
  16. Zhang, W. J., & Zhu, H. (2021). The influence of parenting styles on prosocial behavior of “Double First-Class” university students during COVID-19. Fudan Education Forum, 19(05), 49–57. https://doi.org/10.13397/j.cnki.fef.2021.05.008
  17. Zhang, Y. W. (2025). Research on the protection of minors’ personal information in the digital age. Journal of Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology (Social Sciences), 24(02), 67–72.