Home⇛Asia Pacific Journal of Management and Sustainable Development⇛vol. 13 no. 1 Part 3 (2025)

Internet Addiction, Meaning in Life and Family Intimacy Among Chinese and Foreign Students

Chen Yongru | Elna Lopez

Discipline: Developmental psychology

 

Abstract:

The study aimed to explore the prevalence of internet addiction among Chinese and foreign college students, examine the role of meaning in life and family intimacy in mitigating or exacerbating internet addiction, and understand how cultural differences may influence these relationships. Specifically, it described the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of their sex, age, year level; determined students level of internet addiction, perceptions of the meaning in life, and level of family intimacy; tested the difference of each variable when compared based on their profile; tested the relationship of internet addiction, meaning in life, and family intimacy; and proposed an intervention program that aims to strengthen family Intimacy specifically trust and bonding among college students. Based on the objectives of the study, the research involved 377 participants who are randomly sampled and employed quantitative correlational analysis. This study concluded that majority of the college students who participated in this study are male, 18 to 20 years old and second year. College students showed normal internet addiction; high presence of meaning and search for meaning in life, and overall meaning in life; and moderate emotional support and help and overall family intimacy and low trust and bonding. Internet addiction, meaning in lief and family intimacy among college students are not significantly affected by their demographic profiles, such as sex, age, or year level. There is a significant negative relationship between family intimacy and meaning in life, more specifically between emotional support and help and presence of meaning; and both trust and bonding and overall family intimacy and presence of meaning, search for meaning, and overall meaning in life. Lastly, an intervention program that aims to strengthen family Intimacy specifically trust and bonding among college students was proposed.



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