Parenting Style and Child Internet Addiction in China: Mediation Effect of Parental Active Meditation

Shu-Wen Liu, Sheng Chen (), Chienchung Huang () and Julia Vallario
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Shu-Wen Liu: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Saint Joseph, Macau, China
Sheng Chen: School of Public Administration, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
Chienchung Huang: School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Julia Vallario: School of Social Work, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: With the rapid advancement of technology, internet addiction among children has become a growing concern, particularly in China. This study examines the impact of different parenting styles on internet addiction and the role of parental mediation on the relationship among Chinese children. A survey of 600 Chinese families with children aged 6 to 17 was conducted in 2024. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal that authoritative parenting is linked to lower levels of internet addiction, while authoritarian and permissive parenting are associated with higher levels. Parental mediation partly mediates this relationship, with authoritative parents who are actively involved with their children’s internet activities showing a reduced risk of addiction. The findings highlight that both parenting style and parental intervention are key factors in addressing internet addiction among Chinese children. Encouraging authoritative parenting alongside active mediation may help children mitigate internet addiction.

Keywords: active mediation; authoritative parenting; authoritarian parenting; internet addiction; permissive parenting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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