Abstract
Adolescence is a critical period characterized by more frequent interpersonal interactions, which may lead to inevitable interpersonal stress. Given the negative impacts of interpersonal stress on adolescents’ development, this study attempts to explore how interpersonal stress might influence psychological distress and Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents. 1278 middle and high school students aged 12–18 years old participated in this study. The results showed a positive direct effect of interpersonal stress on psychological distress, as adolescents exposed to a higher level of interpersonal stress were found to have more psychological distress. This direct effecting path was mediated by school burnout. Additionally, the relationship between interpersonal stress and Internet addiction was also mediated by school burnout. This study provides insight into how interpersonal stress affects psychological and behavioral outcomes among Chinese adolescents. The findings could guide policymakers and professional counselors involved with adolescents struggling to treat psychological distress and Internet addiction.
Highlights
-
There is a lack of understanding as to the underlying mechanisms of how interpersonal stress leads to negative outcomes.
-
This study extended the analysis of Chinese literature beyond academic stress to include diverse sources of interpersonal stressors in adolescents.
-
This study established a comprehensive framework in which school burnout mediated the association between interpersonal stress and adolescents’ psychological distress.
-
This study demonstrated a framework in which school burnout mediated the relationship between interpersonal stress and Internet addiction.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Aunola, K., Stattin, H., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2000). Parenting styles and adolescents’ achievement strategies. Journal of Adolescence, 23(2), 205–222. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2000.0308.
Avci, D. K., & Sahin, H. A. (2017). Relationship Between Burnout Syndrome and Internet Addiction, and the Risk Factors in Healthcare Employees in a University Hospital. Konuralp Medical Journal/Konuralp Tip Dergisi, 9(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.18521/ktd.299196.
Bancila, D., Mittelmark, M. B., & Hetland, J. (2006). The Association of Interpersonal Stress with Psychological Distress in Romania. European Psychologist, 11(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040.11.1.39.
Basri, S., Hawaldar, I. T., Nayak, R., & Rahiman, H. U. (2022). Do Academic Stress, Burnout and Problematic Internet Use Affect Perceived Learning? Evidence from India during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainability, 14(3), 1409 https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031409.
Baumeister, R. E. (1989). Masochism and the self. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Begum, F., Uddin, M. K., Parmita, P., & Sultana, M. (2019). Game Addiction Predicting Anger and Disruptive Behavior among Adolescents in Dhaka City. Dhaka University Journal of Psychology, 41, 71–79.
Belmans, E., Bastin, M., Raes, F., & Bijttebier, P. (2019). Temporal associations between social anxiety and depressive symptoms and the role of interpersonal stress in adolescents. Depression and Anxiety, 36(10), 960–967. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22939.
Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107(2), 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.107.2.238.
Block, J. J. (2008). Issues for DSM-V: Internet addiction. American journal of Psychiatry, 165(3), 306–307. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101556.
Buitron, V., Hill, R. M., Pettit, J. W., Green, K. L., Hatkevich, C., & Sharp, C. (2016). Interpersonal stress and suicidal ideation in adolescence: An indirect association through perceived burdensomeness toward others. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.077.
Charoendee, S. (2004). The Association of Chronic Social Stress with Psychological Distress in Thailand. Research Centre for Health Promotion Report, 3. https://hdl.handle.net/1956/2523.
Clarke, A. T. (2006). Coping with interpersonal stress and psychosocial health among children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35(1), 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-9001-x.
Danneel, S., Nelemans, S., Spithoven, A., Bastin, M., Bijttebier, P., Colpin, H., Van Den Noortgate, W., Van Leeuwen, K., Verschueren, K., & Goossens, L. (2019). Internalizing problems in adolescence: Linking loneliness, social anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms over time. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(10), 1691–1705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-019-00539-0.
DeLongis, A., Coyne, J. C., Dakof, G., Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R. S. (1982). Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health status. Health Psychology, 1(2), 119–136. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.1.2.119.
Demirci, İ., Usta, F., Yıldız, B., & Demirtaş, A. S. (2020). School Burnout and School Engagement in Adolescents: The Mediator and Moderator Role of Facebook Addiction. Education & Science, 45(204), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2020.8377.
Dill, E. J., Vernberg, E. M., Fonagy, P., Twemlow, S. W., & Gamm, B. K. (2004). Negative Affect in Victimized Children: The Roles of Social Withdrawal, Peer Rejection, and Attitudes Toward Bullying. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 32(2), 159–173. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JACP.0000019768.31348.81.
Dyrbye, L. N., Thomas, M. R., Power, D. V., Durning, S., Moutier, C., Massie, Jr, F. S., Harper, W., Eacker, A., Szydlo, D. W., & Sloan, J. A. (2010). Burnout and serious thoughts of dropping out of medical school: A multi-institutional study. Academic Medicine, 85(1), 94–102. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181c46aad.
Evers, K., Chen, S., Rothmann, S., Dhir, A., & Pallesen, S. (2020). Investigating the relation among disturbed sleep due to social media use, school burnout, and academic performance. Journal of Adolescence, 84, 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.08.011.
Fan, C., Chu, X., Wang, M., & Zhou, Z. (2016). Interpersonal stressors in the schoolyard and depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents: The mediating roles of rumination and co-rumination. School Psychology International, 37(6), 664–679. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034316678447.
Freudenberger, H. J. (1974). Staff burn-out. Journal of Social Issues, 30(1), 159–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1974.tb00706.x.
Hashimoto, T., Mojaverian, T., & Kim, H. S. (2012). Culture, interpersonal stress, and psychological distress. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 43(4), 527–532. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022112438396.
Herres, J., & Kobak, R. (2015). The role of parent, teacher, and peer events in maintaining depressive symptoms during early adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43(2), 325–337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9896-3.
Hoar, S. D., Crocker, P. R., Holt, N. L., & Tamminen, K. A. (2010). Gender differences in adolescent athletes’ coping with interpersonal stressors in sport: More similarities than differences? Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22(2), 134–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413201003664640.
Huang, X., Zhang, H., Li, M., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., & Tao, R. (2010). Mental health, personality, and parental rearing styles of adolescents with Internet addiction disorder. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13(4), 401–406. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2009.0222.
Iecovich, E., Barasch, M., Mirsky, J., Kaufman, R., Avgar, A., & Kol-Fogelson, A. (2004). Social support networks and loneliness among elderly Jews in Russia and Ukraine. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66(2), 306–317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2004.00022.x.
Kahneman, D. (1973). Attention and effort. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Kaplan, H. B. (1996). Perspectives on psychosocial stress. In H. B. Kaplan (Ed.), Psychosocial stress: Perspectives on structure, theory, life-course, and methods. Michigan: Academic Press.
Kato, T. (2013). Assessing coping with interpersonal stress: Development and validation of the Interpersonal Stress Coping Scale in Japan. International Perspectives in Psychology, 2(2), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1037/ipp0000002.
Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D. K., Normand, S. L., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological medicine, 32(6), 959–976. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291702006074.
Khan, M. A., Shabbir, F., & Rajput, T. A. (2017). Effect of gender and physical activity on internet addiction in medical students. Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 33(1), 191 https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.331.11222.
Kim, B., Jee, S., Lee, J., An, S., & Lee, S. M. (2018). Relationships between social support and student burnout: A meta-analytic approach. Stress and Health, 34(1), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2771.
Kim, H. S., Sherman, D. K., & Taylor, S. E. (2008). Culture and social support. American Psychologist, 63(6), 518 https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.
Kiuru, N., Aunola, K., Nurmi, J.-E., Leskinen, E., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2008). Peer Group Influence and Selection in Adolescents’ School Burnout: A Longitudinal Study. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 54(1), 23–55. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2008.0008.
Kiuru, N., Wang, M.-T., Salmela-Aro, K., Kannas, L., Ahonen, T., & Hirvonen, R. (2020). Associations between Adolescents’ Interpersonal Relationships, School Well-being, and Academic Achievement during Educational Transitions. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 49(5), 1057–1072. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-019-01184-y.
Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. 2nd Edition New York: Guilford publications.
Koçak, L., & Secer, I. (2018). Investigation of the relationship between school burnout, depression and anxiety among high school students. Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal, 47(2), 601–622. https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.372054.
Kurniasanti, K. S., Assandi, P., Ismail, R. I., Nasrun, M. W. S., & Wiguna, T. (2019). Internet addiction: A new addiction? Medical Journal of Indonesia, 28(1), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.13181/mji.v28i1.2752.
Ladd, G. W., Ettekal, I., & Kochenderfer-Ladd, B. (2017). Peer victimization trajectories from kindergarten through high school: Differential pathways for children’s school engagement and achievement? Journal of Educational Psychology, 109(6), 826–841. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000177.
Li, C., Tan, X., Zhao, Q., & Ren, P. (2022). Parental warmth may not always be beneficial: High parental warmth impairs victimized adolescents’ academic achievement via elevated school burnout. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(6), 1863–1884. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211068189.
Li, C., Zhang, X., & Cheng, X. (2022). Perceived discrimination, integration, depression and behavioral problems among Chinese migrant children: Examining the moderating role of migration pattern in the rural‐urban dual system. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(5), e2961–e2972. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13740.
Li, J., Li, J., Jia, R., Wang, Y., Qian, S., & Xu, Y. (2020). Mental health problems and associated school interpersonal relationships among adolescents in China: A cross-sectional study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 14(1), 12 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-020-00318-6.
Li, S., Chen, X., Ran, G., Zhang, Q., & Li, R. (2021). Shyness and internalizing problems among Chinese adolescents: The roles of independent interpersonal stress and rumination. Children and Youth Services Review, 128, 106151 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106151.
Lin, F., & Yang, K. (2021). The External and Internal Factors of Academic Burnout. 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021), 1815–1821.
Liu, C.-Y., & Kuo, F.-Y. (2007). A study of Internet addiction through the lens of the interpersonal theory. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(6), 799–804. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.9951.
Liu, M., & Chen, X. (2003). Friendship networks and social, school and psychological adjustment in Chinese junior high school students. Psychology in the Schools, 40(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.10066.
Long, J., Liu, T., Liu, Y., Hao, W., Maurage, P., & Billieux, J. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of problematic online gaming: A systematic review of the evidence published in Chinese. Current Addiction Reports, 5(3), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-018-0219-6.
Maslach, C., Schaufeli, W. B., & Leiter, M. P. (2001). Job burnout. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 397–422. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397.
Meerkerk, G. J., Van Den Eijnden, R. J., Vermulst, A. A., & Garretsen, H. F. (2009). The compulsive internet use scale (CIUS): some psychometric properties. Cyberpsychology & behavior, 12(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0181.
Milani, L., Osualdella, D., & Di Blasio, P. (2009). Quality of Interpersonal Relationships and Problematic Internet Use in Adolescence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(6), 681–684. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2009.0071.
Mittelmark, M. B., Aarø, L. E., Henriksen, S. G., Siqveland, J., & Torsheim, T. (2004). Chronic social stress in the community and associations with psychological distress: A social psychological perspective. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2004.9721919.
Mo, P. K., Chan, V. W., Wang, X., & Lau, J. T. (2020). Gender difference in the association between internet addiction, self-esteem and academic aspirations among adolescents: A structural equation modelling. Computers & Education, 155, 103921 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2020.103921.
O’Brennan, L. M., & Furlong, M. J. (2010). Relations between students’ perceptions of school connectedness and peer victimization. Journal of School Violence, 9(4), 375–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2010.509009.
O’Neill, S. C., Cohen, L. H., Tolpin, L. H., & Gunthert, K. C. (2004). Affective Reactivity to Daily Interpersonal Stressors as a Prospective Predictor of Depressive Symptoms. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(2), 172–194. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.23.2.172.31015.
Owens, S. A., Helms, S. W., Rudolph, K. D., Hastings, P. D., Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2019). Interpersonal Stress Severity Longitudinally Predicts Adolescent Girls’ Depressive Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Subjective and HPA Axis Stress Responses. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(5), 895–905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-018-0483-x.
Özdemir, Y., Kuzucu, Y., & Ak, Ş. (2014). Depression, loneliness and Internet addiction: How important is low self-control. Computers in Human Behavior, 34, 284–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.02.009.
Penninx, B. W., Van Tilburg, T., Boeke, A. J. P., Deeg, D. J., Kriegsman, D. M., & Van Eijk, J. T. M. (1998). Effects of social support and personal coping resources on depressive symptoms: Different for various chronic diseases. Health Psychology, 17(6), 551 https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.17.6.551.
Pohl, M., Feher, G., Kapus, K., Feher, A., Nagy, G. D., Kiss, J., Fejes, É., Horvath, L., & Tibold, A. (2021). The Association of Internet Addiction with Burnout, Depression, Insomnia, and Quality of Life among Hungarian High School Teachers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 438 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010438.
Rodríguez-Mantilla, J. M., & Fernández-Díaz, M. J. (2017). The effect of interpersonal relationships on burnout syndrome in Secondary Education teachers. Psicothema, 29(3), 370–377. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2016.309.
Rotenberg, K. J., Sharp, C., & Venta, A. (2021). Trust Beliefs in Significant Others, Interpersonal Stress, and Internalizing Psychopathology of Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders. Child Psychiatry & Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01255-x.
Russell, M., & Davey, G. C. (1993). The relationship between life event measures and anxiety and its cognitive correlates. Personality and Individual Differences, 14(2), 317–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(93)90129-Q.
Salmela-Aro, K. (2017). Dark and bright sides of thriving – school burnout and engagement in the Finnish context. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 14(3), 337–349. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1207517.
Salmela-Aro, K., Kiuru, N., Leskinen, E., & Nurmi, J.-E. (2009). School burnout inventory (SBI) reliability and validity. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25(1), 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.25.1.48.
Seo, M., Kang, H. S., & Yom, Y.-H. (2009). Internet addiction and interpersonal problems in Korean adolescents. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 27(4), 226–233. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCN.0b013e3181a91b3f.
Slivar, B. (2001). The syndrome of burnout, self-image, and anxiety with grammar school students. Horizons of Psychology, 10(2), 21–32.
Smith-Adcock, S., & Kerpelman, J. L. (2022). Interpersonal stress, interpersonal competence, and gender matter for adolescents’ depressive symptoms: Considerations for counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development, 100(1), 64–74.
Sontag, L. M., & Graber, J. A. (2010). Coping with perceived peer stress: Gender-specific and common pathways to symptoms of psychopathology. Developmental Psychology, 46(6), 1605 https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020617.
Spada, M. M. (2014). An overview of problematic Internet use. Addictive Behaviors, 39(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.09.007.
Sun, Y. (2018). Internet Addiction Motivation among Chinese Young People: A Qualitative Analysis. China Media Research, 14(1), 76–86.
Sun, Y., & Wilkinson, J. S. (2020). Parenting Style, Personality Traits, and Interpersonal Relationships: A Model of Prediction of Internet Addiction. International Journal of Communication, 14, 2163–2185. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/11226.
Tomaszek, K. & Muchacka-Cymerman, A. (2019). Sex Differences in the Relationship between Student School Burnout and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(21), 4107 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16214107.
Veit, C. T., & Ware, J. E. (1983). The structure of psychological distress and well-being in general populations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51(5), 730 https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.51.5.730.
Walburg, V. (2014). Burnout among high school students: A literature review. Children and Youth Services Review, 42, 28–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.03.020.
Walburg, V., Mialhes, A., & Moncla, D. (2016). Does school-related burnout influence problematic Facebook use? Children and Youth Services Review, 61, 327–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.01.009.
Weinstein, A., & Lejoyeux, M. (2010). Internet addiction or excessive internet use. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 36(5), 277–283. https://doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2010.491880.
Yang, X., Jiang, X., Mo, P. K., Cai, Y., Ma, L., & Lau, J. T. (2020). Prevalence and Interpersonal Correlates of Internet Gaming Disorders among Chinese Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(2), 579 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020579.
Yu, J., & Chae, S. (2020). The mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between the academic burnout and psychological well-being of medical students. Korean Journal of Medical Education, 32(1), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2020.149.
Zhang, W., Li, H., Gong, Y., & Ungar, M. (2013). Stressful events and depression among Chinese adolescents: The mitigating role of protective factors. School Psychology International, 34(5), 501–513. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034312472760.
Zhang, X., Li, C., & Ma, W. (2022). The Direct and Indirect Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Depressive Symptoms and Self-esteem of Children: Does Gender Make a Difference?. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00871-5.
Zheng, Q., & Chen, S. (1999). Preliminary development of the stressor scale for middle school students. Psychological Development and Education, 15(4), 45–49.
Zhu, K., Xie, X., Liu, Q., Meng, H., & Song, R. (2022). Internet addiction: Prevalence and relationship with academic burnout among undergraduates during widespread online learning. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.13060.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the participants involved in this study.
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.: 71904080). Social Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.: 19JYC005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interest.
Ethics
All procedures in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethics approval is obtained from the institutions to which the authors are affiliated.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained from all participants and their parents included in the study.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, X., Li, C. Predictors of Adolescents’ Psychological Distress and Internet Addiction: the Role of Interpersonal Stress and School Burnout. J Child Fam Stud 33, 1070–1082 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02635-8
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02635-8