Authors
Chong Zhang, Peixin Lin
Published in
Zhejiang da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences. Pages 1-13. Jul 27, 2026. Epub Jul 27, 2026.
Abstract
To investigate the effect of network literacy on depression levels among young adults, and to provide a reference for understanding the relationship between internet use and mental health in this population.
Data from 28,312 young adults (aged 18-35) were extracted from the 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2022 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Depression level was the dependent variable, network literacy (comprising network usage literacy and network awareness literacy) was the independent variable, and a comprehensive set of control variables was included. First, a panel fixed-effects model was employed to assess the effect of network literacy on depression. Second, an instrumental variable set was constructed to address endogeneity. Finally, heterogeneity analyses were conducted to evaluate the differential effects of network literacy across subgroups.
The overall depression level of the sample was relatively low (median = 0.167). Network awareness literacy was at a relatively high level (median = 0.680), whereas network usage literacy was slightly lower (median ranging from 0.199 to 0.555). Baseline linear regressions showed no significant effects for either type of network literacy (both P > 0.05). However, after introducing quadratic terms, both network usage literacy and network awareness literacy exhibited a significant inverted U-shaped relationship (linear term positive, quadratic term negative; both P < 0.01). This inverted U-shaped relationship remained robust after controlling for endogeneity using a panel fixed-effects two-stage least squares (2SLS) instrumental variable model. Heterogeneity analyses revealed that the inverted U-shaped effects of both literacy types were stronger in females than in males. The curvilinear effect of network usage literacy was more pronounced among young adults aged 25-35, whereas the inflection-point effect of network awareness literacy was more evident in the 18-<25 age group. Furthermore, the effects of both types of network literacy on depression were significantly stronger among rural youth than among urban youth.
The effect of network literacy on depression levels among young adults follows an inverted U-shaped trajectory. Females, individuals aged 25-35, and rural youth are more susceptible to changes in depression levels as their network literacy fluctuates.
PMID:
42515972
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jul 2026.
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