Nonlinear associations between punishment sensitivity and problematic Internet use among adolescents: Results from cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model assumes that personal components, such as punishment sensitivity (PS), affect problematic Internet use (PIU) by influencing the way individuals perceive the situation. However, previous studies exploring the relationship between PS and PIU have yielded inconsistent findings. One plausible explanation for this inconsistency is the potential nonlinearity of the relationship between PS and PIU. The purpose of the present study is to examine the curvilinear association between PS and PIU among adolescents. In Study 1, we assessed 7555 participants using Behavioral Inhibition System Scales and Internet Addiction Test to measure PS and PIU. In Study 2, 506 participants were recruited to complete the Mixed Gambles Task and Internet Addiction Test to evaluate PS and PIU respectively. In Study 3, we conducted two waves of surveys within a one-year interval, with 1824 participants completing a battery of scales measuring their PS, anxiety, self-control, and PIU. The results from Study 1 and Study 2 revealed a U-shaped association between PS and PIU. The results in Study 3 indicated that when PS was low, self-control mediated the relationship between PS and PIU. When PS was high, anxiety mediated the association between PS and PIU. These preliminary results emphasize the importance of considering the nonlinear association between PS and PIU, expanding the I-PACE model. Furthermore, this study offers empirical evidence in support of tailored treatment and intervention approaches for PIU, taking into account their varying levels of PS.