Internet Use, Marital Satisfaction and Depression in Chinese Couples: Insights From Binary Couple Data

ABSTRACT In contemporary China, rapid digitalisation has reshaped intimate relationships, influencing marital satisfaction and mental‐health outcomes. This study investigates how Internet use affects marital satisfaction and depression among Chinese couples, emphasising the interdependent dynamics of spousal interactions. Utilising dyadic data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies and the Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM), the research examines the actor and partner effects of Internet use on depression, with marital satisfaction as a mediator. Findings reveal that Internet use enhances spousal communication, fostering reciprocity and elevating marital satisfaction, which in turn mitigates depressive symptoms. However, gender differences complicate this dynamic, with women's Internet use potentially reducing their own satisfaction due to sociocultural tensions. Grounded in Family Systems Theory, this study extends prior individual‐focused research by highlighting dyadic mechanisms, offering methodological advancements through APIMeM. These insights inform social work interventions, such as digital literacy programs and online counselling, to promote healthy digital engagement and relational well‐being in China's evolving socio‐digital landscape.