Internet Overdependence and Depression in Elementary School Students: Dual Mediating Effects of Parental Involvement and Peer Attachment

This study explored how parental educational involvement and peer attachment simultaneously mediate the relationship between internet overdependence and depression among elementary school students.For this research, data were collected from a sample of 311 students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, utilizing information from the 19th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study.The focus was to understand not only direct associations but also the potential indirect pathways through which excessive internet use could contribute to depressive symptoms in children, considering both family and peer dynamics.The findings indicated that, overall, internet overdependence, parental educational involvement, and depression were at low levels among the participating students, whereas peer attachment was found to be moderate.Importantly, students who exhibited higher internet overdependence and weaker connections with peers tended to report more pronounced depressive symptoms.Moreover, statistical analysis revealed that internet overdependence did not solely impact depression directly; rather, it also exerted indirect effects through diminished parental educational involvement and reduced peer attachment.This dual mediation underscores the intertwined roles of both the home and social environment in the mental health of children, particularly concerning how digital behaviors can influence emotional well-being.Consequently, these results emphasize the necessity of developing interventions that actively engage parents in their children's educational lives and enhance opportunities for children to form and maintain healthy peer relationships.By encouraging parental involvement and supporting positive peer attachments, schools and communities can play a vital role in mitigating the adverse effects of excessive internet use on depression among upper-grade elementary students.Such efforts are essential for fostering resilience and promoting positive mental health outcomes during this critical stage of development.