The Role of Physical Activity in Social Interaction and Internet Addiction Among Chinese Middle School Students

Background Internet addiction has become a growing concern among adolescents, particularly in China, where the pervasive use of digital technology can interfere with daily life and academic performance. Previous research has highlighted various factors contributing to internet addiction, including physical activity and social interaction. However, the relationship between these factors and internet addiction remains under explored, especially in the context of Chinese middle school students. Methods This study was conducted in November 2024 among 2336 middle school students from five secondary schools in Guangdong Province, China. A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to measure students’ demographic information, physical activity levels, social interaction, and internet addiction. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire(IPAQ) short form, and internet addiction was measured using the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale(CIAS-R). Regression analysis was performed to examine the relationships between physical activity, social interaction, and internet addiction. Results The findings revealed that physical activity was initially a significant predictor of internet addiction, but its effect diminished when social interaction was included in the model. Social interaction emerged as a strong predictor of internet addiction, explaining a large portion of the variance. Furthermore, a significant interaction effect was found between physical activity and social interaction, with both factors contributing jointly to the prediction of internet addiction. The final model (R^2 = 0.651) explained 65.1% of the variance in internet addiction, with social interaction(β= 0.107, p < 0.01) and the interaction term (β = 0.071, p < 0.05) being statistically significant. Conclusion This study underscores the importance of both physical activity and social interaction in predicting internet addiction among Chinese middle school students. While physical activity alone had a limited effect, the interaction between physical activity and social interaction was a significant predictor of internet addiction. These findings suggest that interventions targeting both physical activity and social engagement may be effective in mitigating the risk of internet addiction among adolescents. Future research should explore the causal relationships and additional factors influencing internet addiction.