Symptom-level interactions between digital addiction and psychological resources: a large-scale cross-validation study

Background: Digital addiction in adolescents is often conceptualized as a latent construct, masking the complex interplay between specific symptoms and psychological resources. This study aims to map the specific symptom-level interactions between digital addiction (Social Media Addiction, Nomophobia) and cognitive resources (Self-Regulation, Self-Efficacy) using a large-scale network analysis approach. Method: = 749) groups. Network structure was estimated using the Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) with polychoric correlations. Robustness was assessed via Network Comparison Test (NCT), sensitivity analysis controlling for demographics, and case-dropping bootstrapping. Results: = 0.60]. Conclusions: The findings suggest that adolescent digital addiction is characterized centrally by restriction intolerance and withdrawal anxiety rather than mere usage gratification. Interventions targeting self-monitoring skills and building tolerance to disconnection may be strategically positioned to destabilize the psychopathological network.