Which Is the Antecedent: Loneliness or Problematic Mobile Phone Use? Evidence from the Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model and Cross-Lagged Panel Network Analysis

Despite growing evidence linking loneliness with problematic mobile phone use (PMPU), the temporal direction between these constructs remains debated. Drawing on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use and the compensatory Internet use theory, loneliness is theorized to increase PMPU as a coping strategy for social isolation, whereas the displacement hypothesis suggests that PMPU may instead serve as an antecedent of loneliness. To resolve this theoretical inconsistency, we examined both variable- and symptom-level associations between loneliness and PMPU using the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) and cross-lagged panel network analysis (CLPN). A total of 768 adolescents completed three assessments at approximately 6-month intervals over 1 year. The RI-CLPM revealed bidirectional within-person associations: higher loneliness predicted greater subsequent PMPU, and elevated PMPU predicted increased loneliness over time. The CLPN further uncovered the strongest cross-lagged edges were all from loneliness to PMPU symptoms. Additionally, several key nodes in the network were identified. From T1 to T2, PMPU5 ( friends/family complaint ) showed the highest out-EI and PMPU9 ( excessive duration notification ) had the highest in-EI; from T2 to T3, PMPU6 ( unexpected usage duration ) showed the highest out-EI and PMPU4 ( mobile check anxiety ) had the highest in-EI. These findings highlight the importance of integrating variable- and symptom-level approaches to advance theoretical understanding of the dynamic association between loneliness and PMPU and to inform practical interventions that help break this vicious cycle among adolescents.