Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (3): 35-44.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2025.0712

• “Psychological Health in Children and Adolescents” Key Topics • Previous Articles    

A latent profile analysis and network analysis of cyber-deviance among adolescents: a case study of Jiangxi Province

FANG Tingting1, HU Zhangjie1, ZHUO Feng1, XIE Xinran1, YANG Ying2, KONG Linghua1   

  1. 1. School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China;
    2. Child and Adolescent Psycho-behavioral Medicine Center, Shandong Mental Health Center, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
  • Published:2026-03-19

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Abstract: Objective To construct latent profiles and symptom networks of cyber-deviance among adolescents, with the goal of identifying potential subgroups and core symptoms. Methods A total of 19,249 adolescents from Jiangxi Province were recruited and assessed using the Scale for Adolescent Internet Deviance. Latent profile analysis was employed to classify subgroups, while network analysis was conducted to identify core symptoms and bridge symptoms. Results The cyber-deviance among adolescents were classified into three distinct subgroups: low cyber-deviance group(n=4,442), moderate cyber-deviance group(n=14,143), high cyber-deviance group(n=664). “Get angry easily when being belittled or laughed at by other” emerged as the central symptom in the network analysis. “Publish false information about other people or things” functioned as a critical bridge symptom connecting different symptom clusters. “Internet aggressive behavior” was identified as a shared core symptom across all three subgroups. Conclusion Cyber-deviance of adolescents exhibits significant heterogeneity. Parents and schools should promptly identify core and bridge symptoms to implement early interventions, thereby reducing such behaviors among adolescents.

Key words: Cyber-deviance, Latent profile analysis, Network analysis, Core symptoms, Adolescents

CLC Number: 

  • R179
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