The Impact of Family Functionality on Internet Addiction in Left-Behind Children

Abstract

This study explores the influence of two aspects of family functionality, namely parent-child attachment and parental discipline, on internet addiction in left-behind children. It investigates the relationship between parent-child attachment, parental discipline, and internet addiction in left-behind children, in order to provide recommendations for the creation of a positive family environment for these children and the maintenance of their psychological well-being. The study employed cluster sampling, with fifth and sixth-grade students from two rural primary schools in Qingdao, Shandong Province, as participants for a three-month investigation. It is concluded that there is a negative correlation between family functionality and internet addiction in left-behind children. The research reveals that parent-child attachment and parental discipline directly impact the psychological health and developmental environment of left-behind children, which imposes an indirect influence on the likelihood of internet addiction in these children. Therefore, greater parental education on the psychological well-being of left-behind children, along with positive care and supervision, contributes to a high-quality developmental environment, reduces the incidence of internet addiction and facilitates the positive growth and development of children.