Problematic internet use (PIU) during the college life becomes a significant public health concern with a variety of negative outcomes. The aim of the present study was to examine the incidence of generalized PIU (GPIU) and its relationship to stressful life events and coping style among Chinese college students. Six hundred and fifty-four college students recruited from Guangzhou completed the self-reported measures of the Chinese version of GPIU scale, Chinese College student Stress Questionnaire (CCSQ), and Coping Style Questionnaire (CSQ). Analysis of Structural Equation Model was used to explore the interactive effects of stressful life events and coping style on GPIU. Of the sample, 13.6% was classified as generalized problematic internet users. The prevalence of GPIU did not vary with gender, grade or major. The frequency of stressful events over the past 6 months in the GPIU group was significantly higher than that in the non-PIU group. Compared to the non-PIU group, the generalized problematic internet users used the more avoidant coping styles, and the less problem-solving style. Significant correlations were found between stressful life events, avoidant coping style and GPIU at 0.01 levels. The standardized path coefficients from stressful life events to avoidant coping style (beta = 0.35, p less than 0.01), and from avoidant coping style to GPIU (beta = 0.33, p less than 0.01) were significant. The current findings imply that stressful life events are involved in the pre-existing mechanisms of GPIU. Stressful life event contribution to GPIU was mainly mediated through avoidant coping style (e.g. self-blame, fantasy, withdrawal or rationalization). Future prevention programs must focus on developing individual confrontative coping skills to reduce stress and GPIU among college students.