Abstract
Use of the Internet has become an integral part of daily life. Adolescents are especially at a higher risk of developing problematic Internet use (PIU). Although one of the most well-known comorbid conditions of PIU is sleep disturbance, little is known about the sex disparity in this association. This school-based survey in students of grades 7–9 was conducted to estimate the prevalence of PIU and sleep disturbance among Chinese adolescents, to test the association between PIU and sleep disturbance, and to investigate the role of the child’s sex in this association. A two-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used to recruit participants, and two-level logistic regression models were fitted. The mean Internet addiction test score was 37.2 (SD: 13.2), and 15.5% (736) met the criteria for PIU. After adjusting for control variables, problematic Internet users were at a higher risk of sleep disturbance (adjusted odds ratio = 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.07–3.19). Sex-stratified analyses also demonstrated that association was greater in girls than boys. In this respect, paying more attention to the sleep patterns of adolescents who report excessive Internet use is recommended, and this early identification may be of practical importance for schools, parents, and adolescents themselves.
Highlights
Internet use has increased rapidly all over the world, and the Internet has become an integral part of daily life [1]
This study found that 15.5% of adolescents in Guangzhou met the criteria for problematic Internet use (PIU), and this prevalence is higher than that described in our prior study conducted in 2011 showing that 12.2%
The present study first found that the interaction item between the child’s sex and PIU was significantly associated with sleep disturbance after adjusting for ethnicity, household socioeconomic status (HSS), and academic pressure
Summary
Internet use has increased rapidly all over the world, and the Internet has become an integral part of daily life (e.g., in communication, education, and entertainment) [1]. Adolescence is the transition period from puberty and adulthood; events during this period can have influences on an individual’s development and can determine their behavior and attitudes in later life [4]. Most adolescents are exceptionally vulnerable and receptive, choosing Internet use as a release to cope with unpleasant feelings and emotional crises, instead of offline interaction with peers and parents [5]. Given their vulnerable age, adolescents are especially at a higher risk of developing PIU.
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