Abstract
Although numerous studies have examined the factors influencing problematic Internet use (PIU), few studies have investigated the interactions between inappropriate physical and mental health (e.g., cyberbullying, Internet pornography, and Internet fraud) as factors facilitating PIU and examined the moderating effect of community bond. Thus, this study analyzed the moderating role of community bond in the relationship between cyberbullying, Internet pornography, Internet fraud, and PIU. Using a cross-sectional survey, adolescents were surveyed through self-report questionnaires. A total of 5,211 responses were received from participant students at 60 senior high schools in Taiwan. Statistical analyses were performed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that cyberbullying, Internet pornography, Internet fraud, and community bond have significant positive effects on PIU. Community bond has a significant moderating effect in the relationship between cyberbullying, Internet fraud, and the PIU of adolescents. Parental Internet attitude and behavior were found to significantly moderate the relationship between inappropriate physical and mental health, community bond, and PIU. The results suggest that public health and education policies should focus more on adolescents who require additional assistance. Furthermore, school policies could be more informed in regard to relevant psychosocial variables and patterns of Internet use. Finally, this study may serve as a reference for parents, schools, and government education authorities.
Highlights
Since the 1990s, the increasing prevalence of the Internet has made this technological tool central to everyday life and changed how people interact and communicate (Błachnio and Przepiorka, 2016; Kaya and Bicen, 2016)
Based on the above discussion, this study argued that when adolescents obtain cyberbullying, Internet pornography, and Internet fraud-related information in the online community, the community bond can positively moderate the impact of cyberbullying and Internet pornography on adolescents’ problematic Internet use (PIU)
Depicting a model that contains moderators with partial least squares (PLS) differs from traditional representations of the same research model
Summary
Since the 1990s, the increasing prevalence of the Internet has made this technological tool central to everyday life and changed how people interact and communicate (Błachnio and Przepiorka, 2016; Kaya and Bicen, 2016). The Internet has become an action situated in the digital context (Musetti and Corsano, 2018) for socializing, academic research, acquiring new information, entertainment, and healthcare concerns. Research in this area has grown rapidly, over the last decade. Appropriate Internet use, notably through facilitating social communication and access to information and knowledge, may be beneficial for the development. Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescents and mental health of individuals and causes positive outcomes for the large majority of users. The Internet may hinder development, damage mental health and social functioning, and even cause addiction
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