Abstract
BackgroundProblematic internet use (PIU) is associated with a plethora of psychosocial adversities. The study objectives were to assess the determinants and psychosocial implications associated with potential PIU and PIU among adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional study design was applied among a random sample (n = 866) of Greek adolescents (mean age: 14.7 years). Self-completed questionnaires, including internet use characteristics, Young Internet Addiction Test, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were utilized to examine the study objectives.ResultsAmong the study population, the prevalence rates of potential PIU and PIU were 19.4% and 1.5%, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that male gender (Odds Ratio, OR: 2.01; 95% Confidence Interval, 95% CI: 1.35-3.00), as well as utilizing the internet for retrieving sexual information (OR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.53-4.12), interactive game playing (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.21-2.82), and socialization, including chat-room use (OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.36-2.86) and email (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.05-2.24), were independently associated with potential PIU and PIU. Adolescents with potential PIU had an increased likelihood of concomitantly presenting with hyperactivity (OR: 4.39; 95% CI: 2.03-9.52) and conduct (OR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.46-4.50) problems. Moreover, adolescent PIU was significantly associated with hyperactivity (OR: 9.96; 95% CI: 1.76-56.20) and conduct (OR: 8.39; 95% CI: 2.04-34.56) problems, as well as comprehensive psychosocial maladjustment (OR: 8.08; 95% CI: 1.44-45.34).ConclusionsThe determinants of potential PIU and PIU include accessing the internet for the purposes of retrieving sexual information, game playing, and socialization. Furthermore, both potential PIU and PIU are adversely associated with notable behavioral and social maladjustment among adolescents.
Highlights
Problematic internet use (PIU) is associated with a plethora of psychosocial adversities
Adolescents with maladaptive internet use (MIU) were 2.91 (95% Confidence Interval, 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI): 2.074.13) times more likely to be male as compared to normal internet users
Adolescents with MIU were 2.70 times more likely to access the internet for the purposes of sexual information as compared to their normal internet user counterparts
Summary
Problematic internet use (PIU) is associated with a plethora of psychosocial adversities. Excessive internet use may instigate potential adverse effects upon the psychosocial development of adolescents [3]. While both the adoption of excessive internet use, as well as related adverse psychosocial effects may be attributed to the compromised psychosocial wellbeing prior to. The proposed criteria for PIU initially included: (1) an uncontrollable use of the internet, (2) internet use which is markedly distressing, time consuming or resulting in social, occupational or financial difficulties; and (3) internet use not solely present during hypomanic or manic clinical episodes [10]. Potential PIU is defined as internet use which fulfils some, but not all, of the above criteria [9,12,13]
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