The Relationship Between the Internet Usage Features, Internet Use Under Parental Supervision, and Depressive Symptoms in Children

Abstract

Aims: Internet usage has become popular among children in the last decade. Little is known about how children should use the digital world. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Internet use, frequency of Internet use under parental supervision, and depressive symptoms in children. Material and Methods: The prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 79 children aged 7-18 years old and their families who applied to the pediatric clinics between March 2021 and June 2021. The participants completed an online questionnaire, including sociodemographic data, children’s Internet use, and the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). Children’s Internet use was asked with a questionnaire created by ourselves for this study. Results: The present study found no significant relationship between Internet usage time and depressive symptoms in children. Nevertheless, we showed that children who used the Internet more frequently under parental supervision and used the Internet for study purposes had lower depressive symptoms (p=0.026, p<0.001). Conclusion: Internet use under parental supervision might protect children against the harmful effects of the digital world.