Adolescent Internet Research Articles

Adolescent Internet gaming addiction and personality characteristics by game genre.

With the emergence of a new concept called ‘Internet Gaming Disorder’ in DSM-5 and ICD-11, related research is underway around the globe. However, not enough literature on Internet gaming addiction has considered the diversity in game genres. Internet gaming addiction may take on a different form according to the particular characteristics of a game being played. To better understand adolescent Internet gaming addiction, this study sought to identify the differences in Internet gaming addiction and personality characteristics based on the game genre played. A total of 3,217 elementary and middle school students across Korea participated in the survey that included the Maladaptive Game Use Scale and the Adolescent Personality Questionnaire. ANOVA analysis revealed that Internet gaming addiction and personality characteristics varied according to the game genre played. In particular, post-hoc tests showed that Real-Time Strategy (RTS) and First-Person Shooter (FPS) game users have higher levels of tolerance, withdrawal, and neglect of everyday life compared to other genres such as Role-Playing Game (RPG), Racing, and Arcade/Shooting. Also, Internet gamers users of particular genres showed significantly lower self-esteem (Arcade/Shooting), conscientiousness (Racing), empathy (RPG), and sense of community (Racing and RTS) scores than comparison group. The implications of the study results were discussed with a special emphasis on Internet gaming addiction interventions.

Maladaptive cognitions, loneliness, and social anxiety as potential moderators of the association between Internet gaming time and Internet gaming disorder among adolescent Internet gamers in China

The significance of Internet gaming time’s dosage effect on Internet gaming disorder (IGD) may depend on gamers’ characteristics. Majority of the gamers with extensive gaming time do not develop IGD. This study investigated moderation effects of cognitive/psychosocial factors on the association between Internet gaming time and probable IGD among adolescent Internet gamers in China. The cross-sectional, self-administered, and anonymous survey was conducted from October to December of 2018 among seven conveniently selected secondary school students in Chengdu and Guangzhou, China. Probable IGD was measured by using the DSM-5 checklist. The cognitive/psychosocial moderators were assessed by using validated instruments. Of the 2,503 students who had played Internet games (past 12 months), the prevalence of probable IGD was 17.7%. Internet gaming time [adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 1.06], the three maladaptive cognitions specific to Internet gaming (perceived overvaluation of rewards, perceived urges, and perceived unwillingness to stop playing) (ORa = 1.17 to 1.44), and the two types of psychosocial factors (loneliness and social anxiety) (ORa = 1.09 to 1.13) were independent risk factors of probable IGD. Moderation analyses showed that overall maladaptive cognitions, perceived urges, and loneliness (but not the other two types of cognitions and social anxiety) were significant moderators of the association between Internet gaming time and probable IGD. The dose–effect relationship of Internet gaming time on probable IGD was significantly and slightly stronger among those with higher levels of perceived urges and loneliness. Interventions to reduce the levels of such moderators may reduce probable IGD directly and buffer the dosage effect among adolescents.

Gender-Specific Determinants of eHealth Literacy: Results from an Adolescent Internet Behavior Survey in Taiwan.

Adolescents’ Internet health information usage has rarely been investigated. Adolescents seek all kinds of information from the Internet, including health information, which affects their Health Literacy that eHealth Literacy (eHL). This study is a retrospective observational study, we have total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, 87% of which were recovered, and we explored the channels that adolescents use to search for health information, their ability to identify false information, and factors affecting the type and content of health information queried. Adolescents believe that the Internet is a good means to seek health information because of its instant accessibility, frequent updating, convenience, and lack of time limits. More boys use the Internet to seek health information than girls in junior high schools (p = 0.009). The Internet is an important source of health information for adolescents but contains extensive misinformation that adolescents cannot identify. Additionally, adolescent boys and girls are interested in different health issues. Therefore, the government should implement measures to minimize misinformation on the Internet and create a healthy, educational online environment to promote Adolescents’ eHealth Literacy (eHL).

A Causal Modelling Approach to Testing Longitudinal Associations between Adolescent Internet Use and Symptoms of Depression

A Causal Modelling Approach to Testing Longitudinal Associations between Adolescent Internet Use and Symptoms of Depression

Media addiction and its Potential Influence on Children in this Pandemic Circumstance

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound influence on daily life, with extensive steps being made to stem the virus’s spread. Schools and other gathering places have been placed on lockdown for an extended period of time. Adolescents and Children are having to cope with a lot of stress in addition to developmental issues. Despite this, research shows that game addiction and internet use are on the rise, with negative consequences for psychological well-being. Social media is a continuously changing platform that allows young people to interact with one another, express themselves, and exchange a variety of information. It has spawned a new cultural paradigm that influences technology and business while also altering people’s interactions. Social media is a two-edged sword as a tool. While it has numerous advantages, it can also have a negative impact on children. The goal of this study was to see how the lockdown has affected adolescent internet use by comparing their behaviour before the pandemic to their habits after the pandemic. Furthermore, the goal of this study was to look at the link between gaming addiction, internet use, and COVID-19 concerns.

Impulsivity, Self-control, Interpersonal Influences, and Maladaptive Cognitions as Factors of Internet Gaming Disorder Among Adolescents in China: Cross-sectional Mediation Study.

BackgroundGaming disorder, including internet gaming disorder (IGD), was recently defined by the World Health Organization as a mental disease in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Thus, reducing IGD is warranted. Maladaptive cognitions related to internet gaming (MCIG) have been associated with IGD, while impulsivity, self-control, parental influences, and peer influences are key risk factors of IGD. Previous literature suggests that MCIG is associated with the aforementioned 4 risk factors and IGD, and may thus mediate between these risk factors and IGD. These potential mediations, if significant, imply that modification of MCIG may possibly alleviate these risk factors’ harmful impacts on increasing IGD. These mediation hypotheses were tested in this study for the first time.ObjectiveThis study tested the mediation effects of MCIG between intrapersonal factors (impulsivity and self-control) and IGD, and between interpersonal factors (parental influences and peer influences) and IGD among adolescents in China.MethodsAn anonymous, cross-sectional, and self-administered survey was conducted among secondary school students in classroom settings in Guangzhou and Chengdu, China. All grade 7 to 9 students (7 to 9 years of formal education) of 7 secondary schools were invited to join the study, and 3087 completed the survey. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) checklist was used to assess IGD. MCIG was assessed by using the Chinese version of the Revised Internet Gaming Cognition Scale. Impulsivity, self-control, and parental or peer influences were measured by using the motor subscale of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Brief Self-Control Scale, and the modified interpersonal influence scale, respectively. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediation effects of MCIG between these risk factors and IGD.ResultsThe prevalence of IGD was 13.57% (418/3081) and 17.67% (366/2071) among all participants and adolescent internet gamers, respectively. The 3 types of MCIG (perceived rewards of internet gaming, perceived urges for playing internet games, and perceived unwillingness to stop playing without completion of gaming tasks) were positively associated with IGD. Impulsivity, self-control, parental influences, and peer influences were all significantly associated with the 3 types of MCIG and IGD. The 3 types of MCIG partially mediated the associations between the studied factors and IGD (effect size of 30.0% to 37.8%).ConclusionsImpulsivity, self-control, and interpersonal influences had both direct and indirect effects via MCIG on IGD. Modifications of the 3 types of MCIG can potentially reduce the harmful impacts of impulsivity and interpersonal influences on IGD and enhance the protective effect of self-control against IGD. Future longitudinal studies are warranted.

Developing a structural model of the relationship between sensation seeking and adolescent internet addiction: the mediating role of self-empowerment

Introduction: The increasing demand for computer technology and the widespread influence of the internet has left many people, particularly students, with mental disorders and problems in social connections caused by computer addition. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-empowerment in the relationship between sensation seeking and adolescent internet addiction. Method: This descriptive study has used structural modeling. The study's statistical population included all high school students in Karaj in 2018-2019, from whom 310 students were selected by purposive sampling and completed the Arndt Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS), Young Internet Addiction Test, and Psychosocial Inventory of Ego Strength (PIES). The collected data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and Sobel test using SPSS23 and AMOS23. Results: According to the results, the direct effect of sensation seeking and self-empowerment on the students internet addiction was significant at a 95% confidence level (p<0.05). The results also indicated an indirect relationship between sensation seeking and the students internet addiction mediated by their self-empowerment at a 95% confidence level (p<0.05). In general, the results of the models showed a good fit for all research scales. Conclusion: In conclusion, paying attention to the enhancement of individuals belief in their ego strength can reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors and consequently prevent the adverse effects of adolescent internet addiction through psychological well-being. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the role of sensation seeking and self-empowerment to prevent internet addiction.

The Relation of Personality Traits to Internet Addiction and Internet Social Behaviour in Chinese Secondary School Students

The present study attempts to study the relationship between internet addiction and internet social behaviour with personality. The sample consisted of 365 Grade 10 students from two secondary schools in Mainland China. Four instruments were used: Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Chen Internet Addiction Scale, Ma, Li & Pow’s Adolescent Internet Use Questionnaire, and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Boys scored significantly higher than girls in the two Internet addiction questionnaires. Results also supported the following hypotheses: (1) Internet addiction is positively associated with psychoticism, neuroticism, and frequency of Internet use; and it is also negatively associated with social desirability and self-concept. (2) Holistic Internet social behavior is positively associated with extroversion, social desirability, self-concept, and frequency of Internet use; and it is also negatively associated with psychoticism and neuroticism. A high (low) rating of Holistic Internet Social Behavior refers to a high (low) rating of Prosocial Internet Behaviour and a low (high) rating of Antisocial Internet Behaviour.

Self-Control, Consideration of Future Consequences, and Internet Addiction among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of Deviant Peer Affiliation.

Although a large number of studies have indicated that self-control was an important predictive factor for adolescent internet addiction, the moderating and mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. To address this research gap, the present study, according to social learning theory and the organism–environment interaction theory, tested whether consideration of future consequences mediated the relation between self-control and adolescent internet addiction and whether deviant peer affiliation moderated the relationship between consideration of future consequences and internet addiction. Using longitudinal tracking (two-time points and the interval is 6 months). Three middle schools in Guangzhou were randomly selected. The participants were 1182 students ranging in age from 12 to 15 years (average age: 14.16, SD = 1.29) from three middle schools in Guangzhou (651 boys and 531 girls) in Guangdong Province. Results showed that consideration of future consequences mediated the relationship between self-control and internet addiction. Furthermore, the relationship between future consequence consideration and internet addiction was moderated by deviant peer affiliation. These findings highlighted the potential mediating role of consideration of future consequences in linking self-control to adolescent internet addiction. We also found high deviant peer affiliation weakens the protective effect of future consequence consideration on Internet addiction. This study may provide support for adolescent Internet addiction prevention and have some educational implications.

Future Expectations and Internet Addiction Among Adolescents: The Roles of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Perceived Social Support.

Internet addiction is a common and challenging problem among adolescents. Previous studies have shown that future time orientation is an important protective factor against internet addiction. In this study, the mediating effect of intolerance of uncertainty and the moderating role of perceived social support were examined on the association between future expectations, regarded as the “prospective life course” perspective of future time orientation, and internet addiction among adolescents. A total of 1,006 Chinese adolescents (54% male and 46% female; Mage = 15.42 years, SD = 1.32) recruited from middle schools completed questionnaires. Results indicated that future expectations were significantly negatively associated with internet addiction, and the link was mediated by intolerance to uncertainty in adolescents. Further, the latent moderated structural equation showed that perceived social support moderated the association between future expectations and intolerance of uncertainty. The association was significant only for adolescents with a higher level of perceived social support. The findings of this study provide specific guidelines for how to prevent adolescent internet addiction.

The Effect of the Parent-Child Relationship Enrichment Training Package With An Emphasis on the Internet Use: A Mixed Methods Approach

Objective: In the current world, one of the parent-adolescent communication challenges is overusing the Internet and digital devices. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the parent-child relationship enrichment training package with an emphasis on Internet use in parents and their adolescent daughters. Methods: This study was conducted using the exploratory sequential mixed methods design. The research population consisted of parents and their female adolescent children studying in the junior secondary school in District 11 of Tehran City, Iran, in 2020. In the qualitative phase of the study, 15 parents were selected using the purposive sampling method, and then semi-structured interviews were held with them. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin’s (2014) grounded-theory approach to extract related categories and subcategories. Afterward, the parent-child relationship enrichment training package was developed with an emphasis on Internet use. The participants in the intervention group received the training for twelve 1.5 hour sessions. The collected data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS v. 21. Results: The validation results showed that the parent-child relationship enrichment training package was effective in promoting media literacy (F=310.972; P<0.05), improving the mother-child relationship (F=57.76; P<0.05), improving the father-child relationship (F=1503.863; P<0.05), and reducing the problematic use of the Internet in female adolescents (F=402.084; P<0.05). Conclusion: The parent-child enrichment education intervention with emphasis on Internet use was designed to fit the context and lifestyle of female adolescents studying in District 11 of Tehran. It can help parents reduce adolescent-parent conflicts and improve the quality of adolescent-parent interaction.

Impact of Internet in school-going adolescents

Introduction: Internet addiction is an online-related, compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one’s work environment. The addiction behavior becomes unmanageable, completely dominates the addict’s life, and impacts relationships and work. Aim: To identify the level of Internet addiction among school-going adolescents and its associated factors. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among school-going adolescents of age 13–19 years in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Stratified random sampling was adopted, and 602 students were enrolled. Individual interview and Internet addiction test (IAT), a self-report 20-item tool for adolescents and adults, were used. The content validity and reliability of the tool were established, and a pilot study was conducted. Results: Approximately 19.77% of students had full control of his or her usage; 67.11% of students experience frequent problems because of excessive Internet use, and 13.12% of students had significant problems because of Internet use. About 99.8% had used the Internet before, and 61.0% had their devices such as laptops (59.1%), tablets (26.1%), and cell phones (4.0%). In total, 59.5% use the Internet for entertainment and 10.3% for relieving loneliness. There was a significant association between IAT outcome and age group such that with an increase in age developed the risk of getting Internet addiction (P = 0.003). Conclusion: We observed that 13.12% had significant problems because of Internet use. The factors significantly associated with IAT outcome were age group, medium of education, a device to access the Internet, and whether parents know about student’s Internet activities.

Prevalence and predictors of the persistence and incidence of adolescent internet addiction in Mainland China: A two-year longitudinal study

Internet addiction (IA), which can have different development patterns, is considered a serious problem among adolescents. Due to the increasing number of adolescent internet users in Mainland China, professionals are obligated to investigate the prevalence and predictors of IA persistence and incidence. This study investigated the prevalence of IA persistence and incidence among 1301 students in Mainland China across two years using a two-wave longitudinal design. Of the 187 students with IA in 7th grade, 40.64% had a persisting addiction by grade 9. Of the 1114 students without an IA in 7th grade, 10.32% had developed an IA by grade 9. Multilevel logistic regression analyses indicated that higher levels of depressive symptoms (odds ratio = 1.04; p = .04) and maternal education (odds ratio = 2.23; p = .01) could increase the likelihood of IA persistence. Significant predictors of IA incidence were being male (odds ratio = 0.59; p = .03), being an only child (odds ratio = 1.91; p = .01), having a low family income (odds ratio = 1.21; p < .001), and experiencing school maladjustment (odds ratio = 1.01; p < .01).

Developmental pathways from parental rejection to adolescent internet gaming disorder: A parallel process latent growth model

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is known to be associated with significant impairment in adolescents’ social, family, school and psychological functioning. However, the antecedents of this disorder are not well understood. In this one-year longitudinal study we tested parental rejection as a precursor to symptoms of IGD in adolescents, taking into account the role of adolescent anxiety. A sample of 1987 Chinese adolescents (56.1% male) completed questionnaires regarding parental rejection, anxiety and IGD in the fall semester of 7th grade (Time 1), with follow-up data collected in the spring semester of 7th grade (Time 2) and fall semester of 8th grade (Time 3). Tests of parallel process latent growth models, controlling for gender, age and socioeconomic status, indicated that parental rejection was associated with symptoms of IGD at baseline, and anxiety mediated this link; more importantly, the trajectory of parental rejection and the trajectory of IGD were also associated, and were mediated by trajectory in anxiety. The results are discussed in terms of self-determination theory and in terms of their potential applied value in designing interventions to reduce adolescents’ risk of IGD.

Factors related to Internet and game addiction among adolescents: A scoping review.

Understanding factors influencing Internet and game addiction in children and adolescents is very important to prevent negative consequences; however, the existing factors in the literature remain inconclusive. This study aims to systematically map the existing literature of factors related to Internet and game addiction in adolescents. A scoping review was completed using three databases - Science Direct, PROQUEST Dissertations and Theses, and Google Scholar, which covered the years between 2009 to July 2020. Quality appraisal and data extraction were presented. A content analysis was used to synthesize the results. Ultimately, 62 studies met inclusion criteria. There were 82 associated factors identified and grouped into 11 categories, including (1) socio-demographic characteristics, (2) parental and family factors, (3) device ownership, Internet access and location, social media, and the game itself, (4) personality/traits, psychopathology factors, self-efficacy, (5) education and school factors, (6) perceived enjoyment, (7) perceived benefits, (8) health-compromising behaviors, (9) peers/friends relationships and supports, (10) life dissatisfaction and stress, and (11) cybersafety. Internet and game addiction among adolescents are multifactorial. Nurses should consider the factors identified in this study to provide strategies to prevent and reduce addiction in adolescents.

The Impact of Adolescent Internet Addiction on Sexual Online Victimization: The Mediating Effects of Sexting and Body Self-Esteem.

Adolescents’ problematic use of the internet and the risk of sexual online victimization are an increasing concern among families, researchers, professionals and society. This study aimed to analyze the interplay between adolescents’ addiction to social networks and internet, body self-esteem and sexual–erotic risk behavior online: sexting, sextortion and grooming. While sexting refers to the voluntary engagement in texting sexual–erotic messages, sextortion and grooming are means of sexual–erotic victimization through the use of the internet. Participants were 1763 adolescents (51% girls), aged 12 to 16 years (M = 14.56; SD = 1.16), from public (n = 1068; 60.60%) and private (n = 695; 39.40%) high schools in the Basque Country (Spain). We carried out structural equation modeling (SEM) using Mplus to assess the mediating effects of body self-esteem in the relationship between addiction to social media and internet and sexual–erotic risk behavior. The results showed that internet addiction predicts online sexual victimization; specifically, the best predictors of sexting, sextortion and grooming victimization were symptoms of internet addiction and geek behavior. Body self-esteem and sexting mediated the relationship between internet addiction and sexual online victimization in adolescents. These results highlight the importance of attending to adolescents’ mental health regarding their online behavior, considering the risk and protective factors involved, due to its close association with online sexual victimization.

Association Between Adolescent Internet Gaming and Adult Problematic Web-Based Board Gaming.

Introduction: The results of studies comparing the characteristics of Internet gaming with those of Internet gambling have been controversial. We hypothesized that problematic web-based board gaming behaviors are associated with psychological and social interaction factors. We also hypothesized that non-problematic adolescent Internet gaming is a protective factor against problematic web-based board gaming and that problematic Internet gaming is a predictive factor for problematic web-based board gaming.Methods: We recruited 104 adults who reported engaging in web-based gaming. All participants were asked to complete the Problematic Web Board Gameplay Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (K-AADHD), Family Environmental Scale (FES), Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), and questionnaires on their web-based board gaming patterns and Internet gaming history.Results: Problematic web-based board gamers showed a lower history of adolescent Internet gaming but a greater rate of problematic Internet gaming compared with healthy web-based board gamers. Moreover, problematic web-based board gamers showed an increase in CES-D, STAI, K-AADHD, and SADS scores but decreased FES scores compared with healthy web-based board gamers. Joblessness; less experience as an Internet gamer; a history of problematic Internet gaming; higher CES-D, STAI, and K-AADHD scores; and lower FES scores were significant predictors of problematic web-based board gaming.Discussion: Psychological, social, and environmental factors can positively influence problematic Web-based board gaming. Healthy Internet gaming during adolescence may play a preventive role in adult problematic web-based board gaming. However, because adolescent problematic Internet gaming tends to lead to problematic web-based board gaming, measures should be taken to prevent it.

Parent-Adolescent Communication, School Engagement, and Internet Addiction among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of Rejection Sensitivity.

Although a large body of research has indicated that parent-adolescent communication is a crucial protective factor for adolescent Internet addiction, the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. To address this research gap, this study, based on social control theory and the organism-environment interaction model, was designed to test whether school engagement mediated the relationship between parent-adolescent communication and adolescent Internet addiction and whether this mediating effect was moderated by rejection sensitivity. A sample of 1006 adolescents (Meanage = 13.16 years, SD = 0.67) anonymously completed the questionnaires. The results showed that the positive association between parent-adolescent communication and adolescent Internet addiction was mediated by school engagement. Moreover, this indirect link was stronger among adolescents with high rejection sensitivity than those with low rejection sensitivity. These findings highlighted school engagement as a potential mechanism linking parent-adolescent communication to adolescent Internet addiction, with high rejection sensitivity being an important risk factor amplifying this indirect effect. Intervention programs aimed at reducing Internet addiction among adolescents might benefit from the current research.

Factores asociados al uso problemático de Internet en adolescentes

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objetivo:&lt;/strong&gt; analizar factores asociados al uso problemático de internet en adolescentes. &lt;strong&gt;Métodos:&lt;/strong&gt; estudio multicéntrico, transversal y analítico. Participaron adolescentes de secundarias federales de cinco estados de la República Mexicana. El muestreo fue aleatorio simple por conglomerados.&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;Se midió el uso problemático de internet con la escala validada (&lt;em&gt;Internet Addiction Test&lt;/em&gt;) y factores sociales, de salud, familiares y académicos por medio de una encuesta. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva y regresión logística binaria para la predicción de variables con p&amp;lt;0.05 como significativa. &lt;strong&gt;Resultados&lt;/strong&gt;: participaron 777 estudiantes, 30.6% presentó uso problemático de internet, que estuvo asociado con factores académicos como: retraso en tareas (69.3%; p=0.001), inasistencia a clase (14.7%; p=0.001), problemas con el profesor (20.6%; p&amp;lt;0.001), disminución en calificaciones (48.5%; p&amp;lt;0.001). Factores de salud: disminución en horas de sueño (66.4% p&amp;lt;0.001); y factores sociales como: conversación con personas desconocidas (51.7%; p&amp;lt;0.001), citas/relaciones sentimentales con personas conocidas por internet (12.6%/18.1%; p&amp;lt;0.001). &lt;strong&gt;Conclusiones: &lt;/strong&gt;el uso problemático de internet en adolescentes escolarizados está asociado a factores que podrían afectar su entorno académico, generar conductas de riesgo no saludables o de problemática social.&lt;/p&gt;

Predictors of Problematic Internet and mobile phone usage in adolescents

This study uses an innovative statistical strategy to test the role of certain variables as predictors of problematic Internet and mobile phone usage among adolescents in Spain and in the United Kingdom . A paper-and-pencil questionnaire was used, with socio-demographics and patterns of technology usage as variables, and two tests were administered: the Problematic Internet Entertainment Use Scale for Adolescents (PIEUSA) and the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale for Adolescents (MPPUSA). The overall sample size was 2228 high school students aged between 11 and 18 from Barcelona and London. PIEUSA and MPPUSA scores were transformed into normed scores, and both were then dichotomized according to three statistical criteria as cut-off points (i.e., median, 80th percentile, and extreme scores below the 25th percentile and above the 75th percentile) in order to establish the relationship between the variables above and the excessive use of the Internet or mobile phones, using a binary logistic regression. The results show that the best predictive model for both technologies includes socio-demographic variables as predictors of extreme scores for excessive Internet and mobile phone usage, with good sensitivity, specificity and classification accuracy, as well as a notable capacity for discrimination according to the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Implications of these findings are discussed.