How School-Related Internet Use Shapes Teens' Learning, Communication, Academic Stress, Online Behavior: A Qualitative Study.

Impact of family functioning and academic self-efficacy on maladaptive behaviors and depressive symptoms in rural adolescents.

The objective of this study was to systematically synthesize the findings on the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and technology-related addictive behaviors such as online gambling, impulsive and compulsive online buying, video gaming, online compulsive sexual behaviors, and problematic use of social media, the Internet, or smartphones. The inclusion criteria were containing early maladaptive schemas and technology-related addictive behaviors, being published in a refereed journal in the English language, using validated instruments, and being a research article. The exclusion criteria were being in a language other than English, lacking relevance, not containing online addictive behaviors, not using the Young Schema Questionnaire, and being a source other than a research article. Electronic database searches were conducted via Scopus, ProQuest, PubMed, and Web of Science using comprehensive terms such as “maladaptive schemas”, “internet addiction”, “smartphone addiction”, "social media addiction", "technology addiction", "online gaming", "online gambling", "online buying", and "online pornography". A total of 11 studies were included. While technology-related addictive behaviors were associated with all five schema domains, the Disconnection and Rejection, and Impaired Limits domains were the domains most strongly associated with technology-related addictive behaviors. In general, this review indicates that little is known regarding the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and technology-related addictive behaviors. Therefore, further studies are needed to better understand this relationship.

The effect of horticultural activity program on internet addiction, social skills, and stress levels in children: A randomized controlled trial.

This study applied the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model and the Relational Development System Theory (RDS) to identify key individual and contextual correlates of adolescents' problematic Internet use (PIU) with machine learning approaches. Data from 68,425 adolescents were analyzed using five ensemble models (AdaBoost, Random Forest, LightGBM, Bagging, CatBoost) within a nested cross-validation framework. Key factors were identified through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), while bivariate partial dependence analyses were used to identify interactions. The prevalence of PIU risk was 23.2%. Five algorithms achieved comparable performance. CatBoostachieved the best performance and was selected as the final predictive model. SHAP values showed that the top 17 features explained nearly 80% of the model. At the individual level, intolerance of uncertainty was the strongest risk factor, whereas mindfulness was the main protective factor. Additionally, weekend video game time was a major behavioral risk contributor. At the contextual level, home-leaving intentions and bullying perpetration were identified as key family- and peer-related risk factors, respectively. Bivariate partial dependence analyses found both within-individual (e.g., mindfulness * intolerance of uncertainty) and individual-contextual (e.g., mindfulness * home-leaving intentions) interaction effects. This study applied five machine learning algorithms to identify key individual and contextual factors associated with adolescent PIU risk and their interactions. The results suggest that risk factors accumulate across systems and impair adolescents' adaptive capacity, whereas mindfulness exerts cross-system effects that buffer these risks, offering implications for targeted interventions.

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized global longitudinal studies to estimate associations between social media, video games, and other digital media use with health and developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. To provide a meta-analytic synthesis of evidence on digital media use and health and developmental outcomes among individuals aged 0 to 18 years. This review was preregistered with PROSPERO, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and ERIC databases and gray literature were searched from 2000 to 2024. Inclusion criteria were English-language longitudinal studies of participants aged 0 to 18 years reporting quantitative associations between digital media use and health or developmental outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, 153 studies (115 cohorts, 1072 effect sizes) from 18 933 articles met criteria for quantitative synthesis. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled correlations (r) with 95% CIs. Heterogeneity and moderators (age, sex, measurement method, follow-up duration, year of exposure) were examined. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health's Quality Assessment Tool. These data were analyzed from February 2025 to August 2025. Primary outcomes were socialemotional, cognitive, physical and motor health, and development associations. A total of 153 studies (115 cohorts, 1072 effect sizes) with 18 933 participants met criteria for quantitative synthesis. Study participant ages ranged from 2 to 19 (mean [SD], 12.81 [2.79]) years, with 53.8% female and 46.2% male. Most studies were conducted in Europe (62 [40.5%]) and North America (60 [39.2%]), followed by Asia (22 [14.4%]), Australia (5 [3.3%]), and Latin America (1 [0.7%]). Social media use was associated with higher depression, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, self-injurious thoughts, problematic internet use, and substance use (r = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.06-0.12 to r = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.13-0.29) and also with lower academic achievement, poorer self-perception, and less positive development (r = -0.14; 95% CI, -0.26 to -0.01 to r = -0.07; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.02). Video gaming was associated with higher aggression and externalizing behaviors (r = 0.16; 95% CI, 0.09-0.23 and r = 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07-0.26, respectively) and higher attention/executive functioning (r = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.16). Other digital media use, including digital device use and messaging/communication media, was associated with depression (r = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.00-0.09 to r = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.22). Associations between social media and depression were stronger in early adolescence (β = 0.09) and with self or parent-reported outcomes (β = 0.09); associations between social media and positive development were stronger with objective exposure measurement (β = 0.08). More recent social media exposure years showed stronger associations with substance use (β = 0.10). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, digital media use was consistently associated with risks to child and adolescent health and development, particularly for social media. These findings highlight the need for targeted, multifaceted policies and interventions to mitigate potential harms from digital media exposure.

Internet addiction and internet gaming disorder levels as predictors of alexithymia traits among university students.

ABSTRACT Problematic internet use (PIU) and loneliness are consistently linked, but whether one drives the other over time is unclear. Using six-wave panel data from 753 Finnish adults recruited through an online panel (4,518 observations), we examined how PIU and loneliness relate to each other within individuals. We used dynamic panel models that account for stable between-person differences and examine within-person changes, testing both contemporaneous (within-wave) and lagged (across-wave) associations over 6- and 12-month intervals. Results revealed strong reciprocal contemporaneous effects: when individuals experienced elevated PIU, they also reported greater loneliness, and vice versa. However, we found no evidence of lagged effects at either 6- or 12-month intervals. This suggests the relationship between PIU and loneliness unfolds within rather than across the specific measurement periods examined, though the contemporaneous effects may reflect unmeasured shorter-term dynamic processes occurring between waves.

Hypertension is an increasingly important health concern among children and adolescents. Beyond traditional risk factors such as obesity, sedentary behaviors, including prolonged internet use and video gaming, may contribute to elevated blood pressure. This study aimed to investigate the association between problematic internet use, video gaming, and ambulatory blood pressure parameters in adolescents. This cross-sectional study included adolescents aged 12-18years who were referred to a pediatric nephrology outpatient clinic for evaluation of hypertension. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained from medical records. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed to classify ambulatory hypertension and white coat hypertension. Internet use and gaming behaviors were assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Scale (YIA-SF) and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF). Scale scores were compared with ABPM parameters. A total of 107 adolescents (40 girls, 67 boys) with a mean age of 14.9 ± 1.8years were included. Based on ABPM findings, 55 participants (51.4%) had ambulatory hypertension, while 52 (48.6%) had white coat hypertension. Higher YIA-SF scores were weakly but significantly associated with higher mean daytime systolic blood pressure. IGDS9-SF scores were not significantly associated with ambulatory blood pressure parameters. Problematic internet use may be associated with higher mean daytime systolic blood pressure in adolescents, including among non-obese individuals. Although these behaviors were not independent predictors of ambulatory hypertension after adjustment for demographic and anthropometric factors, awareness of screen-based behaviors may complement lifestyle counseling in adolescents evaluated for elevated blood pressure. • The majority of pediatric studies examining the relationship between screen-based behaviors and blood pressure have been based on office blood pressure measurements, which may not fully capture circadian blood pressure patterns compared with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. • This study contributes to the limited literature examining the association between problematic internet use, video gaming, and ambulatory blood pressure parameters in adolescents. • Higher internet addiction scores were associated with higher mean daytime blood pressure, including among non-obese adolescents.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction and examine its association with socio-demographic and behavioral factors among university students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to January 2024 involving 553 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students from various universities in Karachi. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising demographic details, lifestyle characteristics, and Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Internet addiction was defined as an IAT score ?50. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, employing chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of Internet addiction was 20.3%. IA was significantly associated with lower monthly household income (p=0.001), smoking status (p=0.045), and a sedentary lifestyle (p=0.011). Students from households earning less than PKR 50,000/month had the highest prevalence (40%). Regular smokers were 1.8 times more likely to experience IA (AOR: 1.843, 95% CI: 1.028–3.304), whereas students with an active lifestyle were significantly less likely to be addicted (AOR: 0.498, p=0.003). Conclusion: Internet addiction is notably prevalent among university students in Karachi and is significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, smoking habits, and physical activity. Early identification and targeted interventions promoting balanced internet use are essential to safeguard the mental health of young adults.

Perceptual distortions of social support in multi-age cohort as a function of internet addiction and attention control.

Affect reactivity to negative events is considered a vulnerability factor for mental health problems; however, its role in internet addiction has been less explored. Based on the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model, this study investigated whether affect reactivity to negative events in two key interpersonal domains-parents and peers-contributes to the development of internet addiction during the transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9 among Chinese adolescents. A 12-day daily diary combined with a 6-month longitudinal design was used to collect data from 244 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 13.87, SDage = 0.51, 42.6% girls). Results revealed that internet addiction remained relatively stable but demonstrated significant individual differences over the 6-month transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9. At the within-person level, daily negative parent and peer events were associated with higher levels of negative affect. Moreover, daily affect reactivity to negative peer events, but not negative parent events, predicted a faster increase in internet addiction over 6 months. The findings highlight the critical role of affect reactivity to negative peer events in the development of internet addiction and offer insights for targeted prevention strategies.

The ACSID-11 was developed to assess five patterns of problematic Internet use-namely, gaming disorder, compulsive online shopping, problematic online pornography use, problematic social networks use, and online gambling disorder-using a unified set of items grounded in the ICD-11 framework. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the ACSID-11. A sample of 1263 participants (76.70% females, Mage=40.89, SD = 13.72, range=18-83) completed the ACSID-11 and was included in the analysis of its factorial structure. A series of Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) confirmed the assumed four-factorial structure (i.e., Impaired Control, Increased Priority, Continuation/Escalation of Use, Functional Impairment in Daily Life/Marked Distress), which was superior to the unidimensional solution for all the patterns of problematic Internet use. Moreover, the second-order models demonstrated comparable fit to the four-factor solutions and supported the use of an overall composite score. A subsample of 999 participants (76.40% females, M = 40.59, SD = 13.67, range=18-83) also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale, whereas the number of participants who completed the measures used to assess convergent validity varied depending on whether they reported engaging in the corresponding behavior or not. Convergent and criterion validity were supported. These findings suggest that the Italian version of this unified item set is a valid and reliable tool for consistently assessing different patterns of problematic Internet use.

The increasing reliance on digital technology has raised concerns about its impact on mental health and well-being, particularly among university students. Problematic internet use, digital addiction, and emotional exhaustion have emerged as key factors influencing students' psychological well-being. Despite established associations between excessive internet use and addictive behaviors, the mechanisms through which it influences mental health remain insufficiently elucidated. This study investigated the relationship between problematic internet use and mental well-being, with a focus on whether digital addiction and emotional exhaustion mediate this relationship. A cross-sectional survey design was used, involving 815 students from three tertiary institutions in Ghana. Standardized and validated scales were used to measure mental well-being, emotional exhaustion, digital addiction, and problematic internet use. Statistical analyses, including correlation and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine the correlations, reliability and validity of the scales. Structural equation modelling was employed to ascertain the direct and mediation effects on mental well-being. One out of every three students (35%) reported problematic internet use. Bivariate results showed that mental well-being was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion (-0.25, p < 0.001), digital addiction (-0.21, p < 0.001), and problematic internet use (-0.36, p < 0.001). Mediation results showed emotional exhaustion as a significant mediator (β = -0.07, p < 0.001), while digital addiction did not significantly mediate the relationship (β = -0.04, p = 0.094), suggesting that internet overuse primarily becomes harmful when it leads to stress and exhaustion rather than addiction itself. These findings reveal that problematic internet use harms mental well-being through emotional exhaustion, underscoring the need for joint action by university management and mental health/counselling units to enhance awareness campaigns focused on addressing problematic internet use among students.

Applying the general strain theoretical framework to exploring the associations between adverse childhood experiences and problematic Internet use

The vast majority of youth use social media, which plays an important role in the lives of adolescents. Concerns around social media and mental health closely follow a previous pattern of concerns and cross-sectional studies that examined internet use and mental health. Social media and mental health study findings can be sorted into 3 categories: negative association, no population-level association, and a more complex association. Several critical mechanisms can be applied to understand the risks and benefits of social media for adolescents. Mechanisms explaining negative outcomes include problematic internet use (PIU) and exposure to negative content or experiences. Mechanisms to explain positive outcomes include social support, identity development, learning, and civic engagement. Screening for PIU and social media use with validated instruments and nonjudgmental approaches is critical. Prevention and management include ongoing communication and providing resources for families. In summary, population-level concerns about social media and adolescent health are not scientifically supported. However, pediatricians are charged with caring for individual adolescents who may experience a variety of positive and negative outcomes from their social media use that pediatricians can positively impact through communication and resources.

Unpacking the mechanisms between Internet Addiction and online impulse buying: Which is more critical, mindfulness or emotional intelligence?

Detecting internet addiction risk in vocational college students: Based on machine learning approach and Latent Profile Analysis

With the rapid development of digital technology, the risk of internet addiction among adolescents has increased. However, the influence mechanism of emotional eating behavior on internet addiction remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association pathway of emotional eating on internet addiction in junior high school students and test the chain-mediating effects of sleep quality (sleep quality was measured using the PSQI, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality) and depression. Based on data from 3245 junior high school students in Shenzhen, China, internet addiction was measured using Young's questionnaire, and emotional eating was assessed via the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire's subscale. The PROCESS macro (Model 6) was used to test the chain-mediating effects. Emotional eating was positively but modestly associated with internet addiction (β = 0.024, p < 0.01). Three significant mediating pathways were identified: (1) emotional eating → sleep quality → internet addiction (β = 0.0062, 14.52% of total effect); (2) emotional eating → depression → internet addiction (β = 0.0084, 19.67%); and (3) emotional eating → sleep quality → depression → internet addiction (β = 0.0041, 9.60%). Based on cross-sectional data, this study found that emotional eating is associated with internet addiction through the independent and chain-mediating effects of sleep quality and depression, revealing a statistical mediation pathway of "maladaptive emotion regulation → circadian disruption → psychopathology → addictive behavior." These findings provide a basis for interventions targeting sleep management and emotional regulation.

This study aimed to explore the prevalence of various forms of smoking among adolescents in Jordan, identify associated factors, and examine their relationships with mental and psychosocial problems. Data were obtained from a large-scale, nationally representative, school-based survey conducted between December 2022 and April 2023 among children and adolescents aged 8-18 years in both host and refugee populations in Jordan. A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design was employed to ensure national representativeness. The study utilized internationally recognized and validated tools that assessed several mental and psychosocial problems. The present analysis was restricted to adolescents only. Among the 4,407 adolescents included in the study, the most prevalent form of tobacco use was waterpipe (shisha) at 19.2%, followed by e-cigarettes (15.1%) and cigarettes (9.8%). In multivariate analysis, smoking odds increased significantly with age. Notably, compared with 12-year-olds, adolescents aged 18 had significantly higher odds of smoking cigarettes or waterpipe (OR = 5.9, 95% CI 3.8-9.2) and using e-cigarettes (OR = 4.5, 95% CI 2.7-7.4). Adolescents whose mothers had less than a diploma had lower odds of e-cigarette use (OR = 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-0.9). Compared with adolescents in central Jordan, those in the northern region had significantly lower odds of both cigarette/waterpipe use (OR = 0.8, 95% CI 0.6-0.9) and e-cigarette use (OR = 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9). Palestinian camp refugees were significantly less likely than Jordanians to smoke cigarettes or waterpipe (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.9) but did not differ significantly in e-cigarette use. Smoking cigarettes or waterpipe was significantly associated with higher levels of several mental and psychosocial problems symptoms, including separation anxiety, emotional and behavioral difficulties (emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, relationship problems with peers, lower sociability, general behavioral difficulties), and PTSD, along with a higher risk of problematic Internet use. Also, smoking cigarettes or waterpipe was significantly associated with poorer quality of life across all dimensions (overall, physical health, psychosocial health, emotional functioning, social functioning, and school functioning). Adolescents who reported using e-cigarettes had significantly higher conduct problems, hyperactivity symptoms, and total difficulties scores, as well as lower prosocial behavior and poorer school functioning. Adolescent smoking in Jordan remains a pressing public health issue, with waterpipe use emerging as the most common form and increasing with age across different nationalities. Smoking, whether in the form of cigarettes, waterpipe, or e-cigarettes, was associated with increased vulnerability to a range of mental health issues and diminished health-related quality of life. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted and evidence-based approach, including developing school-based prevention and control programs, incorporating social competence and social influence curricula, enforcing existing tobacco laws, and introducing updated regulations in response to emerging trends and evidence, particularly targeting flavored products. Furthermore, prevention and control strategies need to implement targeted interventions that address both the psychosocial roots of smoking and its consequences.