The development of compulsive internet use and mental health: A four-year study of adolescence

The Impact of Problematic Internet Use on Adolescent Loneliness-Chain Mediation Effects of Social Support and Family Communication

Purpose

To explore the relationship between adolescents' problematic Internet use and loneliness and the mediating roles of social support and family communication.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of 2483 adolescents aged 12-17 years in 148 cities in China was conducted using the Problematic Internet Use Scale, the Collaborative Social Support Scale, the Family Communication Scale, and the Loneliness Scale. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 26.0 and validated by AMOS 28.0. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to test the effects of problematic Internet use on adolescents' loneliness and the mediating effects of perceptions of social support and family communication.

Results

There was a significant positive effect of adolescents' problematic Internet use on loneliness (B-0.471, P<0.001), and the mediating effects of perceptual social support (0.003, 0.012) and family communication (0.008, 0.019) were found to play a chain effect between adolescents' problematic Internet use and loneliness, respectively. Use and feelings of loneliness played a chain mediating role (0.002, 0.006).

Conclusion

This study identified the effects of adolescent problematic Internet use on loneliness and its mechanism of action, emphasized the importance of social support and family communication, and provided practical insights for improving family parenting styles and preventing and intervening in adolescent loneliness problems.

Personality Traits and Internet Addiction among Adolescent Students: The Moderating Role of Family Functioning

Objectives: Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and compulsive use of the internet. The risk of internet addiction among adolescents has risen recently due to an increase in technological advancement and globalization. However, previous studies have focused on the precipitating factors triggering the internet addiction without looking at the exogenous factors and boundary conditions, such as family functioning, that can either sustain or weaken such behavior. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between personality traits and internet addiction among adolescents. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study consisting of 3150 adolescent students in the grade/class level of JSS1-SS3 who were assessed with standardized measures of the Big-Five Personality Inventory, Internet Addictive Test, and Family APGAR Index. Pearson correlation was used to explore the bivariate relationships between the demographic variable and other variables of interest, while Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the Hypotheses. Results: (1) Openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism positively correlated with internet addiction, whereas agreeableness was negatively associated with internet addiction. (2) Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction. (3) Positive family functioning moderated the relationships of extraversion and agreeableness with internet addiction but not on openness to experience, conscientiousness, and neuroticism with internet addiction. Conclusions: Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction among adolescents, suggesting that improving family functioning would be a valuable tactic for reducing adolescents' susceptibility to personality-related internet addiction.

Novel rat model of gaming disorder: assessment of social reward and sex differences in behavior and c-Fos brain activity

RATIONALE

In 2018, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) classified Gaming Disorder (GD) as a mental disorder. GD mainly occurs among adolescents, who, after developing addiction, show psychopathological traits, such as social anxiety, depression, social isolation, and attention deficit. However, the different studies conducted in humans so far show several limitations, such as the lack of demographic heterogeneity and equal representation of age, differences in the type of game and in the follow-up period. Furthermore, at present, no animal models specific to GD are available.

OBJECTIVES

To address the lack of an experimental model for GD, in the present work, we proposed a new GD rat model to investigate some peculiar tracts of the disorder.

METHODS

Two-month-old Wistar Kyoto rats, both males and females, were subject to a five-week training with a new innovative touch-screen platform. After five weeks of training, rats were assessed for: (a) their attachment to the play under several conditions, (b) their hyperactivity during gaming, and (c) the maintenance of these conditions after a period of game pause and reward interruption. After sacrifice, using immunohistochemistry techniques, the immunoreactivity of c-Fos (a marker of neuronal activity) was analyzed to study different neural areas.

RESULTS

After the training, the rats subjected to GD protocol developed GD-related traits (e.g., hyperactivity, loss control), and the behavioral phenotype was maintained consistently over time. These aspects were completely absent in the control groups. Lastly, the analysis of c-Fos immunoreactivity in prelimbic cortex (PrL), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), nucleus Accumbens, amygdala and bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) highlighted significant alterations in the GD groups compared to controls, suggesting modifications in neural activity related to the development of the GD phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposal of a new GD rat model could represent an innovative tool to investigate, in both sexes, the behavioral and neurobiological features of this disorder, the possible role of external factors in the predisposition and susceptibility and the development of new pharmacological therapies.

Internet Use Behavior and Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Effects of Self-Education Expectations and Parental Support

Purpose

This study focuses on how Internet use behavior affects adolescents' mental health and whether self-education expectations and parental support mediate the relationship between Internet use behavior and adolescents' mental health.

Methods

The data for this paper came from the results of the student questionnaire of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA 2018), which was a structured questionnaire that asked students about their family situation, school life, studies, internet use, and mental health, among other things. A sample of 336,600 children in grades 7-13 was selected for this study. The data were analyzed using STATA version 16 and the theoretical framework was tested using a mediated effects model.

Results

The results of the study showed that Internet use behavior made a positive contribution to mental health and the mediating effects of self-education expectations and parental support on the relationship between Internet use behavior and adolescent mental health were all significant.

Conclusion

It is recommended that appropriate policies should be formulated to help adolescents use the Internet rationally, and the positive effects of parental support and self-education expectations should be utilized.

Connected or Cutoff? A 4-Year Longitudinal Study of the Links Between Adolescents' Compulsive Internet Use and Social Support

As the online world plays an increasing role in young peoples' lives, research on compulsive internet use (CIU) is receiving growing attention. Given the social richness of the online world, there is a need to better understand how CIU influences adolescents' social support and vice versa. Drawing on ecological systems theory, we examined the longitudinal links between adolescents' CIU and perceived social support from three sources (parents, teachers, and friends) across 4 critical years of adolescence (Grades 8-11). Using random intercept cross-lagged modeling, we found that CIU consistently preceded reduced social support from teachers, whereas social support from parents preceded increases in CIU over time. We discuss the implications of our findings for parents and schools seeking to support young people experiencing CIU.

The cycle of solitude and avoidance: a daily life evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction and symptoms of social anxiety

A consistent association has been observed between internet addiction and symptoms of social anxiety. However, there is a lack of empirical research that delves into potential explanations for this relationship and its directionality, making it difficult to translate findings into development of interventions for social anxiety that account for technology-related behaviors. The present study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal dynamics between internet addiction, symptoms of social anxiety, avoidance of social interactions, and using the internet to cope with loneliness. By means of an ecological momentary assessment study, we evaluated a sample of 122 young adults from Chile using intensive self-report measurements five times a day, for a period of 10 days. Using mixed-effects models, we examined the directionality between internet addiction and symptoms of social anxiety, together with an explanation of their relationship. Results indicate that internet addiction antecedes symptoms of social anxiety; however, the reverse relationship was not observed. Furthermore, instances where individuals avoided social interactions or used the internet to cope with loneliness were predictive of later increases in levels of internet addiction, suggesting a vicious cycle. Significant heterogeneity was observed in these effects, highlighting the need for a more personalized approach when including technology-related behaviors in social anxiety interventions. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Longitudinal relationship between internet self-control and problematic internet use among Chinese adolescents: mediating role of meaning in life

Introduction

While studies indicate that high self-control may serve as a safeguard against problematic internet use, there's evidence suggesting that problematic internet use can, in turn, diminish self-control. This study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal interplay between internet self-control and problematic internet use in adolescents, employing cross-lagged panel modeling. Furthermore, drawing from a positive psychology perspective, we examined the potential role of 'meaning in life' as a protective mediator within this longitudinal relationship. We then constructed a mediation model to explore protective factors against problematic internet use.

Methods

Through a questionnaire, we tracked 659 adolescents (331 males and 328 females; mean age=13.61) in a longitudinal design across two time points, spaced at five-month intervals, to assess their internet self-control, problematic internet use, and meaning in life.

Results

Results of the cross-lagged panel models showed that: Internet self-control had a significant negative impact on problematic internet use after five months (β = -0.094, p < 0.01). Conversely, problematic internet use had a significant negative impact on internet self-control after five months (β = -0.099, p < 0.05). Results from the longitudinal mediation model showed that: Meaning in life mediated the effect of internet self-control on problematic internet use after five months (βinternet self-control(T1)-meaning in life(T2) = 0.142, p < 0.01; βmeaning in life(T1)-problematic internet use (T2) = -0.075, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study uncovers a reciprocal predictive relationship between internet self-control and problematic internet use, while highlighting the mediating role of meaning in life within this relationship. These findings suggest that fostering internet self-control and cultivating a sense of meaning in life among adolescents can serve as effective prevention and intervention strategies for addressing the issue of problematic internet use.

Adolescent internet use predicts higher levels of generalized and social anxiety symptoms for girls but not boys

Past research suggests that internet use can increase the risks of internalizing symptoms in adolescents. However, bidirectional relationships between adolescent internet use and anxiety symptoms have received very little attention. Furthermore, few studies have examined these links according to sex. The present study attempts to fill this gap by investigating longitudinal associations between Canadian boys' and girls' internet use and symptoms of generalized anxiety and social anxiety using data from the Quebec longitudinal Study of Child Development. A sample of 1324 adolescents (698 girls, 626 boys) self-reported the number of hours per week they spent on the internet and their symptoms of generalized and social anxiety at ages 15 and 17. We estimated two cross-lagged panel models with social or generalized anxiety symptoms and internet use at age 15 predicting those same variables at age 17. Sex was used as a grouping variable and socioeconomic status was included as a control variable. Internet use at 15 predicted generalized and social anxiety symptoms at age 17 in girls, but not boys. Social and generalized anxiety symptoms at age 15 did not predict internet use at age 17 for both boys and girls. These results suggest that internet use can be a significant risk factor for the development of anxiety symptoms in adolescent girls. Girls may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of internet use due to increased sensitivity to social comparisons. Thus, helping girls develop healthier internet use habits should be a target for promoting their mental health.

Peer victimization and children's internet addiction in China: a moderated mediation model

Background

Peer victimization used to be considered as a crucial risk factor for children addicted to the internet. Whereas some victimized ones are function better than would be expected. Variability across individuals indicates that it is necessary to understand how children cope with being bullied and why they do not exhibit maladaptive outcomes.

Objective

We explored the underlying mechanisms by testing whether subjective well-being was a mediator between peer victimization and Internet addiction and whether the mediation effects conditioned on the levels of parent-child relationship (PCR).

Methods

Data were collected from 65, 868 elementary school students in China (Mage = 9.56 years, SD = 0.62, 54.0% male) using four questionnaires.

Results

We found that: (1) subjective well-being can partially mediate the relationship of the two variables; and (2) PCR can moderate direct path and second half of the intermediary process. These moderating effects were stronger for children with higher PCR vs. lower PCR, as a strong PCR can help children to deal with intense emotions and to access effective resources to obtain support.

Conclusion

This study deepens our understanding of how peer victimization leads to internet addiction, identifies a supportive PCR as a crucial factor that strengthens the resilience of child victims, and highlights the value of focusing on improving the relationship between parents and children in intervening internet addiction related to peer victimization.

Developing and validation of COVID-19 media literacy scale among students during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

This cross-sectional validation work evaluated the psychometric features of the COVID-19 Media Literacy Scale (C-19MLs) in Students.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 530 students from a medical university in Hamadan, Iran, who were recruited through a stratified cluster random sampling process in June-July 2020. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and internal consistency were used to assess the reliability. Moreover, CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analyses) and EFA (Exploratory Factor Analyses) were carried out to examine construction validity. CVR (Content Validity Ratio) and CVI (Content Validity Index) were used to examine the content validity.

RESULTS

According to the factor analysis, it was indicated that the C-19MLs included 21 items measuring five dimensions (constructedness of credible Covid-19 media messages, contractedness of fake media coronavirus messages, fake media coronavirus messages, audience, with three questions in each factor; format, represented lifestyles in fake media coronavirus messages with six questions in each factor) for an explanation of 58.4% of the prevalent variance. The average scores for the CVI and CVR were respectively 0.94 and 0.77. According to confirmatory factor analysis, the studied model had an appropriate fitting to the data; the relative chi-square (x2/df) = 2.706 < 3, RMSEA = 0.093 ≤ 0.1; CFI = 0.893 ≥ 0.9; TLI = 0.874 ≥ 0.9; GFI = 0.816 ≥ 0.9; and SRMR = 0.06 ≤ 0.08. Further analyses represented acceptable findings for internal consistency reliability values with 0.86 of Cronbach's alpha.

CONCLUSIONS

The results proved that the C-19MLs is a reliable and valid tool, and it is suitable and acceptable now and can be utilized in forthcoming investigations. This highlights educators and stakeholders to realize the importance of participating individuals in the new media ecology and new 'Infomedia' ecosystems for enabling people in the current digital society.

Substance Use, Internet Risk Behavior, and Depressive Symptoms as Predictors of Self-harm Thoughts in Adolescents: Insights from the 2019 ESPAD Survey in Croatia

Self-harm has become a nonspecific symptom of mental distress that is most prevalent in the adolescent population. Since it is often a hidden problem, it is important to focus on preventing it. This study used the data from the Croatian leg of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs to assess certain risk factors and possible protective factors for self-harm thoughts among 16-year-olds in Croatia. Using binary logistic regression, we identified that being female, having less family support and less parental knowledge of adolescents' activities, more frequent cannabis use, more compulsive Internet use and more frequent depressive symptoms significantly increased the likelihood of self-harm thoughts in this sample. Identifying factors that lead to thoughts of self-harm may open a potential space for self-harm prevention before those thoughts progress into behavior.

Compulsive Internet Use Scale for assessment of self-reported problematic internet use in primary school-aged children

Introduction

The tremendous growth of internet use during past few decades has been primarily led by young people. Despite a plenitude of studies reporting the pros and cons of excessive internet use by adolescents, the internet use of primary school-aged children is under-researched. First, there is lack of reliable and valid cultural invariant self-report instruments for children younger than 11-years-old. Secondly, there is no consensus on whether primary school-aged children can reliably report on their internet use. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) as reported by primary school-aged children in three different countries/regions.

Methods

Paper-pencil format CIUS questionnaires were completed by a total of 691 children aged 8 to 10 years old, 236 of them Latvian, 207 Lithuanian, and 248 Taiwanese, as well as by one of their parents, at two-time points, separated by a one-year interval. The parents also reported on the child's emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Methods

Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that for the child self-report, a 10-item CIUS showed the best fit and good psychometric properties: solid structural validity; very good internal consistency; appropriate stability and predictive validity after 1 year; as well as sound sensitivity and specificity when compared to the 14-item CIUS parent-report form. Child self-report CIUS ratings correlated with time online reported by the child and parent and with emotional and behavioral problems reported by the parent.

Discussion

This study indicates that children as young as 8-10 years old can reliably and consistently provide valuable information on their problematic use of the internet.

Developmental Trajectories of Adolescent Internet Addiction: Interpersonal Predictors and Adjustment Outcomes

Despite the burgeoning literature on adolescent internet addiction (IA), the majority of studies have relied on cross-sectional designs and variable-centered analytical approaches. Therefore, little is understood about the heterogeneous developmental trajectories of adolescent IA as well as its antecedents and outcomes. This longitudinal study adopted growth mixture modeling (GMM), a person-centered approach, to identify the distinct trajectories of IA among adolescents during a three-year period. We further examined the interpersonal predictors along with a series of outcomes of different trajectories. Participants included 1,365 Chinese adolescents (M_age = 14.68 years, SD = 1.56; 46.8% girls) from two junior high schools and two senior high schools. The GMM results indicated three distinct trajectories: low-increasing (56.7%), moderate-declining (37.6%), and high-declining (5.7%) groups. In terms of interpersonal predictors, adolescents who reported poorer relationships with their parents, teachers, and schoolmates were more likely to belong to the high-declining and moderate-declining groups. In terms of outcomes, the high-declining and moderate-declining groups exhibited an increase in mental health problems (i.e., more depressive symptoms, lower self-esteem, and lower subjective well-being) and delinquent behaviors, even after controlling for their baseline levels. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of IA trajectories among adolescents, the predictive role of interpersonal factors, and different adjustment outcomes associated with IA trajectories. Therefore, prevention and intervention programs involving interpersonal relationships may be promising for adolescents at high or moderate risk of IA.

Is adolescent internet use a risk factor for the development of depression symptoms or vice-versa?

BACKGROUND

The extent to which digital media use by adolescents contributes to poor mental health, or vice-versa, remains unclear. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the strength and direction of associations between adolescent internet use and the development of depression symptoms using a longitudinal modeling approach. We also examine whether associations differ for boys and girls.

METHODS

Data are drawn from (N = 1547) participants followed for the Quebec longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD 1998-2020). Youth self-reported internet use in terms of the average hours of use per week at the ages of 13, 15, and 17. Youth also self-reported depression symptoms at the same ages.

RESULTS

After testing sex-invariance, random intercepts cross-lagged panel models stratified by sex, revealed that internet use by girls was associated with significant within-person (time-varying) change in depression symptoms. Girl's internet use at age 13 was associated with increased depression symptoms at age 15 (ß = 0.12) and internet use at age 15 increased depression at age 17 (ß = 0.10). For boys, internet use was not associated with significant time varying change in depression symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings support the hypothesis that internet use by adolescents can represent a significant risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms, particularly in girls.

Trajectories of Perceived Technological Impairment and Psychological Distress in Adolescents

Fears that digital technologies harm adolescents' mental health abound; however, existing research is mixed. This study examined how perceived technological impairment (i.e., perceptions of digital technology interfering with daily life) related to psychological distress across five years in adolescence. A latent curve model with structured residuals was applied to disentangle between-from within-person associations, in which it was tested whether (a) adolescents who increased in their perceptions of technological impairment over time also increased in psychological distress (between-person) and (b) if an adolescent who reported greater perceptions of technological impairment relative to their underlying trajectory at one wave consequently reported greater distress at the subsequent wave (within-person). These associations were tested in a sample of 2104 adolescents (Mage = 12.36; 52% girls; 48% Non-White). Perceived technological impairment and psychological distress increased together over time. Girls and older adolescents (13-15 at baseline) reported greater initial levels of perceived impairment. Younger adolescents (9-12 at baseline) increased more steeply in perceived impairment over time. There was no evidence of longitudinal within-person associations. The findings suggest that although there is evidence of between-person associations in which increases in perceived technological impairment coincide with increases in psychological distress, the absence of within-person associations cautions against a cause-and-effect narrative between digital technology use and mental health.

Associations Between Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health Outcomes of Students: A Meta-analytic Review

The increasing prevalence of problematic internet use has heightened concerns about its adverse impact on internet users' mental health. Despite reviews investigating the associations between problematic internet use and mental health outcomes, there is a lack of understanding of various aspects of students' mental health. This study aimed to bridge this gap by providing a more comprehensive overall picture of this issue through a quantitative synthesis based on three-level random-effects meta-analytic models. In total, 223 studies with a cumulative total of 498,167 participants and 512 effect sizes were included in this synthesis. The results showed that problematic internet use was moderately and positively associated with depressive symptoms, anxiety, loneliness, and other mental health outcomes, and negatively related to subjective well-being. Moderator analyses revealed that several study features (i.e., school grade, region, measure of problematic internet use, publication year, and gender) could explain the variations in the findings across individual studies. These research results provide solid evidence for the link between problematic internet use and different mental health outcomes and have implications for future research and interventions on students' problematic internet use.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40894-022-00201-9.

Attentional Bias Is Associated with Negative Emotions in Problematic Users of Social Media as Measured by a Dot-Probe Task

OBJECTIVE

Social media (SM) have flourished and are affecting human lives on an unprecedented scale. Problematic social media use (PSMU) is a recently emerging problematic behavior that affects both physical and mental health. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether problematic users of SM display attentional bias (AB) toward SM-related cues, as well as the relationships between AB, the severity of PSMU, and negative emotions.

METHOD

1000 college students were recruited through classes and online forums and then tested using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS). Eventually, 60 participants, identified by the cut-off point for BSMAS, consented to participate in the study and were divided into two groups (i.e., a problematic use group and a typical use group). The severity of PSMU and negative emotions (i.e., anxiety, depression, social fear, and loneliness) were evaluated by self-report questionnaires. AB was assessed by an addiction Stroop task and a dot-probe task (DPT).

RESULTS

PSMU was found to be positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), depression (r = 0.35, p < 0.01), and social fear (r = 0.38, p < 0.01), but not with loneliness (r = 0.19, p = 0.15). Participants with a tendency toward PSMU displayed AB toward SM-related cues in the DPT [F (1, 58) = 26.77, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.32], but not in the Stroop task [F (1, 58) = 0.61, p = 0.44, ηp2 = 0.01]. Moreover, AB toward SM-related stimuli was found to be positively correlated with the severity of PSMU (r = -0.51, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = -0.37, p < 0.01), depression (r = -0.51, p < 0.001), and social fear (r = -0.30, p < 0.05) in the DPT.

CONCLUSIONS

Problematic users of SM show AB towards SM-related cues in the DPT, which is more reliable for assessing AB than the Stroop task. Moreover, it is suggested that in clinical interventions we should work to change the AB towards SM-related stimuli and improve negative emotions to decrease risks of PSMU.

Evaluation of a web-based randomized controlled trial educational intervention based on media literacy on preventing substance abuse among college students, applying the integrated social marketing approach: a study protocol

BACKGROUND

Substance abuse is the actual psychosocial harm, especially in young people confronted with content marketing in nowadays media environment, a risk factor for experiencing substance abuse. Based on the literature review, education designed based on the cognitive-behavioral model and planning models, such as using a social marketing framework, is the most effective method to prevent addictive substance abuse. Also, media literacy related to substance abuse and the prototype willingness model is considered a new integrated approach to present the intervention measures' desired results.

METHODS

The present study evaluates an intervention program based on media literacy on substance abuse prevention among students using an integrated social marketing approach. This study aims to complete the SMART model's sixth and seventh stages, implementing intervention and evaluation. Participants will be students of Hamadan University, Iran. Randomization will occur at the university and school levels, and gathered data will appear at two-time (i.e., pre-test and three months follow-up). Intervention group students will obtain both substance abuse prevention education and substance abuse media literacy (SAML) education between pre-test and 3 months post-test. Students in the delayed intervention will be given this education after study accomplishment; this group will receive their regular courses except for substance abuse prevention and media literacy titles during education intervention. The outcome variables are intentions and substance abuse behavior based on prototype willingness and substance abuse media literacy.

DISCUSSION

Evaluation of Substance abuse prevention and substance abuse media literacy education must be careful to ensure that they effectively enable people, especially in youth in the new media ecology and unique "Infomedia" ecosystems, in the current digital society. The SAML education plan's evaluation has the first web-based education program in universities. No prior research has psychometrically considered SAML in students in the SMART model's sixth and seventh stages.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRCT20200914048719N1 . Registered on June 30, 2021.

Social anxiety and internet addiction among adolescent students in a sub-Saharan African country: does family functioning make a difference?

Evidence has shown that social anxiety significantly influences internet addiction among adolescent students. However, the boundary conditions that strengthen or weaken this association with internet addiction have not been fully understood, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design to investigate the direct effect of social anxiety on internet addiction among adolescent students and the moderating role of family functioning in such relationships. A sample of ( N = 1800) students (age range 11–17 years; M = 15.30 years; SD = 1.99) from 10 secondary schools in Southeast Nigeria participated in this study. The participants completed the self-report measures of the Social Phobia Inventory, Family APGAR (adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve) Index, and Internet Addiction Test. Pearson correlation was used to determine the bivariate relationship among the study variables, while Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro was used for moderation analysis. Findings revealed that social anxiety was positively associated with internet addiction. Family functioning was negatively associated with internet addiction. Family functioning did not moderate the relationship between social anxiety and internet addiction. We concluded that reducing social anxiety and bolstering family functioning may be an effective strategy to lessen the vulnerability of adolescents to internet addiction.

Emotional State of Young Men in Relation to Problematic Internet Use

The Internet has become an indispensable tool in communication, business, entertainment, and obtaining information. Behavioral addictions are disorders associated with uncontrolled activity feeding the reward system, motivation, and memory. The purpose of this study was to assess the emotional state in terms of problematic Internet use. The survey was conducted in 2020-2021 in the West Pomeranian region of Poland and involved 500 men aged 18-30 (24.82 ± 3.83). The study was conducted using our own original questionnaire regarding the amount of time spent playing computer games during the weekdays and on days off; the type of school/university; financial situation; as well as the manner, purpose, and degree of Internet use. Other questionnaires were also used, i.e., Beck Depression Inventory, Internet Use Test, GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Assessment Questionnaire, and Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Problematic use of the Internet may result in the occurrence of anxiety, anger, hostility or depression. Longer duration of Internet activity was correlated to higher scores on the Internet Use Test degree of problematic Internet use. There was a correlation between the severity of mild depression symptoms and the occurrence of anxiety, verbal and physical aggression, and problematic Internet use.

Screening for media use in the ED among young Australians: a cross-sectional study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND

Research on problematic internet use has largely adhered to addiction paradigms, possibly impeding the identification of specific internet behaviors related to psychopathology. This study presents a novel approach to screening for specific problematic internet behaviors by using a new measure, the emergency department media use screener (EDMUS).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of internet use in young people presenting with mental health concerns to the emergency department (ED), ascertain associations with their mental health, and evaluate whether the EDMUS can be used to predict subsequent ED presentations within 3 months.

METHODS

This cross-sectional retrospective study of Australian young people (N=149, aged 11-25 years; female: n=92, 61.7%) sought to use the EDMUS, a 24-item questionnaire, to identify problematic internet behaviors, including accessing or posting prosuicidal or proeating disorder content, cyberbullying, and inappropriate digital content. Data on each person's mental health were extracted from electronic medical records to look for associations with EDMUS responses and ED re-presentation over 3 months. EDMUS items were grouped into clusters for analysis using chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and path analyses.

RESULTS

Sharing suicidal digital content was the most common problematic internet use pattern identified by the EDMUS. However, this did not correlate with having a prior mental health diagnosis or predict readmission. Most participants had families with a concern for their internet use; however, this was less likely in participants with a diagnosis of personality disorder. Diagnoses of personality disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder were independent predictors of readmission (P=.003; P=.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Although a history of complex psychopathology increases the likelihood of subsequent ED presentations, its links to internet use-related behaviors are still unclear. The EDMUS has potential for identifying young people who are most vulnerable to problematic internet behaviors and offers the opportunity for early intervention and potential prevention of more entrenched difficulties.

Internet addiction among teenagers in a Chinese population: Prevalence, risk factors, and its relationship with obsessive-compulsive symptoms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Internet addiction (IA) among teenagers has been reported frequently in China, although research has seldom focused on vocational high school students. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors among this special adolescent population. Moreover, we illustrate the complex relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, insomnia, psychological states, and IA.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was applied to collect information from three different vocational high schools in Hunan Province, China. Socio-demographic characteristics, OC symptoms, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms were compared between the IA and non-IA groups. Then, a structural equation model (SEM) was established to test our hypothesis regarding different paths from OC symptoms to IA.

RESULTS

IA prevalence was 13.4% among 7990 vocational high school students. Individuals with IA were more likely to be male and students with more severe depression, stress, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms (all p < 0.001). SEM verified that OC symptoms were related to IA both directly and indirectly, where the latter relationship was mediated through insomnia or mental disorders.

LIMITATIONS

This study cannot confirm the causal relationships among the variables and should be generalized cautiously to other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

More attention should be paid to Chinese vocational high school students, especially those with more severe OC symptoms, poor mental health, and insomnia. We should consider OC symptoms, insomnia, psychological suffering, and IA together when addressing related problems.

The Mobile Phone Addiction and Depression Among High School Students: The Roles of Cyberbullying Victimization, Perpetration, and Gender

Objective

To examine the relation between mobile phone addiction and high school students' depression, and its inner mechanism-the sequential mediating roles of the cyberbullying victimization and the cyberbullying perpetration in this relationship.

Methods

1297 high school students were recruited to complete the Smartphone Addiction Scale, European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.

Results

(1) Mobile phone addiction was positively correlated with and high school students' depression; (2) cyberbullying victimization and the cyberbullying perpetration significantly mediated the relation between mobile phone addiction and high school students' depression, which contained tow mediating paths-the independent mediating effects of cyberbullying victimization and the sequential mediating effect of cyberbullying victimization and the cyberbullying perpetration; (3) there are gender differences in the sequential mediation model, and boys who are victims of cyberbullying are more likely to develop into cyberbullying perpetrators than girls.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that depression among high school students with mobile phone addiction can be eliminated through the development of cyberbullying victimization and the cyberbullying perpetration.

Sexual Differences in Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD): From Psychological Features to Neuroanatomical Networks

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been included in the 2013 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a condition in need of further study, and gaming disorder was recognized by the World Health Organization as a mental disorder in the International Classification of Disease (ICD-11) of 2018. IGD has different characteristics in the two sexes and is more prevalent in males than females. However, even if the female gamer population is constantly growing, the majority of available studies analyzed only males, or the data were not analyzed by sex. To better elucidate sex differences in IGD, we selectively reviewed research publications that evaluated IGD separately for males and females collected in approximately one hundred publications over the past 20 years. The available data in this narrative review indicate that IGD is strongly dimorphic by sex for both its psychological features and the involvement of different brain areas. Impulsivity, low self-control, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and depression are some of the psychological features associated with IGD that show a sex dimorphism. At the same time, IGD and its psychological alterations are strongly correlated to dimorphic functional characteristics in relevant brain areas, as evidenced by fMRI. More research is needed to better understand sex differences in IGD. Animal models could help to elucidate the neurological basis of this disorder.

The Relationship Between Alexithymia and Mobile Phone Addiction Among Mainland Chinese Students: A Meta-Analysis

Alexithymia and mobile phone addiction are common phenomena in daily life. Many studies have explored the internal relationship between them based on different theoretical perspectives, but the extent of the exact correlation is still controversial. To address this controversy and clarify the reasons for the divergence, a meta-analysis of 26 articles comprising 23,387 Chinese students was conducted. The results show that alexithymia was highly positively correlated with mobile phone addiction (r = 0.41, 95% CI = [0.37, 0.45]). Furthermore, the relationship was moderated by mobile phone addiction measurement tool and year of publication, with studies using the Mobile Phone Addiction Tendency Scale (MPATS) having higher correlation coefficients than those using the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) or other measurement tools. Studies published in 2020-2021 yielded higher correlations than those published in 2014-2016 and 2017-2019. However, the relationship was not moderated by gender, region, or measures of alexithymia. Therefore, our meta-analysis of available published data indicated that alexithymia and mobile phone addiction in Chinese students are not only highly positively correlated but also affected by mobile phone addiction measurement tools and publication year. Longitudinal studies or experimental studies should be strengthened in the future to further establish the direction(s) of causality for the relation between alexithymia and mobile phone addiction.

Positive Youth Development and Internet Use in a Sample of Spanish Adolescents

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of Internet in the adolescent population has increased. A growing research interest has been developed about the consequences of Internet use for adolescent development. Despite most studies have examined the impact of Internet use on some indicators of psychological maladjustment, few studies have addressed the detrimental impact on the positive indicators of mental health. Positive youth development (PYD) represents a positive view of adolescent transition to adulthood which focuses on building the strengths that make young people more resistant to negative outcomes and more capable to choose a positive life direction. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between different aspects of Internet use and overall PYD in a sample of Spanish adolescents. To reach this aim, a sample of 1,038 adolescents (50.1% boys, M age = 14.19, SD = 1.38), enrolled in 14 high schools in the city of Huelva (Spain), filled in some self-report measures of PYD and Internet use and experience, such as the frequency of Internet use on weekdays or weekends, the different uses of Internet (i.e., social networks, playing online, reading, surfing or looking for information, playing or downloading music, and searching, selling, or buying products), and the subjective experience using the Internet (i.e., acknowledgment of spending too much time playing or in the networks, and being in a bad mood if they do not play or use the networks). Results of a hierarchical regression analysis showed that the more hours using Internet on weekdays, the less PYD. Moreover, the experience of feeling bad when not using the networks and spending too much time with online playing was related to lower PYD. However, the use of Internet for reading or looking for information had a positive association with PYD. These results suggest some implications for practice, such as the need to promote an adaptive Internet use, by providing a safe online context that encourages the acquisition of positive social values and life skills.

Temporal directional relationship between problematic internet use and depressive symptoms among Japanese adolescents: A random intercept, cross-lagged panel model

AIM

The results from research on the temporal directional relationship between problematic Internet use (PIU) and depressive symptoms are inconsistent. This study aimed to explore this relationship among junior high school students in Japan.

METHODS

Junior high/middle school students in the seventh grade (Time 1, [T1]) were recruited annually for 4 years starting in 2014; each cohort was followed up at 1 year (Time 2, [T2]) and 2 years (Time 3, [T3]). Three-year longitudinal panel data were collected from self-reported questionnaires that were completed by 1192 students (586 males and 606 females). Young's Internet Addiction Test and the Birleson Depression Self-rating Scale were used to assess participants' PIU and depressive symptoms, respectively. The temporal directional relationship between PIU and depressive symptoms was analyzed using the random intercept, cross-lagged panel model.

RESULTS

The mean of the Internet Addiction Test increased as grade level increased: 28.0 at T1, 30.7 at T2 and 32.6 at T3. There was a unidirectional positive effect from PIU at T2 to depressive symptoms at T3, but not vice versa. There was no directional effect from PIU at T1 to depressive symptoms at T2, nor any in the reverse.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that PIU precedes depressive symptoms. Therefore, addressing PIU is a promising preventive measure for adolescent depression.

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.

Internet gaming disorder and comorbidities among campus-dwelling U.S. university students

This study investigates the prevalence and associations of DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) with sleep impairment, daytime functioning, psychiatric disorders, and health status among young adults living in student houses on the campus of an American university. A random sample of students living on the campus underwent phone interviews during the 2007 & 2015 academic years. The sample included 1,871 undergraduate and 1,113 graduate students (2,984 in total). Students were considered to have IGD if they recreationally spent ≥15 hours per week on an electronic device (39.4% of the students) and displayed ≥5 addiction-related symptoms; 5.3% of the sample met these 2 criteria. In bivariate analyses, IGD students had a greater proportion of suicidal thoughts (16.9% vs. 6.6%), suicide attempts (9.7% vs. 3.3%), major depressive disorder (9.7% vs. 3.0%), and social anxiety disorder (24.8% vs. 8.5%) than the no-IGD group. In multivariate analyses, IGD predicted non-restorative sleep, excessive fatigue, less close friends, depressive mood, bipolar disorder, social anxiety disorder, and a poor to fair health status. IGD is highly prevalent in this student population, affecting one in 20 students. IGD was associated with a variety of sleep, psychiatric, and health factors which may impact functioning and academic performance.

The Moderating Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Problematic Internet Use and Cyberbullying Perpetration Among Adolescents: Gender Differences

A large body of literature has identified the problematic Internet use as a risk factor for cyberbullying perpetration. Nevertheless, the studies on protective factors that may moderate this relationship are still scarce. The purpose of the present study was to examine if the emotional intelligence is a moderator in the relationship between problematic Internet use and cyberbullying perpetration. A total of 2039 Spanish adolescents between 12 to 18 years filled out three self-report questionnaires to evaluate these variables. Results indicated that cyberbullying perpetration was positively associated with problematic Internet use and negatively with emotional intelligence. On the other hand, problematic Internet use was negatively related to emotional intelligence, being this relationship stronger in girls. With respect to the possible buffering effect, emotional intelligence moderated the relation between problematic Internet use and cyberbullying perpetration in boys, especially at lower levels. These findings suggest that emotional intelligence is a personal resource which have an important protective role for the problematic Internet use in adolescents. Implications for the preventive interventions of cyberbullying perpetration are discussed.

Internet gaming disorder behaviours: a preliminary exploration of individualism and collectivism profiles

BACKGROUND

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) behaviours involve excessive use of Internet games to the extent that one's everyday life is compromised. It has been suggested that IGD symptoms are dependent on whether one is more individualistic or collectivistic. However, the range of potential individualism-collectivismeffects on IGD presentations remains largely unknown. The current study aims to further understanding of the role of individualistic and collectivistic tendencies in IGD, allowing us to develop more gamer centredIGD prevention and intervention strategies.

METHODS

One thousand and thirty-twocommunity participants withinternet gaming experience were measured online for IGD symptom's severity using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale - Short Form (IGDS9-SF) andindividualism-collectivism behavioursvia the Individualism & Collectivism Scale (ICS). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) and T-Tests were performed in relation to their responses.

RESULTS

Upon inspection of the LCA output, two profiles of internet gamers were identified. These includedthe Collectivism Aversivegamers (CA; 11%) and the Collectivism Neutral gamers (CN; 89%). The CA gamers displayed significantly higher IGD behaviours overall, and, were higher inpreoccupation, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, relapse, deception, escapism/mood modification, and functional impairment compared to CN gamers. There were no differences between CA and CN gamers in loss of interest and conflicts with others.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that one's individualism-collectivism orientation can influence the presentation of IGD. Specifically, those who are less collectivistic or are less influenced by social groups willdisplay greater IGD symptoms and present a profile that requires a different intervention from gamers who are more collectivistic. Researchers and clinicians should emphasize the value of belonging in a collective and experiencing equality with others in relation to mental health and gaming patterns.

Association of the length of time using computers and mobile devices with low back, neck and mid-back pains: findings from a birth cohort

OBJECTIVES

Neck and low back pains are the leading causes of years lived with disability, and using computers or mobile devices in excess could be risk factors for back pain. Our aim was to evaluate the association of the length of time using computers and mobile devices with neck, mid-back and low back pains and the number of regions with pain.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study nested in the 1993 Pelotas birth cohort with young adults aged 22 years.

METHODS

Outcomes analyzed were neck, mid-back and low back pains and the number of regions with pain. Exposures were the number of daily hours using computers and mobile devices. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed to estimate prevalence ratios using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Almost half of the sample reported having back pain, the low back pain being the most prevalent. Compared with individuals using mobile devices for less than one hour, the prevalence of neck pain was 1.41 and 1.81 times higher among individuals using mobile devices from three to seven hours and for seven or more hours per day, respectively. Neck pain prevalence was 1.47 times higher among individuals using computers for more than two hours than among those not using computers. Using mobile devices for seven hours or more was associated to 1.19 times higher prevalence of low back pain.

CONCLUSION

Using mobile devices in excess was associated to neck and low back pains, while the use of computers in excess was associated only to neck pain. It is important that guidelines are developed to recommend the adequate length of time that computers and mobile devices should be used to prevent back pain.

Longitudinal Trajectories, Social and Individual Antecedents, and Outcomes of Problematic Internet Use Among Late Adolescents

Given the detrimental effects associated with problematic internet use (PIU) and the need to better understand its nature and evolution, the present study examined the development of PIU in a sample of 1,750 adolescents (aged 16-19) from Finland over a 3-year period. We documented the social (loneliness, perceived maternal and paternal behaviors) and individual (sex) antecedents, as well as the outcome implications (depressive symptoms, substance use, academic achievement) of PIU trajectories. Outcomes also predicted PIU trajectories. Latent curve modeling revealed an initially moderate, and subsequently decreasing trajectory of PIU. PIU was predicted by loneliness, paternal neglect, maternal care, depressive symptoms, and being male. In turn, PIU trajectories predicted increases in depressive symptoms and substance use, but decreases in academic achievement.

Children's Internet Use Profiles in Relation to Behavioral Problems in Lithuania, Latvia, and Taiwan

This study explored the profiles of elementary-school-aged children’s Internet use in relation to their emotional and behavioral problems. Participating in this cross-sectional study were 877 child–parent dyads from Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan. Children (8–10 years old) provided information on three variables: the amount of time they spent online, frequency of online activities, and knowledge of how to do things online. Latent profile analysis including these three variables provided a four-class solution for child Internet use. A comparison between Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan on the percentage of the sample distribution in each class showed that there was no difference between sites for the high class (high ratings on all three variables). The largest differences were for the low and average classes (low and average ratings on all three variables, namely, time online, frequency, and knowledge): the Lithuanian and Taiwanese samples were similar in that a higher percentage of each sample was in the low class, whereas the Latvian sample had children equally distributed between the low class and the average class. Analysis of the data from the entire sample for differences in parent-reported child behavioral difficulties suggested that children in the high class had an elevated level of behavioral problems and compulsive Internet use.

The Psychosocial Factors of Elementary School-Aged Children’s Compulsive Internet Use As Reported by Children and Parents

Children’s electronic media use in the form of Internet has increased over the past decades. The activities that children engage using the Internet can lead to experiencing positive as well as negative outcomes. Recent studies have found that excessive time devoted to the Internet use and behavioral narrowing can lead to Internet addiction (Enagandula et al., 2018) or compulsive Internet use (Meerkerk et al., 2009). This phenomenon can be described as a greater risk of developing excessive online habits, which may result in impairments of individual’s activities of daily living as well as relationships with others. Specific characteristics of these associations, however, have been examined only minimally in young children. The goal of this study was to examine the peculiarities of elementary school-aged children’s Internet use in relation to sociodemographic and relationships with others, as well as possible behavioral and emotional difficulties. The sample consisted of 304 parent-child dyads. All children in the study were second or third grade students (mean age 8.47 years, SD = 0.56), 50.3% were boys. Children and parents completed the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS; Meerkerk et al., 2009) and provided information about time spent on the Internet. Parents provided sociodemographic information and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman, 1997), and children answered questions about their relationships with their parents and peers. The results of the study revealed significant gender differences in compulsivity of the Internet use, i.e. the estimates of boys CIUS – both provided by children and their parents – were significantly higher than girls. In overall, there was good agreement between parental and children’s reports on child’s CIUS, however parents reported higher CIUS scores and longer Internet use than children themselves. Regression analysis revealed that children’s CIUS is predicted (a) from the child’s perspective – by longer Internet time together with lower scores of child prosocial behavior, male gender, less advantaged financial situation in the family, and poorer parent-child relationships; (b) from the parent’s perspective – by longer Internet time, male gender, lower scores of child prosocial behavior, higher scores of behavioral and emotional difficulties together with less advantaged financial family status. The findings of the study are discussed in light of evidence-based practice and research.

Problematic internet use: A scoping review – longitudinal research on a contemporary social problem, 2006–2017

Background and aims:

Problematic internet use (PIU), and kindred concepts such as internet addiction (IA), make up a growing research field, partly due to the suggested inclusion of internet gaming disorder in a future DSM-6 as well as the fact that gaming disorder is on its way to being included in the ICD-11. Conclusions from research are far from unified. This study aims to synthesise the research field of problematic internet use/internet addiction/gaming disorder, with a focus on the reporting of prevalence and change.

Methods:

Longitudinal studies of PIU/IA formed the basis for a scoping review. Systematic searches of Web of Science, Scopus and Proquest, for peer-reviewed and published articles based on empirical data collected at a minimum of two time points for studies, and with an end point set at 2017, led to the inclusion of 97 studies. Endnote X7 was used to organise the results and NVivo 11 was used for synthesising the results.

Results:

Analyses focused on prevalence and change. Findings show variation among measures and prevalence as well as in reported outcomes relating to social life and other problems. Most studies reported relations between PIU/IA and other problems in life, but no specific time order could be established. Furthermore, many studies did not present data on prevalence or change even though using a longitudinal survey design.

Discussion and conclusions:

In summary, the research field is plagued by a lack of consensus and common understanding, regarding both measures, perceptions of the problem, and findings.

The relationship between maladaptive personality functioning and problematic technology use in adolescence: A cluster analysis approach

In the last two decades, scientific research has explored the problematic use of internet, videogames and mobile phones. However, there is still little consistent knowledge regarding the co-occurrence of problematic technology use and the role of maladaptive personality characteristics in adolescence. The present study aimed to investigate adolescents' styles of technology use with a cluster analysis approach focusing on personality functioning. The sample comprised 408 Italian adolescents (46.3% males) aged 11 to 18 years (M _age  = 13.80; SD = 2.08). Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test, the Videogame Dependency Scale, the Test of Mobile-Phone Dependence Brief Form and the Personality Inventory for DSM5 Brief Form. Results provided a four-cluster solution based on the co-occurrence of problematic technology use. The four clusters were labeled as follows: cluster 1: "Above average internet and mobile-phone use"; cluster 2: "Below average technology use"; cluster 3: "Above average videogame use"; and cluster 4: "Problematic technology use." Analyses on demographic variables (e.g., gender and age) demonstrated significant differences between the four groups. Adolescents with high levels of problematic technology use reported greater overall personality dysfunction than the other three groups. This finding supported our hypothesis on maladaptive personality functioning in adolescents at risk for addiction. Finally, the Antagonism domain played a specific role in differentiating the severity of adolescents' involvement in technology use. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and to plan preventive interventions as well as therapeutic treatments.

Gaming and Gaming Disorder: A Mediation Model Gender, Salience, Age of Gaming Onset, and Time Spent Gaming

Females in empirically based peer-reviewed studies of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) are underrepresented, despite evidence that there are only minor gender disparities present in online gaming. Moreover, few studies have specifically evaluated adult gender effects, within a formal diagnosis of IGD, and behavioral motivation, as defined by the reinforcing behavioral function. A mediation analysis evaluated the relationship between gender, behavioral motivation, and the diagnostic features in online gaming among adults to understand the impact of motivation on videogame playing. This study interviewed 304 adults (aged >18 years) in which 178 identified as female. Participants completed the Video Game Functional Assessment-Revised (VGFA-R) and the 20-item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-20) through an online survey. Results showed that number of hours played per week, and subfactors of the VGFA-R differed between gender, indicating that the function and the maintaining of videogame play are essential in evaluating videogame addiction. These findings support and extend the literature's limited findings concerning gender and online gaming.

Investigating the links between fear of missing out, social media addiction, and emotional symptoms in adolescence: The role of stress associated with neglect and negative reactions on social media

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is known to be associated with a decrease in emotional well-being in adolescents. However, few studies have investigated the possible mediating factors between FoMO and emotional symptoms. In this study, we studied the relationship between FoMO and emotional symptoms in a sample of 472 Italian adolescents aged 11-19. In particular, the study investigated the possible mediating role of perceived stress associated with experiences of neglect and negative reactions by other social media users, and social media addiction. Self-report measures were used. Results show that FoMO directly and indirectly predicts emotional symptoms. Additionally, FoMO is associated with increased sensitivity to stress associated with experiences of neglect and negative reactions by online peers, and social media addiction. Sensitivity to stress associated with neglect (but not to negative reactions) by online peers is found to mediate the relationship between FoMO and social media addiction, which, in turn, mediates the relationship with emotional symptoms. In general, the study shows that FoMO is a factor in experiencing higher sensitivity to stress associated with neglect by online peers, which in turn my act as a trigger for social media addiction, and ultimately showing a negative impact on emotional well-being of adolescents. Limits and future directions for research are discussed.

The Association Between Social Media Use and Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Youths: A Four-Country Study

Aims

To examine the continuing role of daily popular social media use in youth hazardous alcohol consumption in four countries across continents.

Methods

A web-based survey was given to youths aged 15–25 in the USA (n = 1212), South Korea (n = 1192), Finland (n = 1200) and Spain (n = 1212). Hazardous alcohol use (alcohol use disorders identification test-C) was the dependent variable. Main independent variables measured daily use of different social media services. Controls included compulsive Internet use, offline belonging, psychological distress, impulsivity, risk-taking, age and gender. Linear regression models and mediation analyses with bootstrapping were done for each country.

Results

Daily use of Facebook and Instagram was associated with higher hazardous alcohol use among youths in Finland, South Korea and Spain. Daily instant messaging was related to higher hazardous alcohol use among South Korean and Finnish youths. Daily YouTube use was associated with higher hazardous alcohol use among youths in South Korea, but lower hazardous alcohol use among youths in the USA and Finland. Daily Twitter use was related to lower hazardous drinking among youths in Finland but higher hazardous drinking among youths in Spain. The mediation analyses revealed that uploading pictures to social media is a possible facilitator of social media-related hazardous alcohol use among youths in the USA and Spain.

Conclusion

Certain social media platforms might inspire and/or attract hazardously drinking youths, contributing to the growing opportunities for social media interventions.

Association Between Victimization, Internet Overuse, and Suicidal Behaviors Among Adolescents

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to identify the association between violence exposure and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts among adolescents and to test whether these relationships were mediated by internet overuse.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We used a cross-sectional design and analyzed the raw data of 101,440 high school students (52.1% male; mean age = 16.43 years, SD = 0.03) from the 10th-12th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey.

RESULTS

A series of multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Violence exposure incurred a significantly higher risk of suicidal ideation (crude odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 4.44, 4.07-4.87), suicidal plans (crude odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 8.89, 7.94-9.96), and suicidal attempts (crude odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 11.17, 9.86-12.66). The Sobel test showed evidence of the mediating role of internet overuse in the relationship between violence exposure and each suicidal variable: ideation (p = .004), plans (p = .004), and attempts (p = .012).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The findings suggest a need to organize the protective procedures for victimized high school students so that they can use the internet more securely. In particular, adolescents who are prone to being victimized or bullied should have restricted access to the internet or monitored with caution to prevent internet overuse. Counseling for this population is suggested to reduce the risk of suicide by assessing the motivations and patterns of internet use. It is necessary to spread awareness among potential violence exposure group on coping with violence experience and using the internet appropriately.