Pathological Internet use among European adolescents: psychopathology and self-destructive behaviours

Abstract

Rising global rates of pathological Internet use (PIU) and related psychological impairments have gained considerable attention in recent years. In an effort to acquire evidence-based knowledge of this relationship, the main objective of this study was to investigate the association between PIU, psychopathology and self-destructive behaviours among school-based adolescents in eleven European countries. This cross-sectional study was implemented within the framework of the European Union project: Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe. A representative sample of 11,356 school-based adolescents (M/F: 4,856/6,500; mean age: 14.9) was included in the analyses. PIU was assessed using the Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire. Psychopathology was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Self-destructive behaviours were evaluated by the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory and Paykel Suicide Scale. Results showed that suicidal behaviours (suicidal ideation and suicide attempts), depression, anxiety, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention were significant and independent predictors of PIU. The correlation between PIU, conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention was stronger among females, while the link between PIU and symptoms of depression, anxiety and peer relationship Michael Kaess and Tony Durkee contributed equally to this paper and therefore both should be considered as first authors. 123Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry (2014) 23:1093-1102 DOI 10.1007 problems was stronger among males. The association between PIU, psychopathology and self-destructive behaviours was stronger in countries with a higher prevalence of PIU and suicide rates. These findings ascertain that psychopathology and suicidal behaviours are strongly related to PIU. This association is significantly influenced by gender and country suggesting socio-cultural influences. At the clinical and public health levels, targeting PIU among adolescents in the early stages could potentially lead to improvements of psychological well-being and a reduction of suicidal behaviours.

Problematic mobile phone use of Swiss adolescents: is it linked with mental health or behaviour?

“…Thus, hyperactive adolescents may be prone to develop problematic mobile phone use through the countless possibilities of a mobile phone to drift away, find excitement and escape from boredom. At the same time we found Conduct Problems to be associated with problematic mobile phone use, which is in line with the finding of Kaess et al (2014) of problematic internet use being related to conduct problems in adolescents.…”

“…Similar findings come from recent studies linking symptoms of mental ill health, depression and anxiety to problematic mobile phone use (Augner and Hacker 2012;Ha et al 2008;Yen et al 2009), to problematic internet use (Kaess et al 2014;Ko et al 2012) and to amount of mobile phone use which is expected to partly reflect problematic use (Ikeda and Nakamura 2014;Thomée et al 2011). Similar to these studies, our cross-sectional study cannot clarify the direction of these associations.…”

“…Previous studies found hyperactivity and ADHD associated with problematic internet use (Kaess et al 2014;Ko et al 2012;Kormas et al 2011;Ozturk et al 2013) and using the mobile phone for entertainment (playing games, internet) (Byun et al 2013b;Zheng et al 2014). Hyperactive adolescents are easily distracted, show problems in sustaining attention and are less capable of impulse control (Douglas 1972).…”

Epidemiologia do Uso de Internet numa População Adolescente e Sua Relação com Hábitos de Sono

“…13 De facto, vários estudos demonstram o impacto negativo do uso excessivo de Internet sobre o desenvolvimento psicossocial dos adolescentes, [14][15][16] assim como a sua associação com comportamentos suicidas (ideação suicida e tentativas de suicídio), depressão e ansiedade. [17][18][19] No que diz respeito a alterações do sono existem algumas associações positivas descritas, mas do conhecimento dos autores não existe, até à data, nenhum estudo nacional sobre a prevalência de dependência de Internet na adolescência, nem sobre o seu efeito no sono e na sonolência diurna.…”

Large sample size in child and adolescent psychiatric research: the way of salvation?

“…Four studies used questionnaires in large samples of children and adolescents [1,2,5,7]. One population-based study rendered possible via linkage of records of three health data sets compared disordered (ADHD; n = 11,902) and non-disordered children (healthy controls; n = 27,304) under 18 years [11].…”