The Dark Side of Internet Use: Two Longitudinal Studies of Excessive Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms, School Burnout and Engagement Among Finnish Early and Late Adolescents

Abstract

Recent research shows an increased concern with well-being at school and potential problems associated with students' use of socio-digital technologies, i.e., the mobile devices, computers, social media, and the Internet. Simultaneously with supporting creative social activities, socio-digital participation may also lead to compulsive and addictive behavioral patterns affecting both general and school-related mental health problems. Using two longitudinal data waves gathered among 1702 (53 % female) early (age 12-14) and 1636 (64 % female) late (age 16-18) Finnish adolescents, we examined cross-lagged paths between excessive internet use, school engagement and burnout, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed reciprocal cross-lagged paths between excessive internet use and school burnout among both adolescent groups: school burnout predicted later excessive internet use and excessive internet use predicted later school burnout. Reciprocal paths between school burnout and depressive symptoms were also found. Girls typically suffered more than boys from depressive symptoms and, in late adolescence, school burnout. Boys, in turn, more typically suffered from excessive internet use. These results show that, among adolescents, excessive internet use can be a cause of school burnout that can later spill over to depressive symptoms.

The associations between internet use time and school performance among Korean adolescents differ according to the purpose of internet use

“…Thus, if appropriately used, interned media can be helpful for sustaining attention, memory and social communication skills. However, when excessively used, they may interfere with school work and sleep time and, if chronically continued, may result in an imbalance of circadian rhythms [23]. Furthermore, internet users are continuously exposed to new messages or data, and this constant exposure can interrupt their concentration on schoolwork.…”

“…Problematic internet use has been suggested to be related to lower school grades [22]. In an earlier prospective study, internet overuse and school burnout were shown to reciprocally affect each other [23]. In addition to the distraction from schoolwork and the relative shortage of time for academic activities caused by internet overuse, socioeconomic factors such as income, parental education level, and region of residence; psychological factors including stress; and physical factors such as medication use, smoking and alcohol use may mediate the effects of internet use on school performance.…”

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“…This trend has been partly explained by self-applied pressure to be perfect in all aspects of life, including school, the social sphere, and physical appearance. This pressure has increased with the introduction of social media in daily life, such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, according to a Finnish study [16]. …”

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“…Excessive ICT use. Compulsive and harmful digital technology use was assessed with a 5-item scale earlier employed by Salmela-Aro, Upadyaya, Hakkarainen, Lonka, and Alho (2017). A sample item reads, "Using ICT causes me to neglect my schoolwork".…”