The relationship between Internet addiction and childhood trauma in adolescents: The mediating role of social support

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescents are at high risk of Internet addiction (IA). Previous studies have shown that the occurrence of IA may be associated with childhood trauma and social support to varying degrees. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of IA in adolescents. Further, to explore the potential mediating role of social support in childhood trauma and IA. This study provides theoretical support for future interventions targeting IA in adolescents.MethodsThis study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were used to conduct an anonymous questionnaire survey among randomly selected adolescents aged less than 18 years old in two cities in southern Anhui Province. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were used to test the correlation between IA and other variables. A binary logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of IA. Multiple regression models were examined with process macro and bootstrapping to confirm significant mediating effects.ResultsA total of 844 adolescents, equally divided between males and females, participated in this study, and the prevalence of IA in the region was 23.0%. Through the mediation test, the direct effect of childhood trauma on IA was 0.20 (95% CI [0.12, 0.27], p < 0.001), and the mediating effect of social support on childhood trauma and IA was 0.09 (95% CI [0.06, 0.14]).ConclusionThe study showed that childhood trauma significantly affected the incidence of IA in adolescents. Social support had a significant mediating effect on childhood trauma and IA and attenuated its negative effects.

Video game addiction in psychiatric adolescent population: A hospital‐based study on the role of individualism from South China

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“…These findings were consistent with some previous studies, suggesting that childhood trauma may have an impact on VGA via depression and anxiety symptoms, both directly and indirectly (Bickham, 2021 ; Shokouhi‐Moqhaddam et al., 2013 ). One generalizable explanation could be that for victims of childhood trauma, video games may be one of the available coping strategies to trauma‐related symptoms (Sheng et al., 2022 ; Shi et al., 2020 ).…”

Physical activity reduces internet addiction among “post-00” college students: The mediating role of coping styles

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The relationship between health literacy and internet addiction among middle school students in Chongqing, China: A cross-sectional survey study

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