Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the interrelationships of adolescent biological, social and cognitive factors in relation to problematic internet use (PIU). The design of this study was based upon a multi-faceted theoretical framework with the intent of exploring the integration of risk factors associated with PIU. Participants were 305 middle school and high school adolescents who completed questionnaires with measures of hyperactivity, parenting practices, maladaptive cognitions and PIU. After controlling for age, gender and family economic status, the regression analyses showed hyperactivity, inconsistent parenting and maladaptive cognitions to be independently predictive of PIU. Inconsistent parenting was found to mediate the effect between hyperactivity and maladaptive cognitions. No significant interactions were found between parenting practices and hyperactivity or maladaptive cognitions. This study contributes to an understanding of the interplay of biological, familial and cognitive factors in the development of adolescent PIU and points to implications for the necessity of considering multiple preventive and treatment approaches for adolescents who are encountering difficulties with excessive use of the internet.
Highlights
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Various risk factors may promote adolescent problematic internet use (PIU).
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Theoretical models propose biological, psychological and social factors.
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Hyperactivity, parenting practices and maladaptive cognitions were examined.
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PIU was predicted by hyperactivity, inconsistent parenting and maladaptive cognitions.
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Inconsistent parenting mediated between hyperactivity and maladaptive cognitions.
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Author Contributions
S.B.S: designed and executed the study, conducted data analysis, and wrote the paper. A.M.: collaborated with the study design and writing of the manuscript. M.L.: collaborated with the data analysis.
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All of the study authors and research assistants complied with ethical standards in the treatment of participants. This study was reviewed and approved by the University of Latvia Ethics Committee for Humanities and Social Sciences. All procedures were in accordance with the ethical principles of the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.
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Parents were informed and passive consent was received, meaning that the parents were advised to indicate if they did not want their adolescent to participate in the study. Active informed consent was obtained from all adolescents included in the study.
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Sebre, S.B., Miltuze, A. & Limonovs, M. Integrating Adolescent Problematic Internet Use Risk Factors: Hyperactivity, Inconsistent Parenting, and Maladaptive Cognitions. J Child Fam Stud 29, 2000–2009 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01726-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01726-0