Variables related with problematic internet use among adolescents

Abstract

Although network usage is a generalized and beneficial phenomenon in a lot of ways, there are an increasing number of studies which warn off the psychological and behavioral consequences associated with problematic internet use. Despite the amount of literature existent about this topic there has been few attempts in order to identify related variables and to develop explicative models. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between Problematic Internet Use and different variables (sociodemographic, the role of the parents, usage habits, academic performance and consequences of inappropriate internet use). To do this, we selected a sample which involved a total of 1709 Compulsory Secondary School students from de province of A Coruña whose ages ranged between 11 and 17 years. Results not only show that a 26.6% of the sample has a Problematic Internet Use, but being female and having parents which don´t use Internet may constitute risk factors. It has also been found that Problematic Internet Use is related with a lower academic performance and a greater presence of physical and psychosocial symptoms, presumably consequence of the inadequate Internet use.