Social relational factors of excessive internet use in four European countries
Keywords
Emotional problems
Excessive internet use
IPARTheory
Preference for online social interaction.
Publication details
| Year: | 2020 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00038-020-01484-2 |
| Issued: | 2020 |
| Language: | English |
| Volume: | 65 |
| Issue: | 8 |
| Start Page: | 1289 |
| End Page: | 1297 |
| Editors: | |
| Authors: | Mikuška J.; Smahel D.; Dědková L.; Staksrud E.; Mascheroni G.; Milosevic T. |
| Type: | Journal article |
| Journal: | International Journal of Public Health |
| Publisher: | Springer Science and Business Media LLC |
| Topics: | Social mediation; Internet usage, practices and engagement; Literacy and skills; Wellbeing; Risks and harms; Online safety and policy regulation; Access, inequalities and vulnerabilities; Digital and socio-cultural environment |
| Sample: | A multi-group SEM was tested on representative samples of 4104 adolescents (Mage = 14.40 years, SD = 1.65, range 12-17, 50% female) from four European countries from Southern, Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe (Italy, Norway, Czech Republic, and Serbia, respectively) |
| Implications For Parents About: | Parental practices / parental mediation; Parental digital literacy ; Parenting guidance / support |
| Implications For Educators About: | Digital citizenship; STEM Education; Other |
| Implications For Policy Makers About: | Creating a safe environment for children online; Stepping up awareness and empowerment; Other |
| Other PolicyMaker Implication: | Digital citizenship |
| Implications For Stakeholders About: | Healthcare; Researchers |
Abstract
Objectives Adolescents who deal with more emotional problems have been found to seek escape online, and struggle with excessive internet use (EIU). Poor social relationships have been linked with emotional problems. The current study investigated positive family and school relationships as protective factors against emotional problems and a preference for online social interaction (POSI), both specified as mediators of the association of family and school relationships with EIU. Cross-cultural differences in the model were tested.
Methods A multi-group SEM was tested on representative samples of 4104 adolescents (Mage = 14.40 years, SD = 1.65, range 12–17, 50% female) from four European countries from Southern, Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe (Italy, Norway, Czech Republic, and Serbia, respectively).
Results Results suggested consistent associations across countries. Positive family relationships and positive school relationships were associated with lower EIU, with 63–64% of the effect of family, and 91–93% of the effect of school relationships mediated by emotional problems and POSI.
Conclusions Positive family and school relationships protect adolescents against excessive internet usage, regardless of culture and indirectly—through emotional problems and POSI.
Outcome
Results suggested consistent associations across countries. Positive family relationships and positive school relationships were associated with lower EIU, with 63–64% of the effect of family, and 91–93% of the effect of school relationships mediated by emotional problems and POSI.
Conclusions Positive family and school relationships protect adolescents against excessive internet usage, regardless of culture and indirectly—through emotional problems and POSI.