Internet use among young people with and without mental health difficulties

"the aim of the present study is to measure and compare internet use across a continuum of young people including those experiencing no mental health difficulties, those experiencing some difficulties but receiving no formal support, and those attending inpatient and outpatient mental health services. Internet use is operationalised as access to the internet, websites visited, and experiences of risk, online bullying, victimisation, problematic use, and parental monitoring and knowledge of use. A total of 299 young people aged 12–18 years completed an online survey. In all, 29 young people were attending an inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit and completed the survey in the unit; 33 young people were attending the associated outpatient service and completed it at home; 237 were recruited from secondary schools in Dublin, and completed surveys in school. Of these, 56 reported experiencing psychosocial difficulties, as measured by the Youth Pediatric Symptom Checklist"