Problematic internet usage and presence of risky behaviors in adolescents
Embargo Date
2025-02-12
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
There is substantial evidence that overuse of the internet may negatively affect one’s mental health. Problematic internet usage (PIU) may not only impact mental health, attention span, performance in school, and social skills, but also may influence individuals to engage behaviors that are potentially dangerous. However, much is still unknown about the relationship between PIU and specific types of digital media use.
The present study is a 6-week smartphone ecological momentary assessment protocol where adolescent/young adult participants were recruited from child and adult outpatient psychiatry clinics to answer questions about risky digital behaviors, PIU, and digital media use. The study aimed to assess temporal relationships between PIU and other high-risk digital behaviors (cyberbullying & sexting) in addition to the relationship between qualitative digital media use and the incidence of engaging in either PIU, cyberbullying, and/or sexting behaviors. Mixed effects models assessed for significant relationships between types and amount of digital media use and risky behaviors of cyberbullying, PIU, and sexting. In order to determine if problematic internet usage (PIU) is associated with increases in risky behavior, the participants of the study were asked to indicate whether they have experienced both cyberbullying and/or sexting and were also instructed to report their most used digital media function.
Significant associations were found between the presence of sexting behaviors and certain digital media uses. Those who indicated “gaming” as their most used app for the day appeared to be significantly less likely to engage in sexting that day, while those who indicated communication of surfing the web were significantly more likely to engage in setting that day. There was no significant relationship found between cyberbullying and any form of digital media use, however those who used communication, nonSM video, and gaming were less likely to engage in cyberbullying, although not significantly. Finally, on days when individuals engaged in cyberbullying, there was a significant decrease in PIU.
Problematic internet usage (PIU) may have detrimental effects on not only overall mental health, but also increase the chance of engagement in certain high-risk digital behaviors. Further research is needed to investigate intervention methods and other potential comorbidities.