The prevalence of problematic internet use among a sample of Egyptian adolescents and its psychiatric comorbidities

Burden of gaming disorder among adolescents: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

Integrating digital technology into daily life has made video games a primary form of entertainment for adolescents worldwide. Despite their benefits, excessive gaming has emerged as a significant public health issue, recognized as a gaming disorder by the World Health Organization in the ICD-11. This study aims to assess the prevalence of gaming disorders among adolescents through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

A search was conducted across multiple databases until February 15, 2024. Observational studies that assessed the prevalence of gaming disorder were included. Nested Knowledge software was used for screening and data extraction. The quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Meta-analysis using a random effect model was used to synthesize prevalence rates. Statistical analyses were performed in R software version 4.3.

Results

The meta-analysis included 84 studies covering a diverse geographical scope totaling 641,763 individuals. The pooled prevalence of gaming disorder was 8.6 % (95 % CI: 6.9 %-10.8 %), (I2 = 100 %). Subgroup analysis revealed varying prevalence rates by country, with China reporting the highest rate at 11.7 % (95 % CI: 8.6 %-15.7 %). Meta-regression analysis highlighted an increasing trend in the prevalence of gaming disorder over the years, underscoring the growing impact of digital technologies.

Conclusion

A significant prevalence of gaming disorder among adolescents is observed. With an increasing trend, fostering healthy gaming habits, enhancing awareness, and implementing effective intervention programs are crucial. This emphasizes the importance of global efforts in combating the growing challenge of gaming disorder among adolescents.

The Decline in Adolescents' Mental Health with the Rise of Social Media: A Narrative Review

Mental illness in adolescence has seen an unprecedented increase over the past decade. This has left parents, teachers, health-care providers, and other stakeholders wondering what is happening in the teenage population. What has caused such a significant increase in depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people aged 13-19? Most of the research in this narrative literature review of articles published from 2016 to 2024 points to social media use as a contributing factor. The goal of this paper is to present an analysis of research related to social media use and the increase in depression, anxiety, and suicide in adolescents. Identified themes include negative psychological and physical effects of increased social media use, several different types of addiction related to social media use, the mention of fear of missing out, cybervictimization, contagion phenomenon, and low perceived support.

Problematic Internet use among resident physicians at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is a growing concern in modern society. There is a limitation of epidemiologic data related to PIU. This is due to a lack of consensus on the definition and variability of assessment tools of PIU. PIU has been linked to a range of negative outcomes including depression, anxiety, social isolation, and poor academic or work performance. Resident physicians are at risk of exhibiting problematic internet use due to the high stress of academic demands, social isolation, long working hours, busy schedules, and internet access. There is limited research on this topic and targeting resident physicians in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the PIU prevalence and associated factors among resident physicians in SPHMMC, Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1, 2023, to November 25, 2023, at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC). This study included 417 physician residents who were selected using multistage sampling techniques, and Young's Internet addiction test was used to assess PIU. To look for associations, logistic regression analysis, both binary and multivariable, was performed, and a p-value of < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

414 participants were included in this study, with a response rate of 99.3%. The prevalence of PIU was 46.6%, with a 95% CI of 41.7-51.6%. The multivariable logistic regression model revealed that using the Internet for five or more hours per day (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI = 1.14, 2.99), having less than 7 h of actual sleep per night (AOR: 2.16, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.53), and having depression (AOR: 7.98, 95% CI = 2.47, 25.78) were significantly positively associated with PIU. In addition, factors such as being married (AOR: 0.42, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.91) and residents of the obstetrics and gynecology department (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI = 0.13, 0.81) were negatively associated with PIU.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed high PIU use among resident physicians at SPHMMC. Factors such as using the Internet for five or more hours per day, having less than seven hours of actual sleep per night, and having depression were found to be risk factors for PIU. On the other hand, being married and residents of the obstetrics and gynecology department were protective factors. Thus, creating awareness among medical residents about healthy tech habits and involving policymakers to develop guidelines for healthy internet use and awareness campaigns to reduce the impact of PIU is recommended.

Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review

Social media use is ubiquitous to the lives of children and adolescents. The body of research investigating its potential impact on mental health has risen exponentially. We systematically reviewed the present literature exploring potential linkages between social media use and symptoms of depression and anxiety in this vulnerable group. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses framework, articles were searched across Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases from inception to February 2024. Quantitative studies with social media as exposure and anxiety/depressive symptoms as outcomes in children and adolescents 5-18 years of age were included. Of the 4850 studies retrieved, 67 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The most frequent measures of social media were "time spent on social media" and "frequency of use." Depressive symptoms were the outcome of 61 studies, whereas anxiety was measured in 27 studies. Most studies were of fair quality (n = 53). A meta-analysis was not possible due to study heterogeneity. Our review shows that (1) problematic social media use is associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among children and adolescents, (2) duration of social media use was more consistently linked with anxiety and depression in girls compared with boys, and (3) mediating and moderating mechanisms were sleep deprivation, social comparison, and feedback-seeking behaviors, exercise, social support, and type of social media use. Qualitative work and robust large-scale longitudinal observations using a person-specific approach are needed to further our understanding of the impact of social media use on depression and anxiety in children and adolescents.

Correlations between non-suicidal self-injury and problematic internet use among Chinese adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) has continued to be a major issue for public health worldwide, especially among teenagers. Studies have found a certain correlation between NSSI and Problematic Internet Use (PIU). However, this relationship is still unclear among Chinese adolescents, a specific population. Hence, a meta-analysis was carried out on observational studies to explore the connection between NSSI and PIU in Chinese teenagers, aiming to provide more clarity on the correlation.

Methods

To identify the link between NSSI and PIU, we scoured seven digital repositories until November 16, 2023. Employing a random-effects meta-analysis framework, we delved into the association between NSSI and PIU. Additionally, we carried out subgroup evaluations to scrutinize variables including geographical location, age demographics, research methodology, diagnostic instruments, gender, and variables controlled for confounding, like symptoms of depression. For amalgamating data, STATA software (version 16) was deployed.

Results

In this analysis, we included 15 research papers encompassing a collective sample of 137,166 individuals. Our findings revealed a significant positive association between NSSI and PIU within the adolescent population in China, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.02 and a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) ranging from 1.73 to 2.37. Notably, this correlation was markedly stronger in specific subgroups: adolescents from China's Western regions exhibited an OR of 4.22 (95% CI: 3.44, 5.18); middle school attendees had an OR of 2.09 (95% CI: 1.92, 2.28); those diagnosed with concurrent depression disorders showed an OR of 2.32 (95% CI: 1.98, 2.73); and female adolescents demonstrated an OR of 2.49 (95% CI: 2.26, 2.75), highlighting the nuanced dynamics of this relationship.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis indicates that PIU among adolescents is associated with an increased risk of NSSI. Our findings underscore the importance of targeting specific populations, including those in the western region of China, middle school students, adolescents with comorbid depression disorders, and female adolescents, who may be at higher risk of PIU and subsequently NSSI. These results emphasize the need for tailored interventions and preventive strategies to address these intertwined issues effectively.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024496579.

Nursing in the digital age: The role of nursing in addressing cyberbullying and adolescents mental health

THE RELEVANCE OF OUR STUDY TO MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

What is known on the subject? The study's findings are crucial for mental health nursing, as they highlight the significant impact of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health in Egypt. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? By establishing a clear link between cyberbullying, family income, and mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression, the research underscores the need for targeted interventions and support systems. What are the implications for practice? Mental health nurses can utilize this information to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, advocate for policy changes, and educate families and communities. Addressing cyberbullying and its effects can lead to improved mental health outcomes, demonstrating the critical role of mental health nursing in supporting affected adolescents.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

WHAT DOES THIS RESEARCH ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE OF CYBERBULLYING AMONG ADOLESCENTS?: This study brings attention to the widespread occurrence of cyberbullying among adolescents in Egypt and its substantial impact on their mental health. The research indicates that cyberbullying, along with family income, collectively explains more than 60% of the variation in mental health. These results underscore the importance of developing strategies to address cyberbullying and taking socioeconomic factors into account when addressing mental health issues in adolescents. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS NEW KNOWLEDGE FOR NURSING CARE WITH ADOLESCENTS?: School nurses should be knowledgeable about the prevalence and effects of cyberbullying on the mental well-being of teenagers. They need to be equipped to recognize signs of cyberbullying and associated mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Educating adolescents, parents, and school staff about the dangers of cyberbullying and prevention methods is a crucial role that school nurses can play. This may involve teaching safe internet usage, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour. When evaluating mental health needs and planning care for adolescents, school nurses should consider their economic status. They should advocate for resources and assistance for low-income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. HOW COULD THE FINDINGS INFLUENCE POLICY, PRACTICE, RESEARCH, OR EDUCATION?: It is important to introduce policies that provide financial support to families with lower incomes, as the research has shown a strong connection between a family's monthly income and its members' mental well-being. Educational institutions, including schools, should introduce programs to prevent bullying, with a specific focus on cyberbullying. It would be beneficial for researchers to explore the effectiveness of various interventions in reducing cyberbullying and improving mental health outcomes. It is crucial to integrate education on cyberbullying into school curricula in order to raise awareness about this issue and to teach students how to respond if they or someone they know becomes a victim of cyberbullying. Educating parents and teachers about the indicators of cyberbullying and its potential impact on mental health is important so that they can offer support to adolescents who are experiencing cyberbullying. Further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cyberbullying, a significant concern in today's digital age, has a profound impact on teenagers' mental health, leading to stress, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and, in severe cases, suicidal ideation. This study aimed to explore the effects of cyberbullying on adolescents' mental health.

METHODS

The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design conducted at five public secondary schools in El-Beheira governorate, Egypt. A total of 500 students were selected through a multistage sampling technique, yielding a response rate of 96%. The instruments used for data collection were the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that 27.4% and 32.0% of respondents reported high levels of victimization and cyberaggression, respectively. Furthermore, 72.2%, 44%, and 52.6% of students exhibited severe to extremely severe levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, respectively. The study also found that cyberbullying and family monthly income accounted for 61.6% of the variance in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms (adjusted R2 = .614).

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that cyberbullying is a prevalent issue among adolescents in Egypt, with a majority of students experiencing moderate to high levels of cybervictimization and aggression. This leads to varying degrees of anxiety, stress, and depression. The study also established a significant relationship between cyberbullying and mental health issues among adolescents. Moreover, both cyberbullying and family monthly income were found to significantly influence mental health, with higher levels of cyberbullying and lower income associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No Patient or Public Contribution.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

It is important for nurses working with adolescents to have an understanding of how common cyberbullying is and how it can affect mental health. They should receive training to be able to recognize signs of cyberbullying and mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Nurses can teach adolescents, parents, and school staff about its dangers and ways to prevent cyberbullying. This may involve educating adolescents on safe internet practices, promoting open communication about online experiences, and encouraging positive online behaviour. Lastly, considering the strong connection between income and mental health, nurses should also take into account the socioeconomic status of adolescents when assessing their mental health needs and planning care. They should work to secure resources and support for low-income families to help alleviate the impact of financial stress on mental health. Additionally, further research is needed to address other covariates that could impact cyberbullying, such as addictive personality traits, impulsive seeking behaviours, and parenting styles.

Video games and Facebook addiction among Tunisian adolescents: prevalence and associated factors

OBJECTIVES

As social media and online gaming technology have developed very rapidly over the last two decades, their paired issues are of growing concern worldwide. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of video game and Facebook addiction and its predictive factors among Tunisian in school adolescents.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among in school adolescents in Sousse, Tunisia, over the first academic term of the 2019-2020 school year using a self-administered questionnaire to a randomly selected representative sample of 1,353 students. The valid Arabic version of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), the Video Game Addiction Scale (GAS-7), the Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (13 items) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED-C) were used to assess facebook addiction disorder (FAD), internet gaming disorder (IGD), depression and anxiety respectively.

RESULTS

More than one in four pupils (26.1 %; CI 95 %: 23.8-28.4 %) were identified as problematic video game users and almost a third of participants (32.5 %; CI 95 %: 30-35 %) reported FAD. IGD was significantly associated with FAD (p<0.001). Likewise, pupils exhibiting depressive symptoms as well as those with anxiety symptoms were significantly more likely to be problematic video games and Facebook users (p<0.001 for each). Being addicted to Facebook (AOR=1.83, 95 % CI: 1.18-2.81), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=2.43, 95 % CI: 1.52-3.88), being male (AOR=2.51, 95 % CI: 1.95-3.23) and spending more than 4 h per day surfing the net (AOR=2.55, 95 % CI: 1.65-3.96) were the determinants of IGD in the multivariate analysis. Similarly, being addicted to video games (AOR=1.82, 95 % CI: 1.21-2.73), experiencing anxiety disorders (AOR=1.85, 95 % CI: 1.20-2.86), having experienced academic failure (AOR=1.73, 95 % CI: 1.16-2.56), and spending more than 4 h per day on social media (AOR=3.75, 95 % CI: 2.38-5.90) were the predictors of FAD.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of problematic use of video games and Facebook is alarmingly high. Identifying risk factors can help screen high-risk adolescents. We need additional prevention measures addressing not just adolescents, but all risk factors.

Negative psychological and physiological effects of social networking site use: The example of Facebook

Social networking sites (SNS), with Facebook as a prominent example, have become an integral part of our daily lives and more than four billion people worldwide use SNS. However, the (over-)use of SNS also poses both psychological and physiological risks. In the present article, we review the scientific literature on the risk of Facebook (over-)use. Addressing this topic is critical because evidence indicates the development of problematic Facebook use ("Facebook addiction") due to excessive and uncontrolled use behavior with various psychological and physiological effects. We conducted a review to examine the scope, range, and nature of prior empirical research on the negative psychological and physiological effects of Facebook use. Our literature search process revealed a total of 232 papers showing that Facebook use is associated with eight major psychological effects (perceived anxiety, perceived depression, perceived loneliness, perceived eating disorders, perceived self-esteem, perceived life satisfaction, perceived insomnia, and perceived stress) and three physiological effects (physiological stress, human brain alteration, and affective experience state). The review also describes how Facebook use is associated with these effects and provides additional details on the reviewed literature, including research design, sample, age, and measures. Please note that the term "Facebook use" represents an umbrella term in the present work, and in the respective sections it will be made clear what kind of Facebook use is associated with a myriad of investigated psychological variables. Overall, findings indicate that certain kinds of Facebook use may come along with significant risks, both psychologically and physiologically. Based on our review, we also identify potential avenues for future research.

Social anhedonia affects the trajectory of internet addiction in the college students: A latent growth curve analysis

BACKGROUND/AIM

There is growing awareness that anhedonia plays a critical role in the development of Internet Addictions (IA). However, anhedonia is a multidimensional construct and different aspects of anhedonia may exert different effects on IA. This study was designed to distinguish the effects of social anhedonia and physical anhedonia on the developmental trajectory of IA among college students.

METHODS

A total of 3577 Chinese college freshmen (Mage = 18.01, SD = 0.77; 65.4 % girls) participated in a 2-year, four waves longitudinal tracking study. The latent growth curve model (LGCM) was constructed to examine the impacts of different types of anhedonia on the developmental trajectories of IA. Gender was also added to the conditional LGCM as time-invariant variable.

RESULTS

The results of unconditional LGCM showed a U-shape developmental trajectory of IA. Social anhedonia significantly affected the intercept (β = 0.468, p < 0.001) and significantly affected the linear slope (β = -0.259, p < 0.05), but not the quadratic slope (β = 0.293, p > 0.05). Physical anhedonia was not significantly associated with intercept, linear slope and quadratic slope. There was no sex difference in both initial levels and change rate of IA.

CONCLUSIONS

Social anhedonia while not physical anhedonia has prediction effect on IA. College students with high levels of social anhedonia experienced high levels of IA at baseline, and performed a slower rate in downward trend of IA. The findings of the current study provide implications for prevention of IA in college students.

Unpacking the relation between children's use of digital technologies and children's well-being: A scoping review

Over the last decade, a substantial number of studies have addressed children's use of technologies and their impact on well-being. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of clarity on the operationalisation of technology use, well-being, and the relation between the two. This scoping review intended to shed lights on Digital Technologies Use, its operationalisation, and the relation between Digital Technologies Negative Use (DTNU) and children's well-being. For the scope of the special issue we focused on negative use. Results showed two conceptualisations of DTNU: compulsive/addictive use of devices and the Internet (e.g., Internet addiction) and negative online experiences/risky behaviours (e.g., cyberbullying). Well-being in relation to DTNU was mainly studied in terms of psycho/social dimensions (e.g., depression), and a gap in cognitive well-being studies was identified. Study designs were largely quantitative, and, in most studies, well-being was considered as a predictor of DTNU. Also, research with children under 12 years was lacking. Future research on DTNU should look at: how dimensions of addiction and negative online experiences relate; provide more evidence on cognitive well-being; explore the interplay of well-being multiple components relying on integrative conceptual frameworks. The recent notion of digital well-being should also be explored considering the results of this review.

Occurrence of problematic Internet use and its correlates among Egyptian adolescent students in international schools in Cairo

Background

Internet addiction is a global phenomenon that has been a topic of great interest to researchers, clinicians, teachers, parents, and community groups. The study aims in determination of the rate of problematic Internet use among a sample of Egyptian adolescent students, relations of problematic Internet use with socio-demographic data, risk factors, and comorbid psychiatric disorders. A sample of 248 Egyptian adolescent school students aged 11 to 18 years old were assessed using the Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) Scale, Social Media Disorder (SMD) Scale, Youth Self-Report (YSR), and The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents (Mini KID).

Results

Among the study sample, 42.3% of the students suffered from mild Internet addiction, 35.1% suffered from moderate Internet addiction, and 3.6% suffered from severe addiction. 31.5% were risky gamers and 10.5% were disordered gamers; 34.3% had problematic social media disorder and the highest observed psychiatric disorders were major depressive episodes 9.3%, generalized anxiety disorder 7.7%, alcohol dependence 4.4%, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder 4.4%, social phobia 4%, and a higher percentage of psychiatric disorders among severe Internet addiction 88.9% and among moderate addiction 70.6%, disordered gamers 92.3%, problematic social media users 60%, and a higher mean of hours spent online per day of 6.8 h per day.

Conclusions

Problematic Internet use has a negative impact on Egyptian adolescent students in international schools in study sample and adds to the existing literature regarding the magnitude of Internet addiction and its relationship with different psychiatric disorders.

The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks

In recent years, social media has become part of our lives, even among children. From the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic period, media device and Internet access rapidly increased. Adolescents connected Internet alone, consulting social media, mostly Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. During "lockdown", the Internet usage allowed communication with peers and the continuity activities such as school teaching. However, we have to keep in mind that media usage may be related to some adverse consequences especially in the most vulnerable people, such as the young. Aim of the review is to focus on risks correlated to social media use by children and adolescents, identifying spies of rising problems and engaging in preventive recommendations. The scoping review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines, searching on PubMed the terms "social media" or "social network", "health", and "pediatrics". Excluding articles not pertinent, we found 68 reports. Out of them, 19 were dealing with depression, 15 with diet, and 15 with psychological problems, which appeared to be the most reported risk of social media use. Other identified associated problems were sleep, addiction, anxiety, sex related issues, behavioral problems, body image, physical activity, online grooming, sight, headache, and dental caries. Public and medical awareness must rise over this topic and new prevention measures must be found, starting with health practitioners, caregivers, and websites/application developers. Pediatricians should be aware of the risks associated to a problematic social media use for the young's health and identify sentinel signs in children as well as prevent negative outcomes in accordance with the family.

Evidence on Problematic Online Gaming and Social Anxiety over the Past Ten Years: a Systematic Literature Review

Purpose of Review

The present study aimed to review the literature concerning the relationship between problematic online gaming (POG) and social anxiety, taking into account the variables implicated in this relationship. This review included studies published between 2010 and 2020 that were indexed in major databases with the following keywords: Internet gaming, disorder, addiction, problematic, social phobia, and social anxiety.

Recent Findings

In recent years, scientific interest in POG has grown dramatically. Within this prolific research field, difficulties associated with social anxiety have been increasingly explored in relation to POG. Indeed, evidence showed that individuals who experience social anxiety are more exposed to the risk of developing an excessive or addictive gaming behavior.

Summary

A total of 30 studies satisfied the initial inclusion criteria and were included in the present literature review. Several reviewed studies found a strong association between social anxiety and online gaming disorder. Furthermore, the relationships among social anxiety, POG, age, and psychosocial and comorbid factors were largely explored. Overall, the present review showed that socially anxious individuals might perceive online video games as safer social environments than face-to-face interactions, predisposing individuals to the POG. However, in a mutually reinforcing relationship, individuals with higher POG seem to show higher social anxiety. Therefore, despite online gaming might represent an activity able to alleviate psychopathological symptoms and/or negative emotional states, people might use online gaming to counterbalance distress or negative situations in everyday life, carrying out a maladaptive coping strategy.

#KidsAnxiety and the Digital World

This article discusses child onset anxiety disorders in conjunction with the risks and benefits of the rapidly changing digital world including screen time, social media, and potential treatment platforms. A section includes the impact of pandemic stressors including social distancing, quarantining, the association of the pandemic and youth mental health, and prolonged screen time.

Associations between Internet Addiction, Psychiatric Comorbidity, and Maternal Depression and Anxiety in Clinically Referred Children and Adolescents

PURPOSE

Internet addiction (IA) has become a global problem and is one of the most common reasons for children to be referred for intervention because IA results in social and educational dysfunction and conflict with parents. IA is associated with various comorbid psychiatric disorders, with notable association between IA and family factors. However, little is known about parental psychopathology. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of IA and association between IA and maternal depression and anxiety in clinical samples after adjusting for comorbidities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2020 and August 2021 at the Department of Neuropsychiatry of Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital in Japan. A total of 218 clinically referred children and adolescents (aged 8 to 15 years) were assessed using the Internet Addiction Test, which is one of the most popular questionnaires to evaluate IA, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version. IA was defined as a total score on the Internet Addiction Test ≥ 50. Of those, for the evaluation of maternal depression and anxiety, the 132 mothers of the children who were referred after January 2021 completed K6 as well.

RESULTS

A total of 68 participants (31.2%) presented with IA and had higher total and externalizing scores of CBCL, social anxiety disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder compared to those without IA. IA was associated with the six-item Kessler scale scores of mothers, being raised by single parents, and anxiety disorders after adjusting for age, sex, and family income (95% CI: 1.023-1.215).

CONCLUSION

Maternal depression and anxiety may be one of the risk factors for children and adolescents to develop IA. Care for maternal depression and anxiety may contribute to intervention for children and adolescents with IA.