Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2025
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.1K
Problematic internet use as a moderator between personality dimensions and internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Andrea Fontana1, Ilaria Maria Antonietta Benzi2, Pietro Cipresso2,3
1Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University, Piazza delle Vaschette 101, 00193 Rome, Italy.
Current Psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.)
|January 24, 2022
Summary
Problematic Internet Use (PIU) in adolescents can worsen peer relationship issues but may buffer problems related to identity and aggression regulation, acting as a maladaptive coping strategy. This highlights the need to assess PIU
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- Digital Well-being
Background:
- Digital technology significantly influences adolescent psychological adjustment and mental health.
- Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a risk factor for behavioral addiction in adolescents.
- PIU is linked to interpersonal issues, maladaptive personality traits, low self-esteem, and emotion dysregulation, potentially serving as a coping mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of PIU in the association between personality dimensions and internalizing/externalizing problems in adolescents.
- To test if high PIU amplifies the relationship between maladaptive personality traits and psychological symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 231 Italian adolescents (ages 15-19).
- Participants completed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Adolescent Personality Structure Questionnaire (APS-Q), and Youth Self Report (YSR).
- Moderation analyses were employed to examine the interplay between PIU, personality, and psychological symptoms.
Main Results:
- High PIU amplified the link between difficulties in peer relationships and internalizing problems.
- PIU buffered the association between identity difficulties and internalizing problems.
- PIU also buffered the relationship between aggression regulation issues and internalizing problems, suggesting a coping role.
Conclusions:
- PIU's impact on the relationship between adolescent personality and peer relations requires careful evaluation.
- PIU may function as a maladaptive strategy for regulating identity difficulties and aggression.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering PIU as a risk factor and coping mechanism in adolescent mental health assessments.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
18
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
18
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.5K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.5K
02:04Bullying
8.5K
A modern form of aggression is bullying. As you learn in your study of child development, socializing and playing with other children is beneficial for children’s psychological development. However, as you may have experienced as a child, not all play behavior has positive outcomes. Some children are aggressive and want to play roughly. Other children are selfish and do not want to share toys. One form of negative social interactions among children that has become a national concern is...
8.5K
01:24Strategies of Self-Presentation III: Self-Monitoring
15
Self-monitoring is a central construct in understanding individual differences in self-presentation strategies across social contexts. It refers to how individuals observe, regulate, and control their expressive behavior and self-presentation following situational cues. Self-monitoring reflects a person's sensitivity to social appropriateness and willingness to adapt behavior to fit varying interpersonal demands.High vs. Low Self-Monitoring IndividualsIndividuals high in self-monitoring are...
15
01:23Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
173
Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
173
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
18.5K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
18.5K