Validation of an Instrument for Detecting Problematic Internet Use in Adolescents

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Adolescent Health
• Digital Well-being

Background:

• Problematic internet use (PIU) presents significant social and personal challenges.
• Lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria hinders PIU classification as a distinct mental disorder.
• Existing assessment tools for PIU often lack theoretical grounding and consistent validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel instrument for assessing problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents.
• To incorporate key dimensions of PIU, including emotional regulation and cognitive preoccupation.
• To provide a psychometrically sound tool for research and clinical application.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 3054 adolescents from Madrid, Spain.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to validate the instrument's structure.
• Internal consistency and correlations with risk factors were assessed.

Main Results:

• A robust four-factor model emerged, comprising Positive Emotional Regulation, Negative Emotional Regulation, Compulsive Use, and Cognitive Preoccupation.
• The instrument demonstrated good internal consistency.
• Significant correlations were found between the instrument's factors and time spent on internet activities.

Conclusions:

• The novel instrument provides a comprehensive and validated measure of problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents.
• It enhances understanding of the cognitive and emotional processes underlying PIU.
• This tool is valuable for assessing and addressing PIU in adolescent populations.