Associations Among Problematic Internet Usage in Adolescents, Parental Internet Factors, and Parent-Adolescent...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents negatively impacts social, physical, and functional outcomes.
• The influence of parental PIU and parenting practices on adolescent PIU requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between adolescent PIU, parent PIU, and internet-specific parenting practices.
• To explore the relationship between parental internet use behaviors and adolescent PIU.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 4558 adolescents (aged 12-18) and 4568 parents.
• Data were collected using the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale-3 (PRIUSS-3) and Internet-Specific Parenting Practices (ISPP) scales.
• Bivariate analyses examined relationships between adolescent PIU, parent PIU, and ISPP (content, time, quality).

Main Results:

• Adolescent PIU prevalence was 69.9%, and parent PIU prevalence was 61.4%.
• Parents with PIU were significantly more likely to have adolescents with PIU (OR = 9.54).
• Lenient content and strict time parenting practices were associated with increased adolescent PIU, while lower communication quality was observed in adolescents with PIU.

Conclusions:

• Parental PIU is a significant risk factor for adolescent PIU.
• Effective interventions may focus on enhancing parent-child relationships and promoting shared healthy digital habits.
• Enforcing screen time limits may be less effective than fostering positive family internet use patterns.