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The Association Between Internet Addiction and Adolescents' Mental Health: A Meta-Analytic Review
Elena Soriano-Molina1,2, Rosa M Limiñana-Gras1,2, Rosa M Patró-Hernández1
1Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2025
Summary
Problematic internet use, or internet addiction, is linked to poorer adolescent mental health, including increased depression, anxiety, and aggression. This addiction negatively impacts psychological well-being and self-esteem in young people.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Digital Well-being
Background:
- Problematic internet use (PIU) is a growing concern among adolescents.
- Understanding the link between PIU and mental health is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between internet addiction and adolescent mental health.
- To assess the strength of these associations across various psychological variables.
- To identify potential moderating factors influencing this relationship.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search of Web of Science databases was conducted.
- 33 studies involving 303,243 adolescents were included after screening 830 articles.
- Key psychological variables including depression, anxiety, and self-esteem were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Internet addiction positively correlated with aggressiveness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior.
- Negative correlations were found between internet addiction and psychological well-being and self-esteem.
- No significant associations were observed for externalizing problems, impulsiveness, or stress.
Conclusions:
- A negative relationship exists between internet addiction and adolescent mental health.
- Internet addiction is associated with poorer self-perceived health, increased psychological distress, and heightened aggression in adolescents.
- Further research with longitudinal designs is recommended to explore causality.
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