Two-way perspective on problematic internet use in adolescent psychiatric patients: predictive and associated factors

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between problematic Internet use (PIU) and suicide probability, aggression, and impulsivity in an adolescent clinical sample.

Four hundred and eighty-four adolescents who applied to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic of a university hospital were included in the study. They filled out a sociodemographic data form, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Short Form (BIS-11-SF), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ).

The time spent on the Internet, BIS-11-SF/MI, BIS-11-SF/AI, SPS subscales, and BPAQ scores of adolescents with PIU were significantly higher compared to those of normal Internet users. Having a computer at home, having a smartphone, time spent on the Internet, older age, SPS/hopelessness, and BPAQ scores were found to be predictive factors of PIU, but psychiatric diagnoses had no predictive effect (p > 0.05). SPS/hopelessness and BPAQ scores were statistically significant in distinguishing adolescents with PIU from those without. BIS-11-SF, SPS/hopelessness scores, and time spent on the Internet were the most important factors in predicting IAT total scores.

Determining the relationship between PIU, aggression, suicidal behavior, and impulsivity in adolescents will be effective in protecting them from potential harm.