Secondary benefits of residential treatment camp for parents of adolescents with problematic internet use

Residential treatment camps for problematic internet use (PIU) may influence adolescents' behaviors and parental mental health and parenting attitudes. This secondary analysis examined the effects of a residential treatment camp on parents of adolescents with PIU.

This secondary analysis included 20 parents (3 fathers and 17 mothers) of adolescents who participated in a residential treatment camp for PIU. Parents were assessed employing the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), Positive and Negative Parenting Scale (PNPS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form JYZ (STAI-JYZ). Qualitative analysis was conducted using free-response questionnaires regarding perceptions of adolescents' internet and gaming use. These evaluations were performed at baseline, after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up.

The GHQ-12 scores demonstrated significant changes throughout the study period. They improved significantly after the intervention but deteriorated significantly at follow-up compared with after the intervention. No significant changes were identified in STAI-JYZ scores or PNPS positive parenting scores. The PNPS (negative attitude) showed significant changes between baseline and follow-up and between after the intervention and follow-up. Text mining results showed a transition from restrictive terms such as "protect" and "reduce" at baseline to autonomy-related terms including "myself," "decide," and "freedom" after the intervention and at follow-up.

A residential treatment camp intervention for adolescents with PIU did not produce any significant long-term effects on their parents' mental health. However, text mining results suggested a shift in parental perspectives from restrictive control toward greater respect for adolescents' autonomy.