Pathological Internet Use Is on the Rise Among European Adolescents

Overview

Journal J Adolesc Health

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2016 Jun 9

PMID 27267140

Citations 20

Authors

Michael Kaess

Peter Parzer

Romuald Brunner

Julian Koenig

Tony Durkee

Vladimir Carli

Camilla Wasserman

Christina W Hoven

Marco Sarchiapone

Julio Bobes

Doina Cosman

Airi Varnik

Franz Resch

Danuta Wasserman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Increased Internet accessibility has been accompanied by an increased awareness of pathological Internet use (PIU). The aim of the study was to investigate a potential increase of PIU among European adolescents.

Methods: Comparable data from two large cross-sectional multicentre, school-based studies conducted in 2009/2010 and 2011/2012 in five European countries (Estonia, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Spain) were used. The Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of PIU.

Results: The comparison of the two samples provides evidence that the prevalence of PIU is on the rise (4.01%-6.87%, odds ratio = 1.69, p < .001) except in Germany. Comparison with data on Internet accessibility suggests that the rise in prevalence of adolescent PIU may be a consequence of increased Internet accessibility.

Conclusions: Our findings are the first data to confirm the rise of PIU among European adolescents. They definitively warrant further efforts in the implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions.

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