A Phenotype Classification of Internet Use Disorder in a Large-Scale High-School Study

Katajun Lindenberg, Katharina Halasy, Carolin Szász-Janocha and Lutz Wartberg
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Katajun Lindenberg: Institute for Psychology, University of Education Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Katharina Halasy: Institute for Psychology, University of Education Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Carolin Szász-Janocha: Institute for Psychology, University of Education Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Lutz Wartberg: German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Internet Use Disorder (IUD) affects numerous adolescents worldwide, and (Internet) Gaming Disorder, a specific subtype of IUD, has recently been included in DSM-5 and ICD-11. Epidemiological studies have identified prevalence rates up to 5.7% among adolescents in Germany. However, little is known about the risk development during adolescence and its association to education. The aim of this study was to: (a) identify a clinically relevant latent profile in a large-scale high-school sample; (b) estimate prevalence rates of IUD for distinct age groups and (c) investigate associations to gender and education. N = 5387 adolescents out of 41 schools in Germany aged 11–21 were assessed using the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS). Latent profile analyses showed five profile groups with differences in CIUS response pattern, age and school type. IUD was found in 6.1% and high-risk Internet use in 13.9% of the total sample. Two peaks were found in prevalence rates indicating the highest risk of IUD in age groups 15–16 and 19–21. Prevalence did not differ significantly between boys and girls. High-level education schools showed the lowest (4.9%) and vocational secondary schools the highest prevalence rate (7.8%). The differences between school types could not be explained by academic level.

Keywords: Internet Use Disorder; prevalence; epidemiology; adolescence; latent profile analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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