Internet Addiction: The Role of Parental Care and Mental Health in Adolescence

Carmen Trumello, Laura Vismara, Cristina Sechi, Piera Ricciardi, Valentina Marino and Alessandra Babore
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Carmen Trumello: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Laura Vismara: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Cristina Sechi: Department of Pedagogy, Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Piera Ricciardi: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Valentina Marino: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Alessandra Babore: Department of Psychological, Health and Territorial Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Via dei Vestini, 66100 Chieti, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-12

Abstract: Internet addiction in adolescence is a social issue which is being increasingly discussed worldwide. Hence, deepening the knowledge of its development is necessary to prevent short- and long-term negative outcomes. This study involving 266 adolescents (mean age = 16.1 years, SD = 1.4) aimed at analyzing the relationship between quality of parental care, Internet addiction and adolescents’ mental health, by means of the following self-report tools: the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Internet Addiction Test, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The findings, collected through structural equation model analyses, showed that perceived care from both father and mother had significant indirect effects on Internet addiction problems through adolescents’ mental health problems. Furthermore, Internet addiction problems were demonstrated to be negatively associated with maternal care but not with paternal care. The study provides empirical support to the need of family-based prevention and intervention programs to take care of Internet addiction.

Keywords: mental health; adolescents; parents; parental care; Internet addiction; structural equation model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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