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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Addiction | Research article

Problematic internet use in children and adolescents: associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment

Authors: Anita Restrepo, Tohar Scheininger, Jon Clucas, Lindsay Alexander, Giovanni A. Salum, Kathy Georgiades, Diana Paksarian, Kathleen R. Merikangas, Michael P. Milham

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Problematic internet use (PIU) is an increasingly worrisome issue, as youth population studies are establishing links with internalizing and externalizing problems. There is a need for a better understanding of psychiatric diagnostic profiles associated with this issue, as well as its unique contributions to impairment. Here, we leveraged the ongoing, large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5–21), to examine the associations between PIU and psychopathology, general impairment, physical health and sleep disturbances.

Methods

A total sample of 564 (190 female) participants between the ages of 7–15 (mean = 10.80, SD = 2.16), along with their parents/guardians, completed diagnostic interviews with clinicians, answered a wide range of self-report (SR) and parent-report (PR) questionnaires, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and underwent physical testing as part of the Healthy Brain Network protocol.

Results

PIU was positively associated with depressive disorders (SR: aOR = 2.43, CI: 1.22–4.74, p = .01; PR: aOR = 2.56, CI: 1.31–5.05, p = .01), the combined presentation of ADHD (SR: aOR = 1.91, CI: 1.14–3.22, p = .01; PR: n.s.), Autism Spectrum Disorder (SR: n.s.; PR: aOR = 2.24, CI: 1.34–3.73, p < .001), greater levels of impairment (SR: Standardized Beta = 4.63, CI: 3.06–6.20, p < .001; PR: Standardized Beta = 5.05, CI: 3.67–6.42, p < .001) and increased sleep disturbances (SR: Standardized Beta = 3.15, CI: 0.71–5.59, p = .01; PR: Standardized Beta = 3.55, CI: 1.34–5.75, p < .001), even when accounting for demographic covariates and psychiatric comorbidity.

Conclusions

The association between PIU and psychopathology, as well as its impact on impairment and sleep disturbances, highlight the urgent need to gain an understanding of mechanisms in order to inform public health recommendations on internet use in U.S. youth.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Problematic internet use in children and adolescents: associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment
Authors
Anita Restrepo
Tohar Scheininger
Jon Clucas
Lindsay Alexander
Giovanni A. Salum
Kathy Georgiades
Diana Paksarian
Kathleen R. Merikangas
Michael P. Milham
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02640-x

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