Top

Published in:

01-02-2015 | Original Article

Perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet use are associated with poorer social relations in adolescence

Authors: Mette Rasmussen, Charlotte Riebeling Meilstrup, Pernille Bendtsen, Trine Pagh Pedersen, Line Nielsen, Katrine Rich Madsen, Bjørn E. Holstein

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 2/2015

Abstract

Objectives

Young people’s engagement in electronic gaming and Internet communication have caused concerns about potential harmful effects on their social relations, but the literature is inconclusive. The aim of this paper was to examine whether perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet communication are associated with young people’s social relations.

Methods

Cross-sectional questionnaire survey in 13 schools in the city of Aarhus, Denmark, in 2009. Response rate 89 %, n = 2,100 students in grades 5, 7, and 9. Independent variables were perceived problems related to computer gaming and Internet use, respectively. Outcomes were measures of structural (number of days/week with friends, number of friends) and functional (confidence in others, being bullied, bullying others) dimensions of student’s social relations.

Results

Perception of problems related to computer gaming were associated with almost all aspects of poor social relations among boys. Among girls, an association was only seen for bullying. For both boys and girls, perceived problems related to Internet use were associated with bullying only.

Conclusions

Although the study is cross-sectional, the findings suggest that computer gaming and Internet use may be harmful to young people’s social relations.

Analitis F, Velderman MK, Ravens-Sieberer U, Detmar S, Erhart M, Herdman M, Berra S, Alonso J, Rajmil L (2009) Being bullied: associated factors in children and adolescents 8 to 18 years old in 11 European countries. Pediatrics 123:569–577CrossRefPubMed

Augner C, Hacker GW (2012) Associations between problematic mobile phone use and psychological parameters in young adults. Int J Public Health 57:437–441CrossRefPubMed

Blais JJ, Craig WM, Pepler D, Connolly J (2008) Adolescents online: the importance of internet activity choices to salient relationships. J Youth Adolesc 37:522–536CrossRef

Bonetti L, Campbell MA, Gilmore L (2010) The relationship of loneliness and social anxiety with children’s and adolescents’ online communication. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 13:279–285CrossRefPubMed

Cole H, Griffiths MD (2007) Social interactions in massively multiplayer online role-playing gamers. CyperPsychol Behav 10:575–583CrossRef

Cummings HM, Vandewater EA (2007) Relation of adolescent video game play to time spent in other activities. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 161:684–689CrossRefPubMed

Currie C, Nic Gabhainn S, Godeau E & the International HBSC Network Coordinating Committee (2009) The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children: WHO Collaborative Cross-National (HBSC) Study: origins, concept, history and development 1982–2008. Int J Public Health 54(Suppl 2):131–139

Desai RA, Krishnan-Sarin S, Cavallo D, Potenza MN (2010) Video-gaming among high school students: health correlates, gender differences, and problematic gaming. Pediatrics 126:e1414–e1424CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Due P, Holstein BE, Lund R, Modvig J, Avlund K (1999) Social relations: network, support and relational strain. Soc Sci Med 48:661–673CrossRefPubMed

Due P, Holstein BE, Lynch J, Diderichsen F, Nic Gabhain S, Scheidt P, Currie C (2005) Bullying and symptoms among school-aged children: international comparative cross sectional study in 28 countries. Eur J Public Health 15:128–132CrossRefPubMed

Due P, Krølner R, Rasmussen M, Andersen A, Damsgaard MT, Graham H, Holstein BE (2011) Pathways and mechanisms in adolescence contribute to adult health inequalities. Scand J Public Health 39(Suppl 6):62–78CrossRefPubMed

Durkin K, Barber B (2002) Not so doomed: computer game play and positive adolescent development. Appl Dev Psychol 23:373–392CrossRef

Fekkes M, Pijpers FI, Fredriks AM, Vogels T, Verloove-Vanhorick SP (2006) Do bullied children get ill, or do ill children get bullied? A prospective cohort study on the relationship between bullying and health-related symptoms. Pediatrics 117:1568–1574CrossRefPubMed

Haug E, Rasmussen M, Samdal O, Iannotti R, Kelly C, Borraccino A, Vereecken C, Melkevik O, Lazzeri G, Giacchi M, Ercan O, Due P, Ravens-Sieberer U, Currie C, Morgan A, Ahluwalia N (2009) Overweight in school-aged children and its relationship with demographic and lifestyle factors: results from the WHO-Collaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Study. Int J Public Health 54:S167–S179CrossRef

Holstein BE, Pedersen TP, Bendtsen P, Madsen KR, Meilstrup CM, Nielsen L, Rasmussen M (2014) Perceived problems with computer gaming and internet use among adolescents: measurement tool for non-clinical survey studies. BMC Public Health 14:361CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Hu Y, Wood JF, Smith V, Westbrook N (2004) Friendships through IM: examining the relationship between instant messaging and intimacy. J Comput Med Commun 10 (article 6)

Kuntsche E, Simons-Morton B, ter Bogt T, Queija IS, Tinoco VM, de Matos MG, Santinello M, Lenzi M (2009) Electronic media communication with friends from 2002 to 2006 and links to face-to-face contacts in adolescence: an HBSC study in 31 European and North American countries and regions. Int J Public Health 54(Suppl 2):243–250CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Lee S-J, Chae Y-G (2007) Children’s internet use in a family context: influence on family relationships and parental mediation. CyberPsychol Behav 10:640–644CrossRefPubMed

Lien N, Friedstad C, Klepp K-I (2001) Adolescents’ proxy reports of parents’ socioeconomic status: how valid are they. J Epidemiol Community Health 55:731–737CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Liu TC, Desai RA, Krishnan-Sarin S, Cavallo DA, Potenza MN (2011) Problematic internet use and health in adolescents: data from a high school survey in Connecticut. J Clin Psychiatry 2:836–845CrossRef

Lorains FK, Cowlishaw S, Thomas SA (2011) Prevalence of comorbid disorders in problem and pathological gambling: systematic review and meta-analysis of population surveys. Addiction 106:490–498CrossRefPubMed

Lund R, Nielsen KK, Hansen DH, Kriegbaum M, Molbo D, Due P, Christensen U (2009) Exposure to bullying at school and depression in adulthood: a study of Danish men born in 1953. Eur J Pub Health 19:111–116CrossRef

Macintyre S, McKay L, Der G, Hiscock R (2003) Socio-economic position and health: what you observe depends on how you measure it. J Public Health Med 25:288–294CrossRefPubMed

Mesch GS (2009) Parental mediation, online activities, and cyberbullying. CyberPsychol Behav 12:387–393CrossRefPubMed

Milani L, Osualdella D, Di Blasio P (2009) Quality of interpersonal relationships and problematic internet use in adolescence. CyberPsychol Behav 12:681–684CrossRefPubMed

Morrison CM, Gore H (2010) The relationship between excessive internet use and depression: a questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults. Psychopathology 43:121–126CrossRefPubMed

Nuutinen T, Roos E, Ray C, Villberg J, Välimaa R, Rasmussen M, Holstein B, Godeau E, Beck F, Léger D, Tynjälä J (2014) Computer use, sleep duration and health symptoms: a cross-sectional study of 15-year olds in three countries. Int J Public Health 59:619–648CrossRefPubMed

Olafsdottir S, Eiben G, Prell H, Hense S, Lissner L, Mårild S, Reisch L, Berg C (2014) Young children’s screen habits are associated with consumption of sweetened beverages independently of parental norms. Int J Public Health 59:67–75CrossRefPubMed

Richards R, McGee R, Williams SM, Welch D, Hancox RJ (2010) Adolescent screen time and attachment to parents and peers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 164:258–262CrossRefPubMed

Roberts C, Freeman J, Samdal O, Schnohr CW, de Looze ME, Nic Gabhainn S, Iannotti R, Rasmussen M (2009) The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study: methodological developments and current tensions. Int J Public Health 54(Suppl 2):140–150CrossRefPubMedCentralPubMed

Sanders CE, Field TM, Diego M, Kaplan M (2000) The relationship of internet use to depression and social isolation among adolescents. Adolescence 35:237–242PubMed

Shao-Kang LO, Wang CC, Fang W (2005) Physical interpersonal relationships and social anxiety among online game players. Cyper Psychol Behav 8:15–20CrossRef

Valkenburg PM, Peter J (2009) The effect of instant messaging on the quality of adolescents’ existing friendships: a longitudinal study. J Commun 59:79–97CrossRef

Vereecken CA, Vandegehuchte A (2003) Measurement of parental occupation: agreement between parents and their children. Arch Public Health 61:141–149

Weiser EB (2001) The functions of internet use and their social and psychological consequences. Cyper Psychol Behav 4:723–743CrossRef

Wolak J, Mitchell KJ, Finkelhor D (2007) Does online harassment constitute bullying? An exploration of online harassment by known peers and online-only contacts. J Adolesc Health 41(6 suppl 1):51–58CrossRef

Title: Perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet use are associated with poorer social relations in adolescence
Authors: Mette Rasmussen
Charlotte Riebeling Meilstrup
Pernille Bendtsen
Trine Pagh Pedersen
Line Nielsen
Katrine Rich Madsen
Bjørn E. Holstein
Publication date: 01-02-2015
Publisher: Springer Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0633-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Perceived problems with computer gaming and Internet use are associated with poorer social relations in adolescence

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 2/2015

Excessive internet use in European adolescents: What determines differences in severity?

Problematic mobile phone use in adolescents: derivation of a short scale MPPUS-10

Exploring traditional and cyberbullying among Irish adolescents

Longitudinal associations between cyber-bullying perpetration and victimization and problem behavior and mental health problems in young Australians

What difference does ‘the digital’ make to children’s experiences of risk?

Supportive communication with parents moderates the negative effects of electronic media use on life satisfaction during adolescence