Problematic Internet Use (PIU) refers to an individual's uncontrollable excessive use of the Internet, which can adversely affect an individual's physical and mental health and social functioning. Typical symptoms include the inability to cut back on the time spent online, low mood, and the need to spend more time online to be satisfied. Although the appeal of the online world is part of the reason, the real source of the problem often lies in the individual's discomfort in real life.
In March 2024, a study published in Child abuse & neglect used data from the Taiwan Youth Project (2011-2017) for an in-depth analysis. The study sample covered 1,885 participants with an average age of 31.3 years. PIU was accurately measured using the 2017 version of the Simplified Chan Internet Addiction Scale. ACEs were assessed at the time of adolescence (mean age 14.3 years) and were recently revised. Hostility and loneliness were measured on corresponding scales in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
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Findings:
The findings reveal a strong association between ACEs and hostility and loneliness at the emotional and social levels. Further analysis showed a significant correlation between hostility (β = 0.62, p < .01) and emotional loneliness (β = 0.44, p < .01) and PIU. Based on the results of the self-help method, we found that most of the intermediary paths, such as ACE → hostility → PIU, were significant.
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Conclusions and value of the study
The study not only reveals the long-term and far-reaching impact of ACEs on PIU in young adults, but also sheds light on how ACEs are indirectly associated with PIU through hostility and loneliness, as well as the relationship between the two. This study provides an important insight into PIU and new ideas for prevention and intervention.
Previously, another study explored the link between emotional abuse and neglect and problem social use (PSU) in adolescents. To this end, the research team carefully selected a sample of 443 adolescents and asked them to complete a detailed questionnaire. This questionnaire is designed to assess their performance in areas such as body image dissatisfaction, social anxiety and depression.
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Findings:
The results of the study show that emotional abuse and neglect are not only directly associated with PSU, but also indirectly affect PSU through a series of mediating factors. These factors include body image dissatisfaction, depression, and social anxiety that is closely related to body image dissatisfaction. This finding implies that adolescents experiencing emotional abuse and neglect may experience negative emotions such as body image dissatisfaction, social anxiety, and depression, which in turn exacerbate their PSU problems.
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Conclusions and value of the study
In addition, research has revealed the important role of body image dissatisfaction and psychosocial risk factors in emotional abuse and neglect of relationships with SU. These factors may partly explain why some adolescents are more likely to develop PSU problems after experiencing emotional abuse and neglect.
Common adverse childhood experiences
- Violence, abuse, or neglect: This includes physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect. These behaviors can seriously damage children's physical and mental health, causing them to grow up with various problems, such as psychological disorders, behavioral problems, etc.
- Domestic violence: Witnessing domestic violence can also be psychologically traumatic to children, and they may feel fear, helplessness, and anger as a result, which can affect their behavior patterns and relationships.
- Problems with family members: such as suicide attempts or deaths in family members, and growing up in a family with mental health or substance use problems. These events can cause children to feel lonely, abandoned, and upset, which can affect their emotional and social development.
- Family changes: such as the divorce of parents or the death of a loved one, these events can destabilize the family and cause a deep sense of loneliness and helplessness in the child.
- Financial hardship: Growing up in a financially disadvantaged family, children may not have access to adequate material security and educational resources, which can negatively affect their growth and development.
bibliography
1.Lin, W. H., & Chiao, C. (2024). Adverse childhood experience and young adult's problematic Internet use: The role of hostility and loneliness. Child abuse & neglect, 149, 106624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106624.
2.Emirtekin, E., Balta, S., Sural, İ., Kircaburun, K., Griffiths, M. D., & Billieux, J. (2019). The role of childhood emotional maltreatment and body image dissatisfaction in problematic smartphone use among adolescents. Psychiatry research, 271, 634–639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.12.059
Writing editor: Robin
Typesetting Editor: Yang Liu