@article{ref1,
title="Excessive internet use in European adolescents: what determines differences in severity?",
journal="International journal of public health",
year="2014",
author="Blinka, Lukas and Škařupová, Kateřina and Ševčíková, Anna and Wölfling, Klaus and Müller, Kai W. and Dreier, Michael",
volume="60",
number="2",
pages="249-256",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the differences between non-excessive, moderately excessive, and highly excessive internet use among adolescents. These differences were explored in terms of personal characteristics, psychological difficulties, environmental factors, and manner of internet use. <br><br>METHODS: A representative sample was investigated, consisting of 18,709 adolescents aged 11-16 and their parents, from 25 European countries. Excessive internet use was measured using a five item scale covering following factors: salience, conflict, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and relapse and reinstatement. The main data analysis utilised multinomial and binary logistic regression models. <br><br>RESULTS: The vast majority of respondents reported no signs of excessive internet use. Moderately excessive users (4.4 %) reported higher emotional and behavioural difficulties, but also more sophisticated digital skills and a broader range of online activities. The highly excessive users (1.4 %) differed from the non-excessive and moderately excessive users in their preference for online games and in having more difficulties with self-control. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who struggle with attention and self-control and who are inclined toward online gaming may be especially vulnerable to the otherwise uncommon phenomenon of excessive internet use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1661-8556",
doi="10.1007/s00038-014-0635-x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0635-x"
}