TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Excessive internet use in European adolescents: what determines differences in severity?
JO  - International journal of public health
A1  - Blinka, Lukas
A1  - Škařupová, Kateřina
A1  - Ševčíková, Anna
A1  - Wölfling, Klaus
A1  - Müller, Kai W.
A1  - Dreier, Michael
SP  - 249
EP  - 256
VL  - 60
IS  - 2
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1661-8556
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00038-014-0635-x
ID  - ref1
ER  -