Matiz Alessio, D'Antoni Fabio, Pascut Stefania, Ciacchini Rebecca, Conversano Ciro, Gemignani Angelo, Crescentini Cristiano
Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Children (Basel). 2024 Oct 25;11(11):1294. doi: 10.3390/children11111294.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Problematic Internet uUse (PIU) is a multifaceted syndrome characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviors regarding Internet use leading to significant impairments in daily life and mental health. Previous research has separately related PIU to loneliness and dissociation, both in adults and adolescents. The aim of the present study is to analyze the mutual relationship between PIU, loneliness, and dissociation in an adolescent sample, in particular evaluating the indirect effect of dissociation on the relationship between loneliness and PIU.
A cross-sectional design was used with 243 Italian high school students (69.1% females), from year 9 to 13 (age: M = 17.1, SD = 1.4 years), who participated in the study from January to June 2020. They completed measures of PIU (Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale-2), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), and dissociation (Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale). Socio-demographic and contextual variables were also collected (i.e., age, gender, type of school, school year, sport practice, hobby engagement, assessment before/during the COVID-19 pandemic). Data were analyzed using regression, Pearson's correlation, and mediation analysis.
Severe PIU was observed in 8.6% of the sample. None of the socio-demographic and contextual variables had a significant effect on PIU. Positive medium-sized correlations were observed between PIU, loneliness, and dissociation. Mediation analyses showed an indirect effect of loneliness on PIU through dissociation.
Feelings of loneliness may significantly exacerbate adolescents' PIU by increasing their dissociative tendency. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for developing targeted interventions to address both loneliness and dissociation in efforts to mitigate PIU among adolescents.
背景/目的：网络使用问题（PIU）是一种多方面的综合征，其特征是对网络使用存在过度或难以控制的关注、冲动或行为，导致日常生活和心理健康受到严重损害。先前的研究已分别将PIU与孤独感和解离联系起来，涉及成年人和青少年。本研究的目的是分析青少年样本中PIU、孤独感和解离之间的相互关系，特别是评估解离对孤独感与PIU之间关系的间接影响。
采用横断面设计，对2020年1月至6月参与研究的243名意大利高中生（69.1%为女性）进行研究，他们来自9至13年级（年龄：M = 17.1，SD = 1.4岁）。他们完成了PIU（广义网络使用问题量表-2）、孤独感（加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独感量表）和解离（青少年解离体验量表）的测量。还收集了社会人口统计学和背景变量（即年龄、性别、学校类型、学年、体育活动、爱好参与情况、COVID-19大流行之前/期间的评估）。使用回归分析、Pearson相关性分析和中介分析对数据进行分析。
样本中8.6%的人存在严重PIU。社会人口统计学和背景变量均对PIU无显著影响。PIU、孤独感和解离之间存在中等程度的正相关。中介分析表明，孤独感通过解离对PIU产生间接影响。
孤独感可能通过增加青少年的解离倾向而显著加剧其PIU。了解这种动态关系对于制定有针对性的干预措施以解决孤独感和解离问题，从而减轻青少年的PIU至关重要。
