The prevalence and mental comorbidity of internet-dependent behavior in adolescents of Central Siberia

Semenova N.B.; Tereshchenko S.Yu.; Evert L.S.; Shubina M.V.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro2021121051105

Semenova N.B.

Krasnoyarsk Scientific Centre of Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences — Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North

ORCID: 0000-0002-6120-7860

Tereshchenko S.Yu.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Evert L.S.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Shubina M.V.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The prevalence and mental comorbidity of internet-dependent behavior in adolescents of Central Siberia

Authors:

Semenova N.B., Tereshchenko S.Yu., Evert L.S., Shubina M.V.

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Journal: S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2021;121(5): 105‑110

DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2021121051105

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To cite this article:

Semenova NB, Tereshchenko SYu, Evert LS, Shubina MV. The prevalence and mental comorbidity of internet-dependent behavior in adolescents of Central Siberia. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2021;121(5):105‑110. (In Russ.)
https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro2021121051105

Подписка 2026 Журнал неврологии и психиатрии им. С.С. Корсакова (S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry)

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OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) in adolescents in Central Siberia and the association of IA with mental health problems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 2950 adolescents (44.7% boys and 54.3% girls), aged 11-18 years (mean age 14.5±1.3). Younger adolescents (11-14 years old) accounted for 52.4%, senior ones (15-18 years old) did 47.6%. The Chen scale (CIAS) with a cutoff level of 65 points was used to evaluate IA. The overall CIAS value of 27-42 points was regarded to be adaptive Internet use (AIU); 43-64 points being non-adaptive Internet use (NIU); 65 points and above were considered to be IA. Mental health was assessed using SDQ, which includes five scales: 1) prosocial behavior; 2) emotional symptoms; 3) behavior problems; 4) hyperactivity; 5) peer problems.

RESULTS

The prevalence of AIU is 50.3% (55.9% among boys and 45.6% among girls, p<0.01), NIU was found in 42.9% (38.9/46.3%, p<0.001), IA occurred in 6.8% (5.1/8.2%, p<0.001). The prevalence of IA among adolescents, aged 11-14 years old, was 5.9%, between the ages of 15-18 it was 7.8% (p=0.04). In the AIU group, emotional symptom** were observed in 5.1% of adolescents, behavior problems in 6.1%, hyperactivity in 3.6%; in the NIU group — in 14.9%, 11.7% and 9.4% of adolescents; in the IA group, there were 34%, 24% and 26% of adolescents, respectively. In terms of odds ratio (OR), the greatest effect size was observed for hyperactivity (OR=5.23, p<0.001) and emotional disorders (OR=4.85, p<0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of IA is 6.8%. IA is more common in girls and increases with age. IA is associated with mental health problems, the greatest effect size is observed for hyperactivity and emotional disorders. The incidence of psychopathological manifestations increases depending on the degree of impairment in network behavior.

Keywords:

adolescents

internet

addictive behavior

addiction

mental health

Authors:

Semenova N.B.

Krasnoyarsk Scientific Centre of Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences — Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North

ORCID: 0000-0002-6120-7860

Tereshchenko S.Yu.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Evert L.S.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Shubina M.V.

Scientific Research Institute for Medical Problems of the North of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Received:

22.07.2020

Accepted:

03.09.2020

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