Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia
Objective: Though there is no consensus on its definition, problematic Internet use (PIU), especially in adolescents, is concerning. Research into risk factors is needed. We explored associations between lifestyle and individual characteristics associated with PIU in a nationally representative samp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Psychiatry Research Communications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772598722000599 |
| _version_ | 1811199824627761152 |
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| author | Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Michelle Colder Carras Abdullah AlSalhi Alain B. Labrique Ahmad Mamoun Rajab Saadi Al Jundi Abdulrahman Almazrou |
| author_facet | Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Michelle Colder Carras Abdullah AlSalhi Alain B. Labrique Ahmad Mamoun Rajab Saadi Al Jundi Abdulrahman Almazrou |
| author_sort | Juliann Saquib |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Though there is no consensus on its definition, problematic Internet use (PIU), especially in adolescents, is concerning. Research into risk factors is needed. We explored associations between lifestyle and individual characteristics associated with PIU in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Methods: Students (Grades: 7–12; n = 2,546) from randomly selected schools in three major cities across Saudi Arabia completed Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) and questions about demography, lifestyle, religiosity, and Internet use. A multilevel regression model was used to assess correlates of PIU (defined as YIAT ≥40). Results: Participants’ mean (SD) age was 15.6 (±1.8) years; 54% were girls. The PIU prevalence was 41.8%, while the prevalence of Internet addiction (YIAT ≥70) was 3.7%. The odds of having PIU increased incrementally and significantly across increasing screen times (OR 1.2, 1.9, 2.3, and 2.9 for 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and >8 h/daily, respectively; ref ≤2 h) and across decreasing ages of Internet initiation (OR 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 respectively for 11–12, 9–10 and ≤8 years, respectively; ref ≥13 years). The odds of having PIU were ∼20% higher among those with low or moderate (ref = high) religiosity, although results were not statistically significant. Additionally, the odds of having PIU were higher among those who had unhealthy diets (OR 1.4). Conclusion: PIU prevalence is high among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Delaying Internet initiation among children may help reduce PIU. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:53:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e7aa67be53849c5a4f5face236e7033 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-5987 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:53:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychiatry Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e7aa67be53849c5a4f5face236e70332022-12-22T03:52:51ZengElsevierPsychiatry Research Communications2772-59872022-12-0124100078Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi ArabiaJuliann Saquib0Nazmus Saquib1Michelle Colder Carras2Abdullah AlSalhi3Alain B. Labrique4Ahmad Mamoun Rajab5Saadi Al Jundi6Abdulrahman Almazrou7College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author. College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, P.O. Box 777, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, 51941, Saudi Arabia.Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USACollege of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, Saudi ArabiaJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USACalderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax, West Yorkshire, United KingdomCollege of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Bukaryiah, Al-Qassim, Saudi ArabiaObjective: Though there is no consensus on its definition, problematic Internet use (PIU), especially in adolescents, is concerning. Research into risk factors is needed. We explored associations between lifestyle and individual characteristics associated with PIU in a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Methods: Students (Grades: 7–12; n = 2,546) from randomly selected schools in three major cities across Saudi Arabia completed Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) and questions about demography, lifestyle, religiosity, and Internet use. A multilevel regression model was used to assess correlates of PIU (defined as YIAT ≥40). Results: Participants’ mean (SD) age was 15.6 (±1.8) years; 54% were girls. The PIU prevalence was 41.8%, while the prevalence of Internet addiction (YIAT ≥70) was 3.7%. The odds of having PIU increased incrementally and significantly across increasing screen times (OR 1.2, 1.9, 2.3, and 2.9 for 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and >8 h/daily, respectively; ref ≤2 h) and across decreasing ages of Internet initiation (OR 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 respectively for 11–12, 9–10 and ≤8 years, respectively; ref ≥13 years). The odds of having PIU were ∼20% higher among those with low or moderate (ref = high) religiosity, although results were not statistically significant. Additionally, the odds of having PIU were higher among those who had unhealthy diets (OR 1.4). Conclusion: PIU prevalence is high among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Delaying Internet initiation among children may help reduce PIU.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772598722000599Age of internet initiationReligiosityLifestyleInternet useSaudi ArabiaAdolescent |
| spellingShingle | Juliann Saquib Nazmus Saquib Michelle Colder Carras Abdullah AlSalhi Alain B. Labrique Ahmad Mamoun Rajab Saadi Al Jundi Abdulrahman Almazrou Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia Psychiatry Research Communications Age of internet initiation Religiosity Lifestyle Internet use Saudi Arabia Adolescent |
| title | Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Individual-level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents: A nationally representative study in Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | individual level correlates of problematic internet use among adolescents a nationally representative study in saudi arabia |
| topic | Age of internet initiation Religiosity Lifestyle Internet use Saudi Arabia Adolescent |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772598722000599 |
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