Adolescents’ Internet addiction: Does it all begin with their environment?

People’s dependency on the Internet has increased over the past years, and it has been found that adolescents are the most adept at adopting and adapting to the Internet compared to other age groups [1]. A study in the US reported that adolescents felt they were spending the right amount of time on social media and found it hard to give up on their usage [2]. With the increased use of social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat among adolescents, there is a risk of addiction to the Internet. Internet Addiction (IA) also known as “problematic Internet use”, “compulsive Internet use”, and “pathological Internet use” is defined as the excessive or uncontrollable use of the Internet leading to symptoms of withdrawal and tolerance [3]. Although Internet Addiction has not been formally recognized as an actual diagnosis, increasing research has shown that IA is becoming a problem that may require professional treatment [4‐6]. Over the past few years, several studies have been conducted on factors affecting adolescent Internet addiction. According to the literature, many negative mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, psychoticism, and somatization are associated with IA [7].

Adolescence is the period of physical, intellectual, emotional, and social change from childhood to adulthood [8]. During this period of development, adolescents are greatly influenced by various factors both internal and external to their social environments [9]. External factors such as changes in economic status or peer pressure can impact the decisions made by adolescents during this phase [10]. Internal factors include the developmental needs of an adolescent that are influenced by their interactions with their parents and other significant adults in their lives for example teachers [11]. The impact of these internal and external factors is seen in the patterns of adolescent well-being and behavior exhibited by the adolescent during this period [11]. Adolescence is a critical stage in the development of an individual, as they begin to explore their identity and become more independent from their parents [12, 13]. During this phase, adolescents experience conflicting emotions, such as excitement at gaining independence coupled with uncertainty and fear about the future [14]. These complex emotions result from a combination of biological and psychological changes that prepare them for adulthood [12]. Along with these changes, there is also a shift in psychological perspective as the adolescent views the world from a cognitive standpoint rather than from a more concrete perspective of childhood [15]. Adolescents are more likely to be at risk of mental health disorders as well as becoming addicted to various substances due to the increased levels of impulsivity and cognitive development occurring during this period [16]. We hypothesize that this may be the case for adolescent Internet addiction as well.

Based on Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model, a developing individual, and their behaviors are influenced by various levels of ecological systems, including the immediate and direct environments they participate in (microsystem), the connections and interactions between these environments (mesosystem), the social settings that indirectly impact them, and the broader cultural and societal contexts [17]. The model offers insight into how the behaviors of an individual continue to change as the individual evolves as a result of the continuous interactions between these levels. These factors are arranged in the form of five nested layers with the most immediate layer having the most impact on their development. The family and the school environment fall within the most proximal environment for an adolescent, that is, the microsystem, and hence have the most influence on their behavior [17]. A study by [18] demonstrated that adolescents who have positive relationships with their parents display more social competence and fewer conduct disorders, while those with family disputes exhibit more tendency to antisocial conduct and maladaptive behaviors. These kinds of behavior can also be extended to Internet addiction. According to Jessor & Jessor’s [19] problem behavior theory, De Leo & Wulfert [20] demonstrated that problematic family relationships have a significant impact on the initiation and escalation of Internet addiction among adolescents. A study by [21] found that Chinese adolescents who reported a lack of parental affection and poor family environment were more likely to engage in problematic Internet use.

Literature shows a difference in early and middle adolescents’ cognitive and psychological development and how they interact with their families and peers [22]. Early adolescents appear to employ more emotion-focused coping techniques than older adolescents, who in turn employ more problem-focused coping techniques [23]. Therefore, when studying adolescent Internet addiction, it is crucial to examine the various developmental stages individually, considering the unique cognitive, psychological, and coping differences between early and middle adolescents, as they interact with their families and peers.

According to the stage-environment fit hypothesis in [24], adolescents perform better when the educational environment is tailored to their developmental requirements, and there are negative repercussions when it is not. In accordance with this hypothesis, several research studies demonstrated that the school environment predicted adolescent problems including Internet addiction [25, 26]. Chang and his colleagues discovered in a longitudinal research that children with negative school bonds were more likely to develop Internet addiction [27]. Furthermore, poor academic performance has been found to be associated with the risk of Internet addiction [28, 29]. Previous research found that adolescents with poor academic performance received less respect from their peers, and an adolescent’s poor academic performance may be connected with low self-esteem and behavioral issues such as sleep disorders, depression, low locus of control, suicidal thoughts, and antisocial personality disorder [30, 31]. These adolescents may turn to the Internet in pursuit of fulfillment and self-satisfaction as a result of their unhappiness with real-world circumstances and may be at a higher risk of Internet addiction.

Teachers are most likely to be a significant source of social support for adolescents in the school environment. Internet use was more prevalent among adolescents who received less social support from teachers. In addition, it has been shown that adolescents’ perceptions of their teachers’ support buffer the detrimental impacts of unpleasant or stressful environmental situations [32]. Students who believe their teachers are helpful, responsive, and concerned about them do better academically and have less problematic behaviors [33]. We hypothesize that positive teacher support may help with minimizing IA in students.

In the realm of psychology, the majority of research samples are drawn from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic populations, commonly referred to as WEIRD [34]. [35] observed that no Middle Eastern sample-based studies were published in a high-impact international psychology journal in 2014, and this tendency persisted in their 2017 follow-up analysis. This study is among the few to focus on a population from Middle Eastern countries, while most research has primarily focused on Western and East Asian populations [36, 37]. Given that cultural differences can affect research outcomes [38], this study on adolescent Internet addiction and its association with family and school environments contributes significantly to the field of psychology by offering original research using a non-WEIRD sample. Although different studies have examined the effects of family, school environment, and peer relationships on adolescent Internet addiction separately [39, 40], research examining them together is limited. Our study attempts to bridge this gap. By studying these models together, we aimed to explore the relative impact of family, school environment, and peer relationships on adolescent IA. Specifically, we aimed to identify the factors that had the most significant impact on the development of IA among adolescents. Understanding the combined effects of these microsystems is crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to IA in adolescents.

Numerous elements in the adolescent environment may function as factors affecting adolescents’ IA. Existing research regarding adolescent IA about family factors mainly takes into consideration parental monitoring, parental IA, and parenting styles [41, 42]. Considering the interplay between these factors across all layers of the socioecological model, including the multiple components of family, and school environment, will provide more thorough and ecologically sound findings. Examining the effects of a single factor or components from a single domain may easily be inflated since in practice factors from several environmental subsystems interact in synergistic ways [43].

A systematic review of longitudinal studies examining trends in IA found that most of the included studies examined individual-level factors in relation to IA. Among the examined 27 variables in the systematic review, only 4 variables constituted contextual factors (i.e. family, peers, and classroom-related factors) [44]. Given that individual factors have been extensively researched and to gain a deeper and more wholesome understanding of the IA phenomenon, this study aimed at exploring the relationship between age, family, and school-related factors and IA and its symptoms among a group of adolescents in Qatar. In our study, we used a survey to collect data. The survey included various measures to capture the relevant aspects of family functioning, school environment, and relationships with peers and teachers. To evaluate family functioning, we used the Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS) [45]. This scale measures perceived family cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict. Additionally, we incorporated selected questions from the WHO Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey to provide valuable contextual information on various aspects of adolescent well-being and behaviors within the school context, including pressure at school, school workload, academic performance, relationships with peers, and teachers [46]. To assess Internet addiction symptoms, we utilized the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) [3]. This study aims to answer the following research questions:

Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model, our study examined factors within the microsystem of adolescents related to an important health issue that has been long affecting adolescents. Internet addiction is a serious behavioral addiction warranting a deeper understanding that extends beyond individual factors. In this study, we examined if family-related factors and school-related factors are associated with Internet addiction. We further explored if these microsystem-related factors are associated with each Internet addiction symptom. The findings from the multiple regression model suggest that family relationship, school environment, and teacher support are significant predictors of Internet addiction in adolescents.

Our results demonstrate that family relationships can affect Internet addiction. The perception of poor family relationships was found to be a significant predictor of all IA symptoms. This relationship can be further understood through the lens of the escape from self-theory. Escape from self-theory suggests that individuals may turn to excessive Internet use as a means of escaping or avoiding problems in their real-life relationships, particularly within the family. This implies that individuals who perceive their family relationships negatively are more likely to exhibit problematic Internet use patterns, such as excessive time spent online, difficulty controlling their online activities, neglecting responsibilities, and experiencing negative consequences. Literature has long established that family characteristics can influence addictive behaviors in adolescents [56, 57]. Tafa & Baiocco found that adolescents with families who are rigid and lack cohesion in their response to stressful situations have higher addiction rates [57]. Poor family functioning such as high levels of conflict or poor cohesiveness may lead adolescents to excessive use of the Internet as means of escaping or a distracting mechanism. Understanding the connection between poor family relationships and IA symptoms sheds light on the underlying psychological mechanisms. It emphasizes the importance of addressing family dynamics and improving family relationships as potential avenues for intervention and prevention strategies in combating Internet addiction.

Our findings are in line with that of Kim et al. who reported that family dysfunction, specifically among adolescents who’ve experienced domestic violence, was a significant predictor of smartphone addiction [58]. Our findings are also in line with several other studies that examined family function in relation to Internet addiction [59, 60]. A study by Şenormancı et al. examined 30 male adult patients admitted to an Internet addiction clinic [59] and found that when compared to the control group, patients with IA addiction evaluated their family functioning as poor and problematic. Similarly, another study found that college students with severe IA reported perceptions of low family functioning compared to non-addicted students [60]. The fact that these effects can be seen in adolescents is alarming and may indicate the long-lasting effects of problematic family functioning on addictive behaviors.

These results may also be further explained according to the escape from self-theory [61], when individuals perceive a discrepancy between their current situations and expectations, they seek to escape from the self (i.e., self-awareness) to eliminate negative reactions and emotions by engaging in self-destructive behaviors. The Internet may serve as an escapism mechanism for adolescents with such perceptions as seen in other studies. Findings from Kwon et al.’s research suggest that adolescents addicted to Internet gaming have become so as an attempt to escape from their own self and reality [62].

In our study, we found that adolescents with only one employed parent had higher odds of staying online longer compared to adolescents with both parents working. It might be that in families with one parent employed, the parents staying at home might be spending longer time online. In a previous study, parents’ Internet behaviors online reflected on their children [42]. The study found that adolescents had higher chances of being dependent Internet users when their parents were dependent Internet users. The authors also found that the same displayed IA symptoms in parents were reflected in their adolescents’ Internet-related behaviors.

Our study indicates that adolescents with only one employed parent tend to spend more time online, and it is possible that the parent staying at home contributes to this behavior. Furthermore, there are studies examining the role of social support as an important protective factor in adolescents. In a survey study examining IA and perceived social support conducted among adolescents attending a clinic for adolescents’ behavioral issues, adolescents with a working mother had a significantly higher perception of social support compared to adolescents whose mothers did not work. Additionally, adolescents who reported spending time with their mothers by engaging in various activities also reported higher social support and a significantly lower IA [63]. Taking into consideration the collectivistic nature of the local culture in which the father is the main provider for the family, we assume that the father is the working parent among adolescents reporting only one parent working. It is important to consider family dynamics and parental behavior when addressing IA and promoting healthy Internet use among adolescents. The study highlights the need for a holistic approach to addressing IA in adolescents by taking into account the complex interplay between family dynamics, parental employment status, and Internet use.

The school environment is an essential part of the microsystem of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework. Adolescents’ perceptions of their school might be shaped by stressful or unpleasant experiences such as conflicts and rejections or positive self-enhancing experiences such as teacher’s support and other successes that adolescents go through and experience [64]. These experiences in school that shape adolescents’ perceptions can have a detrimental effect on their psychosocial development. There’s a plethora of evidence suggesting the impact of adolescents’ perceptions of school climate on psychological adaptive behaviors and student development. A study by Wang & Dishion that followed 1030 students from sixth to eighth grade [32] and measured their perceptions towards school climate found a decline in students’ perceptions of their school climate over time across all dimensions, while they observed an increase in behavioral problems and misbehaving peers in return [32]. Another longitudinal study that examined 1451 students from sixth through eighth grade also found that students perceived school climate declined over that period. This decline was associated with a decline in psychological and social adjustment among adolescents [65].

When students’ perceptions of their school climate decrease, they are more likely to lose the sense of belonging, and the sense of community, creating distress and thus making them more vulnerable to problematic behaviors as observed in our study. The school environment in our study was measured by adolescents’ perceptions and feelings towards their teachers and school-related work stress. Adolescents in our study with negative attitudes towards the school environment predicted higher rates of IA in addition to higher reported symptoms of withdrawal, staying online longer than intended, lying to conceal the extent of IA, and dysfunctional coping. For these adolescents, the Internet might be serving as a dysfunctional coping mechanism that provides them with an escape from their reality. These findings are not surprising as they are in line with other studies. In a study examining high school students’ attitudes toward learning, the authors found that negative attitudes toward learning were positively associated with IA. The authors further explain that the inefficient use of technology could be an important factor in that association [66]. Another study of 2758 Chinese adolescents also found that negative school climate perceptions were positively associated with Internet addiction [25]. Multiple studies, however, suggest that for a more in-depth understanding of IA and as a future direction, the role of mediating factors should be further considered [25, 26].

The results of our study indicate that academic performance was associated with the IA symptom of withdrawal. A vast body of literature exists highlighting the negative impact IA has on academic performance. Not many studies however examined academic performance as a predictor of IA symptoms. A study that examined predictors of Internet addiction among a large group of 1914 adolescents in India, found that there was a weak negative correlation between academic performance and IA [67]. Furthermore, the authors found that individuals with IA had a lower academic performance compared to the group without IA addiction. Another study carried out in Turkey among 370 adolescents in 9th through 11th grade, found a significant difference in IA total scores between the students who perceived themselves as academically poor performers and those who perceived themselves as good performers in school in favor of those who reported poor school success [66]. Our findings are explainable since adolescents who perceive themselves as not performing well in school may use the Internet as a way to cope with stress and emotional difficulties, leading to excessive and unhealthy use. Conversely, students who perceive themselves as having high academic achievement may also have high self-efficacy and self-discipline that result in promoting positive habits and resilience, reducing the risk of developing Internet addiction. A study conducted among 489 Turkish adolescents found that the type of compulsive Internet use (task-related vs. non-task related) has various effects on adolescents’ perceived academic performance. The authors found that non-task-related compulsive Internet use is negatively associated with how adolescents perceive themselves academically. The study also found that task-related compulsive Internet use is positively predicted by adolescents’ perceived academic performance. This association was moderated by academic motivation [68]. Another study that examined social media use among 195 university students found that students’ academic performance predicted their social media usage [69]. Specifically, students with a lower GPA had a higher engagement with social media.

An intriguing finding that arose in our study is that teacher support was negatively correlated with IA. However, in the regression analysis, teacher support became a positive predictor of IA. We cautiously interpret this finding as teachers’ support may be acting as a proxy for students who may be struggling academically or struggling with IA as these students may truly view their teachers as lending extra support to them since they tend to need it the most. To further enrich our understanding, future research should investigate in greater depth the relationship between teacher support and IA. This approach would provide valuable insights into both students’ and teachers’ subjective experiences and perspectives, offering a more nuanced understanding of how support in schools can potentially exacerbate addictive behavior if provided excessively. Further research could investigate the potential unintended consequences of teacher support on IA, and how certain interventions may need to be tailored to individual student needs. Researchers may also consider examining IA in conjunction with other behaviors, such as academic and personal difficulties, and may view IA as a potential outcome rather than a primary instigator. It is essential to investigate how teachers’ support, which is frequently directed at struggling students, may inadvertently encourage them to view the Internet as a means of escape.

Our findings also validate the importance to investigate differences in Internet addiction in adolescence over the different age groups. Middle adolescents were more likely to exhibit the symptom of lying to conceal the extent of involvement as compared to early adolescents. This implies that changes in development and differences between different age groups can affect how parents, teachers, and health professionals help adolescents deal with IA. We hypothesize that parents of middle adolescents may have more relaxed or less parental controls such as limiting the time their children spend online compared to younger adolescents. A study found that among adolescents who exhibited IA symptoms, the majority of the parents in that adolescent group did not limit Internet use [37].

Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, we cannot establish causal relationships between our predictor variables and IA. In addition, our sample consisted of early and middle adolescents and did not take into consideration, late adolescents. Another limitation was that answers were self-reported by adolescents, which might lead to reporting bias. The adolescents may not have accurately reported their academic performance and Internet addiction symptoms. Despite research indicating that there may be gender differences in adolescent Internet addiction [28, 70], we were unable to examine the effect of gender in our study as more than 80% of our sample were females. While our work was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological framework, we were only able to examine proximal factors as predictors of IA. To gain a better and more in-depth understanding, future studies can delve into the mesosystem level of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model, which examines the interactions and linkages between these microsystems. For instance, the influence of the home environment on a child’s academic performance within the school setting can be further explored to understand how these microsystems mutually influence each other.

Despite the limitations, our study is the first of its kind in Qatar and the region to examine IA concerning adolescents’ age, family functioning, parents’ employment status, school environment, relationship with teachers, and relationship with peers. The findings shed light on an important growing health issue affecting adolescents that deserves serious attention from parents, schools, and policymakers. A notable strength of this study is its focus on a population from Middle Eastern countries, which is a significant contribution to the field since most prior research has primarily concentrated on Western and South Asian populations.

Academic performance can serve as an indicator of a student’s well-being and may allow for early identification of potential issues, such as IA. This information can then be used by policymakers and school administrators to implement effective interventions and preventive strategies for IA. Schools can play a leading role in preventing IA by spreading awareness of the dangers related to excessive Internet use, providing students with the tools needed to cultivate healthy habits related to Internet use, and fostering a school environment and culture built on a strong foundation of digital literacy from a very young age [71]. Digital literacy can be incorporated into school curricula. In fact, schools can also play an instrumental role in augmenting the digital literacy of families, especially parents, as parental awareness should be raised about the influence of their behavior in the context of healthy Internet use, along with the adoption of good digital literacy practices [72]. Family support, on the other hand, may offer adolescents a secure and caring setting in which to restrict their Internet usage and cultivate good connections and behaviors.

In terms of addressing existing IA symptoms, schools can be mandated to offer resources and services to support families struggling with adolescent IA. For example, such services could include counseling for students who may be struggling with these symptoms. A referral system can also be integrated between schools and healthcare professionals specializing in behavioral addictions to offer the support needed to adolescents exhibiting IA symptoms and their families. Encouraging teachers to play a proactive role in recognizing the signs of IA is also important. This could be achieved by training teachers and even parents to recognize the early signs of IA and how to intervene properly [71]. School policies can also be established to restrict students’ access to certain websites or social media outlets during school hours.

In our study, a strong family environment characterized by cohesiveness, low conflict, and expressiveness, a supportive school environment, and high academic performance acted as positive influences against IA. In conclusion, minimizing adolescent Internet addiction requires a multifaceted strategy that includes both the school and family settings. The school environment may play a crucial role in teaching and creating awareness among students about the consequences of excessive Internet usage, as well as providing them with alternate activities. Family support, on the other hand, may offer adolescents a secure and caring setting in which to restrict their Internet usage and cultivate good connections and behaviors. These aspects need to be considered by policymakers and educational institutions to ensure that adolescents get the necessary help and resources to reduce addictive Internet behaviors. This might include sponsoring technological education initiatives, putting in place rules governing Internet use in classrooms, and giving support services to parents who might want extra help in supervising their adolescents’ online use. By addressing these issues, we can reduce Internet addiction among adolescents and promote healthy technology usage among the youth.