Problematic Internet Use and Mental Well-Being: The Importance Adolescents' Place on Digital Technology Interactions Moderates This Relationship.

PURPOSE: Problematic Internet use (PIU) affects around 10% of adolescents and contributes to lower well-being. However, using the Internet for social connection is associated with higher well-being. This study investigated whether the importance placed on using technology in specific ways, such as for social connection, might attenuate the association between PIU and mental well-being.

METHODS

This national cross-sectional study examined whether adolescents' perceived importance of technology interactions moderated the association between PIU and mental well-being. Adolescents responded via an online survey to measures of PIU, mental well-being, and the importance of digital technology interactions. Analyses included three hierarchical regressions.

RESULTS

Our sample included 1,520 adolescent participants (51.9% female, 67.6% white, mean age = 14.5 years). PIU was negatively associated with mental well-being (β = -.31, p < .001). Adolescents' perceived importance of technology interactions moderated the association. Using technology to bridge online and offline experiences (p < .001), go outside of one's identity (p < .001), and for social connection attenuated associations between PIU and mental well-being (p < .001), such that associations were less pronounced for adolescents who reported stronger importance of using technology for those digital interactions.

DISCUSSION: Adolescent health care providers should consider the importance adolescents with PIU place on different technology interactions and the potential role interactions play in mental well-being.