title: Prevalence of pathological internet use in a representative German sample of adolescents: results of a latent profile analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pathological internet use is of increasing significance in several industrial nations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed a representative German quota sample of 1,723 adolescents (aged 14-17 years) and 1 caregiver each. We conducted a latent profile analysis to identify a high-risk group for pathological internet use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 3.2% of the sample formed a profile group with pathological internet use. In contrast to other published studies, the results of the latent profile analysis were verified not only by self-assessments of the youth's but also by external ratings of the caregivers. In addition to the pathological internet use, the high-risk group showed lower levels of family functioning and life satisfaction as well as more problems in family interactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed a considerable prevalence of pathological internet use in adolescents and emphasized the need for preventive and therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wartberg
authors.forename: Levente
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kriston
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kammerl
authors.forename: Kay-Uwe
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomasius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment