title: Patterns of internet use and mental health of high school students in Istria County Croatia: cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine associations between different forms of internet use and a number of psychological variables related to mental health in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a representative sample of students (N=1539) from all high schools in the region of Istria in Croatia (14-19 years). The associations between four factors of internet use and nine mental health indicators were analyzed using canonical correlation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four canonical functions suggested a significant association between different types of internet use and specific indicators of mental health (P<0.001). Problematic internet use, more typical among boys, was associated with general aggressive behavior and substance abuse (P<0.001). Experiences of harassment, more typical among girls, were associated with health complaints, symptoms of depression, loneliness, and fear of negative evaluation (P<0.001). Using the internet for communication and entertainment was associated with better relationships with peers (P<0.001), while use of the internet for academic purposes was associated with conscientiousness (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that different patterns of internet use are significantly associated with specific sets of positive and negative mental health indicators. The data support the assumption that internet use can have both positive and adverse effects on the mental health of youth.
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bezinović
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roviš
authors.forename: Nena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rončević
authors.affiliation: Lovorka Bilajac, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia, lovorka.bilajac@medri.uniri.hr.
authors.forename: Lovorka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bilajac
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D003142:Communication; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010379:Peer Group; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult