title: The development of compulsive internet use and mental health: A four-year study of adolescence.
abstract: Is compulsive Internet use (CIU) an antecedent to poor mental health, a consequence, or both? Study 1 used a longitudinal design to track the development of CIU and mental health in Grade 8 (N = 1030 males, 1038 females, Mage = 13.7), 9, 10, and 11. Study 2 extended Study 1 by examining the kinds of Internet behaviors most strongly associated with CIU within males and females. Structural equation modeling revealed that CIU predicted the development of poor mental health, whereas poor mental health did not predict CIU development. Latent growth analyses showed that both females and males increased in CIU and mental health problems across the high school years. Females had higher CIU and worse mental health than males, and tended to engage in more social forms of Internet use. We discuss future directions for CIU intervention research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ciarrochi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Baljinder
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sahdra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: School of Management, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Basel.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gloster
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heaven
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012649:Self Concept; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires