engleski

The role of emotional regulation in problematic Internet use

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is the most commonly conceptualized as an inability to control one’s Internet use, which leads to negative consequences in everyday social and emotional functioning, particularly in adolescents. In the present study we aimed to assess potential socioemotional predictors (gender, age, academic achievement, time spent on the internet, emotional regulation and control) of problematic internet use among adolescents. For this purpose, 326 students (124 boys, 204 girls), aged 16–19 (M=17.03 ; SD=.39), from secondary schools in Posusje and Siroki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina, completed a set of self-report scales assessing three forms of problematic Internet use (obsession with activities with internet, neglect of daily activities and inability to control Internet use) and emotional control and regulation. Gender, age, time spent on the Internet and emotional control as well as regulation contributed to explaining 22 % variances of obsession, 24.2% of neglect and 23.7% of control. The results of the analyses carried out with hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the most important predictor of all three forms of problematic Internet (obsession, neglect and control) was the time spent on the Internet (β=.247, β=.248 ; β=.175 ; p<.001). In addition, it was found that the all three forms of problematic internet use were significantly predicted by emotional control and regulation (β=.333, β=.348 ; β=.390 ; p<.001). Demographic factors, such as gender or age predicted only neglect of daily activities (β=.127, β =-.098 ; p<.05) and inability to control Internet use (βgender=.158 ; p<.05).These findings show that, in general, the time spent on Internet and emotion regulations and control are important determiners in problematic Internet use. Taking these risk factors into account could contribute to the prevention programs for unhealthy Internet use.

emotional regulation and control, problematic internet use, adolescents

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