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Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents
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Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Behavioral and Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 7377

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Javier Ortuño Sierra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Developmental and Educational Sciences, University of La Rioja, 26004 Logroño, Spain
Interests: adolescence; mental health; well-being; development; psychometrics; epigenetics; neurocognitive
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent studies show that Internet consumption accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, 54% of the world’s population were using the Internet, and the number of users reached 63% in 2021. Problematic Internet Use (PIU) has been defined as a generalized and compulsive use of the Internet that has different consequences on mental health and well-being. PIU happens when a person uses the Internet for long periods of time, mostly for activities not related to work or study. This inability to disconnect affects the individual at different levels, including school, family, and social relationships. In addition, the impact of PIU on mental health has been studied, and it has been documented that PIU is related to an increase in depression, anxiety, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and substance use disorders, among others. Although PIU has received increasing clinical attention from researchers, it has not yet been recognized by diagnostic classification systems, and more research is still needed to further understand the impact of this phenomenon on psychological well-being and mental health, specifically at a critical developmental stage like adolescence.

Dr. Javier Ortuño Sierra
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • internet use
  • addiction
  • adolescence
  • self-regulation
  • prevalence

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1091 KiB  
Article
Adolescent Vulnerability to Internet Media Exposure: The Role of Self-Mastery in Mitigating Post-Traumatic Symptoms
by Michelle Slone, Ayelet Peer and Michael Egozi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040589 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 316
Abstract
The internet has revolutionized communication, becoming central to daily life. Consequently, news consumption shifted dramatically with increased media access, exposing individuals to global traumatic events, such as armed conflicts. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of this exposure due to their [...] Read more.
The internet has revolutionized communication, becoming central to daily life. Consequently, news consumption shifted dramatically with increased media access, exposing individuals to global traumatic events, such as armed conflicts. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of this exposure due to their media expertise and developmental stage. Young adults are more mature and independent but remain vulnerable to the harmful effects of internet exposure. This study examined the relationship between internet media exposure to armed conflict and post-traumatic symptoms and psychiatric symptomology among adolescents and young adults. Additionally, self-mastery was explored as a resilience factor in both groups. A sample of 329 participants, including 159 adolescents (ages 12–18) and 168 young adults (ages 20–26), completed questionnaires assessing direct and internet media exposure to armed conflict events, self-mastery, post-traumatic symptoms and psychiatric symptomology. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that internet media exposure was positively associated with post-traumatic symptoms and psychiatric symptomatology only among adolescents, whereas direct exposure was significantly related to post-traumatic symptoms only among young adults. Self-mastery moderated these effects in both groups, buffering the psychological impact of the most relevant exposure. The findings underscore the need for interventions that foster self-mastery to mitigate the adverse effects of traumatic media exposure, particularly among adolescents. Developmental implications are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents)
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11 pages, 371 KiB  
Article
Phubbing in Adolescents: Spanish Validation of the Phubbing Scale (PS)
by Noelia Barbed-Castrejón, Fermín Navaridas-Nalda, Cristina Ábalos-Villanueva, Oliver Mason and Javier Ortuño-Sierra
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091257 - 22 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2106
Abstract
The Phubbing Scale (PS) is an instrument used to measure the frequency and extent of the behavior of ignoring someone you are with and giving attention to your mobile phone instead. However, there is insufficient evidence about the psychometric adequacy of the Spanish [...] Read more.
The Phubbing Scale (PS) is an instrument used to measure the frequency and extent of the behavior of ignoring someone you are with and giving attention to your mobile phone instead. However, there is insufficient evidence about the psychometric adequacy of the Spanish version of the instrument. The main goal of this research was to analyze the psychometric properties of PS in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents and young adults. A total of 1351 participants comprised the sample (42.78% females, age range = 12–21). Students were selected from different levels of education such as secondary school, high school, vocational training, or university. A convenient sample was used. The reliability of the scores was calculated by means of McDonald’s Omega. The evidence of the internal structure of the questionnaire was analyzed by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The measurement invariance of the instrument by gender and educational level was also calculated. In addition, Pearson’s correlations between phubbing and other indicators of mental health were also calculated. The goodness-of-fit indices for the two-factor model were good. The McDonald’s Omega coefficient for the total score was 0.787. Measurement invariance both by gender and educational level was found. The phenomenon of phubbing was found to have statistically significant correlations with emotional well-being, other mental health indicators, and with Problematic Internet Use (PIU), with the sole exception of the hyperactivity subscale of the SDQ. This study provided validity evidence for the Spanish version of the Phubbing Scale (PS), suggesting that PS is a reliable tool for quantifying phubbing in Spanish adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents)
14 pages, 722 KiB  
Article
Personality Traits and Internet Addiction among Adolescent Students: The Moderating Role of Family Functioning
by Ifeoma Juliet Nwufo and Obinna Osita Ike
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050520 - 23 Apr 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3592
Abstract
Objectives: Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and compulsive use of the internet. The risk of internet addiction among adolescents has risen recently due to an increase in technological advancement and globalization. However, previous studies have focused on the precipitating [...] Read more.
Objectives: Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and compulsive use of the internet. The risk of internet addiction among adolescents has risen recently due to an increase in technological advancement and globalization. However, previous studies have focused on the precipitating factors triggering the internet addiction without looking at the exogenous factors and boundary conditions, such as family functioning, that can either sustain or weaken such behavior. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the moderating role of family functioning in the relationship between personality traits and internet addiction among adolescents. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study consisting of 3150 adolescent students in the grade/class level of JSS1-SS3 who were assessed with standardized measures of the Big-Five Personality Inventory, Internet Addictive Test, and Family APGAR Index. Pearson correlation was used to explore the bivariate relationships between the demographic variable and other variables of interest, while Hayes regression-based PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to test the Hypotheses. Results: (1) Openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism positively correlated with internet addiction, whereas agreeableness was negatively associated with internet addiction. (2) Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction. (3) Positive family functioning moderated the relationships of extraversion and agreeableness with internet addiction but not on openness to experience, conscientiousness, and neuroticism with internet addiction. Conclusions: Positive family functioning correlated negatively with internet addiction among adolescents, suggesting that improving family functioning would be a valuable tactic for reducing adolescents’ susceptibility to personality-related internet addiction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents)
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Review

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14 pages, 640 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Association Between Problematic Internet Use, Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescents with ADHD: A Scoping Review
by Roberto Ghiaccio, Anna Passaro, Fabrizio Stasolla, Elvira Martini, Angelo Maria De Fortuna and Raffaele De Luca Picione
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040496 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 603
Abstract
Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adolescents with ADHD have an elevated risk of developing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), a condition involving excessive gaming that disrupts daily life. IGD is linked to traits such as [...] Read more.
Background: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adolescents with ADHD have an elevated risk of developing Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), a condition involving excessive gaming that disrupts daily life. IGD is linked to traits such as low frustration tolerance and sensation-seeking, with comorbid conditions like anxiety and depression further increasing vulnerability. Gaming frequently serves as a coping strategy due to emotional regulation difficulties. The dynamics within family units and peer relationships play a pivotal role, with dysfunctional environments heightening the risks and positive interactions serving as protective factors. Methods: This scoping review analyzed empirical studies published in the last decade exploring the association between ADHD, Problematic Internet Use (PIU), or IGD, focusing on neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Results: The findings highlight that impulsivity and emotional dysregulation in ADHD contribute to IGD. Gaming is frequently used as a maladaptive coping strategy, with social and family influences modulating risk. Diagnostic complexities arise in distinguishing ADHD-related behaviors from IGD symptoms. Conclusions: Addressing these comorbid conditions requires interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based interventions. Future research should focus on understanding ADHD, PIU, or IGD interactions and developing targeted interventions. Longitudinal studies are necessary to establish causal links and assess effective treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Wellbeing, Mental Health and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents)
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