Social Motivation as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Problematic Internet Use and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents in Mexico.

Background: Prior research shows a link between alcohol use and problematic Internet use among adolescents. This relationship likely indicates a vulnerability to addiction; however, little is known about factors that may increase this vulnerability. One potential factor is social motivation. Adolescents often engage in Internet use and alcohol use as a way of connecting socially. This study examines the moderating effects of social motivation for Internet use on the relationship between problematic Internet use and alcohol use among adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 582 adolescents selected randomly from one middle school and one high school in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Participants answered questions related to demographics/background (including reasons for Internet use), problematic Internet use, and alcohol use. Hierarchical regression modeling examined the moderating effects of social Internet use on problematic Internet use and alcohol use, controlling for age and gender.

Results: Social Internet use and problematic Internet use accounted for a significant amount of variance in alcohol use (R2 = .126, F(4, 575) = 20.77, p < .001). When the interaction term was entered, social Internet use was found to moderate the relationship between problematic Internet use and alcohol use (β = .525, t = 3.293, p = .001), and the direct effects of social Internet use (β = -.062, t = -0.663, p = .507) and problematic Internet use (β = -.129, t = -1.053, p = .293) were no longer significant.

Conclusion: This study highlights the role that social connections may play in contributing to problematic Internet use and alcohol use among adolescents. Interventions aimed at preventing problematic and addictive behaviors among adolescents should address the role of social motivations.