Self-Esteem, Family Support and Online Grooming Risk Among Adolescents: The Role of Problematic Internet Usage

The online grooming risk (OGR) among adolescents has risen due to the development of technology and the growing use of social media. Although crucial links have been described among family support, self-esteem and OGR, little is known about the mechanisms problematic Internet usage has in these links. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of problematic Internet usage in the relationship among family support, self-esteem and OGR. The participants consist of a total of 406 adolescents in Türkiye, with 283 girls and 123 boys (age, mean ± standard deviation = 16.25 ± 1.68). The relationships among the variables were examined using the Pearson correlation, while mediation analyses were carried out using structural equation modelling. Correlational analyses reveal family support to be negatively associated with both OGR and problematic Internet usage. Meanwhile, family support was positively correlated with self-esteem. Similarly, a positive and statistically significant relationship was determined between OGR and problematic Internet usage. The results indicate problematic Internet usage to mediate the relationship between family support and OGR as well as the relationship between self-esteem and OGR. These results highlight the importance of paying attention to adolescents' mental health regarding problematic Internet usage by considering the protective factors of self-esteem and family support due to their close association with OGR.