Two-way perspective on problematic internet use in adolescent psychiatric patients: predictive and associated factors.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between problematic Internet use (PIU) and suicide probability, aggression, and impulsivity in an adolescent clinical sample.

Methods: Four hundred and eighty-four adolescents who applied to the child psychiatry outpatient clinic of a university hospital were included in the study. They filled out a sociodemographic data form, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Short Form (BIS-11-SF), and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ).

Results: The time spent on the Internet, BIS-11-SF/MI, BIS-11-SF/AI, SPS subscales, and BPAQ scores of adolescents with PIU were significantly higher compared to those of normal Internet users. Having a computer at home, having a smartphone, time spent on the Internet, older age, SPS/hopelessness, and BPAQ scores were found to be predictive factors of PIU, but psychiatric diagnoses had no predictive effect (p > 0.05). SPS/hopelessness and BPAQ scores were statistically significant in distinguishing adolescents with PIU from those without. BIS-11-SF, SPS/hopelessness scores, and time spent on the Internet were the most important factors in predicting IAT total scores.

Conclusions: Determining the relationship between PIU, aggression, suicidal behavior, and impulsivity in adolescents will be effective in protecting them from potential harm.