The associations of cognitive distortions with internet addiction and internet activities in adolescents: A cross-sectional study

Purpose

This study examined difference in the levels of internet addiction across internet activities, and the associations of cognitive distortions with internet addiction and internet activities.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study involving 638 adolescents. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Internet Addiction Scale and The Children's Negative Cognitive Error Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSSv23 and descriptive methods, independent samples t-test, linear regression, logistic regression were performed.

Findings

The prevalence of internet addiction in adolescents was found to be 16.9%. The internet addiction scores of adolescents who use the internet for online gaming, visiting pornographic sites, using and chatting on social media, and aimless browsing are higher. Catastrophizing, personalization, and selective abstraction cognitive distortions explain internet addiction variance at a level of 17.5%. Selective abstraction predicts online gaming and aimless browsing, personalization predicts pornographic site visiting, and catastrophization predicts doing homework on the internet.

Conclusion

Online gaming, visiting pornographic sites, using and chatting on social media and internet aimless browsing are distinctive of internet addiction. Internet addiction and various internet activities are associated with cognitive distortions. Mental health nurses should help adolescents to become aware of their cognitive distortions and to produce more functional thoughts.