Uso problematico di internet in preadolescenza e adolescenza: traiettorie maladattive e profili di rischio

[Autom. eng. transl.] INTRODUCTION The literature has highlighted the correlation between problematic use of the Internet (PIU) and adaptation problems in the developmental age, especially in terms of social competences and internalization symptoms (Durkee et al., 2012; Sim et al., 2012). The present study aims to investigate the connection between PIUs and maladaptive trajectories in a sample of Italian pre-adolescents and adolescents. METHOD A 308 preadolescents and adolescents (53.8% F, 46.8% M) with an average age of 14.87 years (range 11-18) were given the following scales: Internet Addiction test (IAT; Young, 1998); Interpersonal Relations Test (TRI; Bracken, 1993); Children's Coping Strategies Checklist (CCSC; Ayers & Sandler, 1999); Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991). RESULTS The participants were divided into problematic users of the Internet (17.2%; N = 53) and not (82.8%; N = 255) based on the score in the IAT test. Problematic users spend more hours per week on the Internet (22.69 vs. 11.07; t = -6.31; p <.001), have worse coping strategies (CCSC distraction: 2.29 vs. 2.07; t = -2.23; p <.05 ; CCSC avoidance: 2.33 vs. 2.09; t = -3.61; p <.01), worse interpersonal relationships (TRI: 467.33 vs. 467.54; t = 2.01; p <.05), and more internalization problems (CBCL: 8.64 vs. 6.80; t = -2.02; p <.05). By inserting the IAT test score as an independent variable in a stepwise regression, a model emerges (F = 26.82; R2 = 0.30; p <.001) in which the significant predictors of Internet dependence result in navigation hours (β = .365 ; p <.001), the distraction coping (β = .127; p <.05) and the quality of interpersonal relationships (β = -.103; p <.05). CONCLUSIONS The results confirm that the problematic use of the Internet is associated with adaptation problems in preadolescence and adolescence, especially in terms of coping strategies, quality of social relations and internalisation problems.