Problematic Internet Use in Spanish Adolescents and Their Relationship with Self-Esteem and Impulsivity

Abstract

Given the great increase in the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in recent years by the youth collective, it is interesting to analyze the dysfunctional patterns and their addictive potential. The aim of this research is to explore the relationship between problematic Internet use and risk factors such as impulsivity, and to analyze differences in intra and interpersonal conflicts associated to gender and age level. 240 adolescents and young people (124 women and 116 men) aged between 15 and 22 years (X = 18,075; SD= 2.36) participated, all of them students of the Principality of Asturias (Spain). Problematic Internet use was found among 11.25 % of adolescents compared with 88.75 % showing a controlled use. No significant effects of gender and age were registered.

It was found that low self-steem as well as cognitive and unplanned impulsivity predict with high likelihood maladaptive Internet use. Greater propensity
to make quick decisions and showing more interest in making decisions for the present than for future increase the likelihood of higher scoring in interpersonal
conflicts associated with problematic Internet use. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: Problematic use, Internet, self-esteem, impulsiveness, teenagers.