Cited by 8Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologyBullying, Victimization, and Aggression

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

Open access
Aktu, Yahya·2024·Child Abuse Review

Abstract

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.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This cross-sectional SEM study of 406 Turkish adolescents found that problematic Internet usage fully mediated the relationships of self-esteem and family support with online grooming risk. Higher problematic Internet usage was linked to greater online grooming risk, while self-esteem and family support were negatively correlated with both problematic Internet usage and online grooming risk.

Key findings

  • Online grooming risk was positively correlated with problematic Internet usage (r = 0.528, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.454, 0.595]) and negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = −0.384, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.464, −0.298]) and family support (r = −0.399, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.478, −0.314]).
  • In the SEM, problematic Internet usage fully mediated the self-esteem–OGR path (indirect β = −0.366, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.759, −0.157]) and the family support–OGR path (indirect β = −0.230, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−0.565, −0.061]); direct self-esteem→OGR and family support→OGR paths were not significant in Table 5.
  • Problematic Internet usage was predicted by lower self-esteem (β = −1.492, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−2.202, −0.812]) and lower family support (β = −0.939, p < 0.001, 95% CI [−1.618, −0.262]), and it predicted higher OGR (β = 0.245, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.150, 0.457]).
  • Mean OGR differed significantly in favour of high school students (t(86.89) = −3.453, p < 0.01), with no differences by gender, age, or perceived socio-economic status.

Methods

  • Cross-sectional relational survey of 406 adolescents in grades 7–12, ages 13–18 (M age ± SD = 16.25 ± 1.68; 283 girls, 123 boys), from two provinces in the Southeastern Anatolian region of Türkiye; cluster sampling and online Google Forms were used.
  • Measures included the Online Grooming Risk Scale (8 items, two dimensions, α = 0.90), Rosenberg Self-Esteem subscale (α = 0.82), Family Support subscale (12 items, α = 0.90), and Problematic Internet Usage Scale (27 items, α = 0.91).
  • Analyses used Pearson correlations and structural equation modelling with asymptotically distribution-free estimation because multivariate normality was violated; bootstrap analyses used 10,000 samples and 95% confidence intervals in SPSS 25 and AMOS 24.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: online data were collected only from 7th- to 12th-grade students; the cross-sectional relational design cannot establish cause and effect; longitudinal and experimental studies are needed; future work should use a larger randomly selected sample; self-report scales may introduce social bias; qualitative and mixed studies are suggested for social validity.
  • Evident from the text: the sample came from two provinces in Southeastern Anatolia, was middle socio-economic status, and was predominantly girls (69.7%), which may limit generalizability.
  • The paper also states that a power analysis was not calculated for the sample size to determine the mediation effect.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/car.70007

Cites

45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 38 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Family support is negatively associated with problematic Internet usage.

    “Correlational analyses reveal family support to be negatively associated with both OGR and problematic Internet usage.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Family support is positively correlated with self-esteem.

    “Meanwhile, family support was positively correlated with self-esteem.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Family support is negatively correlated with online grooming risk (r = -0.399, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.478, -0.314]).

    “OGR is negatively correlated with family support, thus implying higher OGR scores (increased OGR) being linked to lower family support (r = -0.399,p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.478, -0.314]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Online grooming risk is positively correlated with problematic Internet usage (r = 0.528, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.454, 0.595]).

    “As seen in Table 4, a positive correlation exists between OGR and problematic Internet usage, with higher OGR scores being associated with increased problematic Internet usage (r = 0.528, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.454, 0.595]).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Mean online grooming risk differs significantly in favour of high school students (t(86.89) = -3.453, p < 0.01).

    “However, the mean OGR was found to differ significantly in favour of high school students (t (86.89) = -3.453,p < 0.01).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 13
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 18
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Mean online grooming risk does not differ by gender, age, or perceived socio-economic status.

    “Table 3 shows no differences to have occurred in the mean OGR with respect to gender, age or perceived socio-economic status.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Family support reduces online grooming risk.

    “The literature contains research results that underline how family support reduces OGR (Pasca et al. 2022).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pasca et al. 2022

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A lack of family support increases online grooming risk and problematic Internet usage.

    “In addition, studies have suggested a lack of family support to increase OGR and problematic Internet usage (Pasca et al. 2022;Whittle et al. 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Pasca et al. 2022

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Whittle et al. 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The use of social networks and chat rooms has led to a pervasive and under-recognized increase in online grooming.

    “The use of social networks and chat rooms has led to a pervasive and under-recognized increase in online grooming (Craven, Brown, and Gilchrist 2006;Pasca et al. 2022).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Craven, Brown, and Gilchrist 2006

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Pasca et al. 2022

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Online grooming can have numerous damaging psychological, social and physical consequences, including depression, suicidal thoughts, drug addiction, reduced self-worth and risky sexual behaviour.

    “Online grooming can have numerous damaging consequences encompassing psychological, social and physical effects (Gámez-Guadix et al. 2018;Peris Hernández et al. 2021;Tamarit et al. 2021) that can result in depression, suicidal thoughts, drug addiction, reduced self-worth and risky sexual behaviour (Schoeps et al. 2020).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Gámez-Guadix et al. 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Peris Hernández et al. 2021

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Tamarit et al. 2021

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Bootstrap analyses with 10,000 bootstrap samples at a 95% confidence interval were used to assess the significance of predictive coefficients from the mediation model.

    “The significance values for the predictive coefficients obtained from the mediation model have been assessed using bootstrap analyses with 10,000 bootstrap samples at a 95% confidence interval (CI).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Hayes 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Preacher and Hayes 2008

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The Self-Esteem Scale had an internal consistency of 0.71 and a test-retest reliability of 0.75.

    “As a result of the reliability analysis of the scale, the internal consistency was measured as 0.71 and the test-retest reliability as 0.75.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Çuhadaroğlu 1989

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Family Support subscale had internal consistency values of 0.89, 0.86, 0.88 and 0.93 for the three factors and overall scale, respectively.

    “As a result of the reliability analysis of the scale, the internal consistency for the three factors and overall scale were measured, respectively, as 0.89, 0.86, 0.88 and 0.93.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gökler 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Increased self-esteem and family support decrease problematic Internet usage.

    “Accordingly, increased self-esteem and family support can also be said to decrease problematic Internet usage.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The observed associations among self-esteem, family support, problematic Internet usage, and online grooming risk reflect a causal process in which self-esteem and family support influence problematic Internet usage, which in turn influences online grooming risk.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The Problematic Internet Usage Scale subscales had internal consistency coefficients of 0.93 for negative consequences of the Internet, 0.76 for overuse, and 0.78 for social benefit/social comfort.

    “Ceyhan et al. calculated the internal consistency coefficients for the subscales as 0.93 for the negative consequences of the Internet, 0.76 for overuse and 0.78 for social benefit/social comfort.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ceyhan, Ceyhan, and Gürcan 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The data were collected using self-report scales, so social bias in participants' responses is possible.

    “The data in this study were collected using self-report scales.Therefore, the possibility exists for social bias in the participants' responses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    A power analysis was not calculated for the sample size to determine the mediation effect.

    “A power analysis was not calculated for the sample size to determine the mediation effect.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In this study, the Problematic Internet Usage Scale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91.

    “The current study calculated Cronbach's alpha for the scale as α = 0.91.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings provide an extensive understanding of the psychological mechanisms that potentially underpin the associations among self-esteem, family support, and online grooming risk (OGR).

    “Therefore, these findings provide an extensive understanding of the psychological mechanisms that potentially underpin the associations among self-esteem, family support, and OGR.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Pasca et al.'s (2022) study found a significant negative relationship among family support, self-esteem and online grooming risk (OGR).

    “Pasca et al.'s (2022) study also found a significant negative relationship among family support, selfesteem and OGR.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Pasca et al. (2022)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In this study, the Self-Esteem subscale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82.

    “This study found Cronbach's alpha for the subscale to be α = 0.82.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Family support plays a crucial strategic role in mitigating online grooming risk (OGR).

    “According to Livingstone and Helsper (2008), family support plays a crucial strategic role in mitigating OGR.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Livingstone and Helsper (2008)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The Online Grooming Risk Scale has Cronbach's alpha internal consistency values of 0.90 overall, 0.89 for intimacy, and 0.83 for secrecy.

    “Cronbach's alpha of internal consistency for the overall scale and the subdimensions of intimacy and secrecy were, respectively, found to be 0.90, 0.89 and 0.83.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The study's procedures were conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and ethical approval was obtained from the relevant university ethics committee.

    “All of the study's procedures have been conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration.Ethical approval for the survey was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the relevant university.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Family support and self-esteem have been identified as protective factors against online grooming risk (OGR).

    “These findings are inconsistent with previous studies, where family support and self-esteem have been identified as protective factors against OGR (Pasca et al. 2022;Whittle et al. 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Pasca et al. 2022

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Whittle et al. 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    In this study, the Family Support subscale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90.

    “The scores obtainable from this subscale range between 12 and 60, and this study calculated its Cronbach's alpha as α = 0.90.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The research data met the one-way normality assumption but did not meet the multiple normality assumption (multiple kurtosis = 15.916).

    “The analyses determined the research data to meet the one-way normality assumption but to not meet the multiple normality assumption (multiple kurtosis = 15.916).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Low self-esteem is a factor that increases problematic Internet usage, with family support playing a key role.

    “van Dijk et al. (2021) studied adolescents from divorced families and found low selfesteem to be a factor that increases problematic Internet usage, with family support playing a key role.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites van Dijk et al. (2021)

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    There is a significantly positive link between low self-esteem and problematic Internet usage.

    “Another study similarly reported a significantly positive link between low self-esteem and problematic Internet usage (Rahardjo 2019).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rahardjo 2019

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Problematic Internet usage is known to increase during adolescence when family influence decreases and to be associated with loneliness.

    “Problematic Internet usage is known to increase during adolescence when family influence decreases (Nakayama et al. 2020) and to be associated with loneliness (Costa, Patrão, and Machado 2019;Simcharoen et al. 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Nakayama et al. 2020

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    • cites Costa, Patrão, and Machado 2019

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Simcharoen et al. 2018

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    According to ecological theory, inadequate family support and low self-esteem increase the risk of online grooming.

    “According to this theory, inadequate family support and low self-esteem increase the risk of online grooming.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
26 of 26
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Little is known about the mechanisms by which problematic Internet usage operates in the links among family support, self-esteem, and online grooming risk.

    “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.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Low self-esteem and excessive problematic Internet usage increase online grooming risk.

    “According to research, low selfesteem and excessive problematic Internet usage increase OGR.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Family support is crucial for preventing adolescents from engaging in risky behaviours.

    “According to research, family support is crucial for preventing adolescents from engaging in risky behaviours.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Online grooming risk is highly prevalent among adolescents.

    “The online grooming risk (OGR) is highly prevalent among adolescents, and the importance of family support and self-esteem is critical in reducing this risk.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The observed associations among self-esteem, family support, problematic Internet usage, and online grooming risk reflect a causal process in which self-esteem and family support influence problematic Internet usage, which in turn influences online grooming risk.

    “FIGURE 1 | The hypothesized mediation model.”
    “The results from the study's SEM analyses show problematic Internet usage to be a significant predictor of online grooming.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The self-report scales used in the study validly and reliably measure self-esteem, family support, problematic Internet usage, and online grooming risk.

    “The data in this study were collected using self-report scales.”
6 of 6

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • When adolescents feel unsupported or misunderstood by their parents, they tend to seek validation or attention from external parties, which in some cases leads to risky interactions with groomers.

    “When adolescents feel unsupported or misunderstood by their parents, they tend to seek validation or attention from external parties, which in some cases leads to risky interactions with groomers (Aktu, 2024).”

    From Surfing Online Safety: Assertiveness and Parental Involvement in Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Cyber Grooming (2025) · cites this paper as Aktu, 2024

    The Discussion (page unavailable) links low family support with greater online grooming risk and suggests that adolescents may use social media to meet needs associated with loneliness. The Family Support section (page unavailable) likewise suggests that loneliness may prompt online socializing. Neither passage establishes that adolescents who feel misunderstood by their parents tend to seek validation or attention from others; the paper presents that pathway more tentatively. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Adolescents often develop different personas through virtual platforms.

    “Additionally, other research has found that adolescents often develop different personas through virtual platforms [52].”

    From Grooming Risk Factors in Adolescents with Abuse Histories: Insights from Chilean Reparative Programs (2025) · cites this paper as [52]

    Section 1.2 discusses adolescents exploring who they wish to become, but does not connect that exploration to virtual personas. Section 1.1 says an adult predator may present themselves as a child's peer on social media; it does not say adolescents often develop different personas online. Searches for online identity and self-presentation found no passage establishing the claim. (LLM, conf=0.77)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • Consistentt(86.89) = -3.453reported p < .01 · recomputed p < .001

    “t (86.89) = -3.453,p < .01”

1 of 1

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Self-esteem correlation is interpreted opposite to the stated scoring direction

    Major

    The scale description says higher scores mean lower self-esteem. A negative correlation therefore associates higher OGR with lower scale scores-and higher self-esteem-not with lower self-esteem as stated.

  • Family-support correlation is interpreted opposite to the stated scoring direction

    Major

    The subscale description says higher scores mean lower family support. The reported negative correlation thus associates higher OGR with lower scores, which indicate higher family support.

  • Discussion denies the reported self-esteem correlation

    Major

    The discussion says there was no correlation, whereas the results report a statistically significant correlation between self-esteem and OGR.

  • Self-esteem's reported total effect does not equal its direct and indirect effects

    Major

    Table 5 gives a direct effect of 0.071 and an indirect effect of -0.366, which sum to -0.295, not the reported total effect of -1.492. The reported total-effect confidence interval also excludes -1.492.

    Reported -1.492 · recomputed -0.295

  • Discussion denies the reported family-support correlation

    Minor

    The discussion says there was no relationship, whereas the results report a statistically significant correlation between family support and OGR.

5 of 5

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. Çakır Ö., 2017, The Relationship Between High School Students' Loneliness Levels and Smartphone Addiction, Mersin University Journal of Faculty of Education, 13, 418
  2. Ceyhan E., 2007, Validity and Reliability Studies of the Problematic Internet Use Scale, Journal of Educational Sciences in Theory and Practice, 7, 387
  3. Çuhadaroğlu F.1989. “Identity Ambivalence in University Youth Scientific Studies of the Symposium on Adjustment in University Youth.” Bilkent University Psychological Counseling and Research Center.
  4. Gençtan E., 2002, Psychoanalysis and Its Aftermath
  5. Gökler I., 2007, The Adaptation Study of the Turkish Form of the Social Support Assessment Scale for Children and Adolescents: Factor Structure, Validity and Reliability, Turkish Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 14, 90
  6. Hussain N., 2021, Young People's WeChat Use That Heightens Online Grooming Vulnerability, SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research, 1, 1
  7. Rosenberg M., 1979, Conceiving the Self
  8. Türkkan T., 2021, Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect: An Ecological Approach, Community and Social Work, 32, 709
  9. Williamson L.2022. “Grooming for the Purposes of Exploitation and Abuse: A Literature Review (7‐025) ” Saskatchewan Prevention Institute.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Aktu, Y.
Affiliations
Siirt Üniversitesi (TR)
Corresponding author
Aktu, Yahya
Venue
Child Abuse Review
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2024-11
Volume
33
Issue
6
ISSN
  • 0952-9136 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-0852
OpenAlex
W4405245755
Cited by
7
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3
FWCI
5.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Child Abuse Review (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
Keywords
adolescents, self-esteem, family support, problematic internet use, mediation, social media, adolescent mental health, child sexual exploitation

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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