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Cited by 147Impact of Technology on AdolescentsChild Development and Digital TechnologyChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Internet use and electronic gaming by children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems in Australia - results from the second Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing

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Rikkers, Wavne, Lawrence, David, Hafekost, Jennifer, Zubrick, Stephen R.·2016·BMC Public Health
DOI 10.1186/s12889-016-3058-1PMC PMC4866411
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Concerns have been raised of a potential connection between excessive online activity outside the academic realm and increased levels of psychological distress in young people. Young Minds Matter: the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing provides estimates of the prevalence of online activity and allows an exploration of associations between this activity, a range of mental disorders, socio-demographic characteristics and risk taking behaviour. METHODS: Based on a randomized nationally representative sample, a household survey of mental health and wellbeing (Young Minds Matter) was conducted in 2013-14. Interviews were conducted with 6,310 parents and carers of 4-17 year-olds (55 % response rate), together with self-report questionnaires completed by 2,967 11-17 year-olds in these households (89 % response rate). The survey identified a range of mental disorders and emotional problems using a variety of diagnostic tools, with the self-report including questions about use of the Internet and electronic games. Five behaviours were measured related to this activity, with 'problem behaviour' being defined as exhibiting at least four out of five behaviours. RESULTS: Levels of Internet use (98.9 %, CI 98.5-99.3 %) and electronic gaming (85.3 %, CI 83.9-86.6 %) were high, and 3.9 % (CI 3.2-4.6 %) of young people reported problem behaviour. The proportion of girls with very high levels of psychological distress and problem behaviour (41.8 %,CI 28.8-54.9 %) was twice that for boys (19.4 %, CI 7.7-31.1 %). Those engaging with a range of risk factors reported higher prevalence of problem behaviour than others. Youth who suffered from emotional problems or high levels of psychological distress spent the most time online or playing games. Multivariate analysis showed associations with problem behaviour and having attempted suicide, experiencing high to very high levels of psychological distress, using alcohol, and living in a poorly functioning family. It was not possible to determine the direction of the associations. CONCLUSION: There are links between problem behaviours associated with Internet use and electronic gaming, and mental disorders and risk-taking behaviour in young people. Further studies are required to determine whether these are precursors or sequelae.

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  • Attempted suicide was associated with Internet/electronic gaming 'Problem behaviour' in Multivariate analysis (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5-6.2).

    “and Multivariate analysis (OR 3.0 95% CI 1.5-6.2)”

    From Social media, internet use and suicide attempts in adolescents (2019) · cites this paper as Rikkers, 2016

  • Attempted suicide was associated with Internet/electronic gaming 'Problem behaviour' in Univariate analysis (OR 7.5, 95% CI 4.2-13.6).

    “Attempted suicide was associated with Internet/electronic gaming 'Problem behaviour' in Univariate analysis (OR 7.5 95% CI 4.2-13.6)”

    From Social media, internet use and suicide attempts in adolescents (2019) · cites this paper as Rikkers, 2016

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Rikkers, W., Lawrence, D., Hafekost, J., & Zubrick, S. R.
Affiliations
The Kids Research Institute Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
Rikkers, Wavne
ORCID
Venue
BMC Public Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2016-05-13
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
399-399
ISSN
1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12889-016-3058-1
PMC
PMC4866411
OpenAlex
W2349542353
Cited by
147
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9
FWCI
37.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Department of Health, Australian Government
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Digital Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
internet use, video gaming, children and adolescents, emotional and behavioral problems, psychological distress, behavioral problems, suicide attempts, alcohol consumption, family functioning, sex differences, risk-taking
MeSH terms
Problem Behavior, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Australia, Child, Child, Preschool, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Risk-Taking, Prevalence, Adolescent Health Services, Video Games, Internet

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