Parents' perspectives on their relationship with adolescents with Internet addiction (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Background: Parents of adolescents with Internet addiction are confronted with their children' Internet problems on a daily basis. Parents may notice that adolescents with addiction may also have emotional and behavioral problems including impulsivity and violence. Parenting styles have been found to be related to Internet addiction. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to investigate parents' perspectives on their parenting style, relationship with their child, and the degree of internet addiction, emotional and behavioral problems of their child. METHODS A web-survey was conducted with 600 parents of children between the ages of 12 and 17. Respondents were recruited through an internet research company and were asked to complete an anonymous online questionnaire. The survey was divided into two groups: 300 parents who answered "yes" to the question "Do you think your child is dependent on the Internet?" and 300 parents who answered "no." Questionnaires were collected until each group had 300 participants. The questionnaire included the (1) Parent-Child Internet Addiction Test (PCIAT), (2) Daily time spent using Internet, (3) Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), (4) Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) and (5) Self-Report Attachment Style Prototypes (Relationship Questionnaire (RQ)). RESULTS Mean scores of PCIAT and daily time spent using Internet of group with Internet addiction were significantly higher than those of the group without Internet addiction, respectively. Total difficulty score (TDS) in the SDQ of group with Internet addiction were significantly higher than that of the group without Internet addiction. Mean score of authoritarian parenting in PSDQ of group with Internet addiction were significantly higher than that of the group without Internet addiction. In RQ, there was no significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that parent who think their child is addicted to the Internet may recognize emotional and behavioral problems of the child and have an authoritarian parenting style.