| Abstract [eng] |
Today, the Internet has become an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives. The constantly increasing accessibility of the Internet and its intensive use among adolescents raise growing concerns about potential negative psychological and social consequences. Therefore, it is important to analyze the possibilities of recognizing problematic internet use (PIU) during this sensitive developmental stage. This study examines the recognition of PIU in adolescence by assessing its associations with sociodemographic factors, online activities, time spent on the Internet, subjective perception of internet-related problems, and maladaptive personality traits. The study involved 392 adolescents aged 14–17 years, with data collected using the PIUQ-9, CIUS-9, and PID-5-BF scales. The results showed that the Internet is a central part of adolescents’ daily routines, with approximately 6% of participants falling into the high-risk group for PIU. No significant associations were found between PIU and gender, age, parental education, or place of residence. The strongest predictors of PIU were longer time spent online and higher scores in maladaptive personality traits – particularly disinhibition and negative affectivity. Additionally, the inclusion of adolescents’ subjective evaluations of whether internet use causes problems provided valuable insight into their personal experiences and may enhance early identification efforts. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to PIU assessment and may inform the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies for adolescents. |
