Internet addiction: prevalence, discriminant validity and correlates among adolescents in Hong Kong

TLDR

Excessive internet use among young people raises concerns, yet its definition, prevalence, and discriminant validity remain debated. The study aims to determine the prevalence of adolescent internet addiction in Hong Kong, assess its distinctiveness from other factors, and explore its associations with related variables. A two-wave panel survey of 208 Hong Kong adolescents aged 15–19 collected self‑reported internet use, addiction symptoms, suicidal ideation, psychiatric symptoms, and psychosocial conditions. Internet addiction was present in 6.7% of adolescents, showed only marginal discriminative power, and its symptom count was positively associated with increases in suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms over one year, supporting its specificity and co‑occurrence with mental health issues.

Abstract

Background Despite increasing concern over the potential adverse effects of excessive internet use, especially in young people, there is some debate over its definition, magnitude and discriminant validity. Aims To examine the prevalence of adolescents' internet addiction in Hong Kong, China; to test its differentiation from other correlates; and to examine its relationships with correlates in a representative community sample of adolescents. Method A two-wave panel household survey with 208 adolescents (aged 15–19 years) was conducted. Participants were asked to self-report their patterns of internet usage, symptoms of internet addiction, suicidal ideation, psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial conditions during the study period. Results The prevalence rate for having five or more symptoms of internet addiction was estimated to be 6.7% (95% CI 3.3–10.2). The discriminatory characteristic of internet addiction was marginally demonstrated. Positive dose–response relationships were found between the number of symptoms of internet addiction and 1-year changes in scores for suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Evidence supports the specificity of internet addiction and its symptoms seem to co-occur with individuals' suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms.