Examination of the relationships among adolescents' problematic internet use, social problems and internalizing / externalizing problems

In this study, the relationship between problematic internet use, close social environment problems and internalizing / externalizing problems of adolescents is examined in the context of the different structural models proposed by considering the existing studies. The study was carried out with the participation of 882(Female: 457, Male: 425) students from 16 different high schools in Eskişehir, Turkey. In data collection, Problematic Internet Use Scale, Multidimensional Adolescent Assessment Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory and Risky Behavior Scale were used. The data was analyzed by using structural equation modeling, bootstrap resampling procedure and measurement invariance analysis for gender. In terms of the result, the model indicating partial mediating role of close social environment problems in relations between problematic internet use and internalizing / externalizing problems has the best fit. According to this model, it is determined that the use of problematic internet leads to problems with the close social environment of adolescents including school, family and friends relations, resulting internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents. Findings were discussed in the context of related literature and suggestions were made future researches by presenting recommendations to counselors, parents, educators regarding development of close social environment relations which are mediator in the generated model.