The role of social support on the relationships between internet use and sleep problems in adolescents during COVID‐19 pandemic: a multicentre study

• Published in: Child and adolescent mental health Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 117 - 123
• Main Authors: Orhon, Filiz, Ergin, Ahmet, Topçu, Seda, Çolak, Burçin, Almiş, Habip, Durmaz, Nihal, Aygün, Burcu, Boran, Perran, Bağ, Özlem, Ayçiçek, Tuğba, Altun, Demet, Başkan, Sevgi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-02-2023; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Behavior, Addictive; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Internet; Internet Use; Original; Pandemics; problematic internet use; Questionnaires; Sleep; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; sleep problems; Social Support; Teenagers; COVID-19; problematic internet use; adolescent; sleep problems
• ISSN: 1475-357X; 1475-3588
• DOI: 10.1111/camh.12626

Background
This study examines the frequency of problematic internet use and sleep problems in adolescents aged 14–18 years during the COVID‐19 pandemic and identifies the impact of factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, internet habits, changes in daily life, and perceived social support on these problems.
Methods
This multicentre study was a questionnaire‐based online survey study. The questionnaire included the Young Internet Addiction Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, as well as questions about demographic information, internet habits, and changes in daily life during pandemic. Several multivariate Backward logistic regression models were run to determine the variables that predicted problematic internet use and poor sleep quality.
Results
It was determined that the frequency of problematic internet use was 15.5%, and the frequency of poor sleep quality was 47.8%. Poor sleep quality was found 2.5 times higher in problematic internet users. The perceived social support was found insufficient in adolescents with problematic internet use and poor sleep quality. Various factors such as the excessive use of internet and social media, low school success, lack of physical activity, lack of rules for internet use at home, and worsening of relationships with parents were found to be predictive factors for these problems.
Conclusions
Problematic internet use during the pandemic is associated with worsening sleep quality in adolescents. It is important to create special interventions for problematic internet use and sleep problems that develop in adolescents as a result of restrictions during the pandemic.