Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024
E-ISSN: 2723-6692
P-ISSN: 2723-6595
http://jiss.publikasiindonesia.id/
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 901
Risk Factors Affecting Internet Use in Adolescents: A Literature
Review
Fika Maulid, Linur Steffi Harkensia
Universitas Bina Bangsa Getsempena, Indonesia
Universitas Bumi Persada, Indonesia
Email: fieka.lid13@gmail.com, linursteffi87@gmail.com
Correspondence: fieka.lid13@gmail.com
*
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Internet Use; Risk Factors;
Teens
In today's time, people spend more time on the Internet for long
hours due to the increasing number of exciting Internet applications
and the convenience of life provided by such applications. Internet
use can be at risk if its use is excessive and can cause dependence
and addiction. Suppose internet users have experienced addiction
or dependence. In that case, it can cause risk factors that are harmful
to mental and physical health, poor school achievement,
relationships with family/parents that are less harmonious, and
excessive household income conditions. Therefore, it is essential to
understand the risk factors arising from excessive internet use. So
as to raise awareness about health issues currently affecting young
people in vulnerable groups. The literature review of this article was
obtained from the online databases Science Direct, SpringerLink,
ProQuest, EBSCO, and Pubmed in the publication year 2015-2020.
Evidence shows that most research articles explain a lot about the
risk factors for someone experiencing excessive internet use due to
mental health problems and relationship problems with
family/parents that are negative. Risk factors that influence Internet
use in adolescents have been described in many previous studies.
However, little is known about how many risk factors influence
internet use in teens. Therefore, this article will provide a number
of critical gaps in the evidence base to be used as a source of
information on the development of appropriate interventions and
can provide a preventive strategy to reduce excessive Internet use
in adolescents.
Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)
1. Introduction
Today, the use of the Internet has become an essential thing in our lives, and it is estimated that
the number of Internet users has reached 3 billion worldwide. About 26% of internet users are
between the ages of 15 and 24, and internet usage is increasing dramatically in the younger
generation (Choi et al., 2017). The rapid development of the internet has affected the younger
generation, such as teenagers. Adolescence is a vital period in human development, as it is the period
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 902
between childhood and adulthood that involves substantial physical growth and brain development.
The increasing use of the internet has affected the lives of adolescents, such as behaviors that can be
damaging psychosocial and physical impacts because adolescence is characterized by emotional and
psychological instability (Kwon et al., 2020).
Based on APJII survey results (Asosiasi et al. Indonesia), In 2018, the penetration of internet
users aged 10-14 years who use the internet was 66.2%, and those aged 15-19 years who use the
internet 91% (APJII, 2019). They access the Internet for three main reasons: entertainment,
socialization, and information retrieval (Kristianto, 2017). Active internet users prefer two online
activities, online games and social networks, which can make them experience negative consequences
and addiction (Lu & Yeo, 2015).
Internet addiction or excessive use of the Internet refers to the inability to control Internet use
that leads to a person experiencing psychological, social, school, and work difficulties in one's life
(Jiang et al., 2018). Internet addiction among teenagers has become a severe public health issue. In
addition, several previous studies have consistently documented the adverse risk of Internet
addiction on adolescent physical and mental health outcomes. Research studies conducted by Li et al.
(2017). Explain the risk factors that make adolescents experience problems with excessive internet
use due to poor parent-child relationships and high parent-to-parent conflict. In the context of
schools, it shows that poor teacher-student relationships poor student-student relationships increase
the risk of adolescents experiencing internet addiction.
In general, it can be said that Internet addiction can be interpreted as "addiction to non-
chemical behavior involving human-machine interaction." In addition, Internet abuse can interfere
with daily functioning and is considered problematic later in life, which will be addictive, thus
associated with adolescent loss of control, difficulties and withdrawal symptoms, disorders, and
conflicts around internet use (e.g. with caregivers or peers). In this issue, there needs to be a better
understanding of the risk factors that make adolescents experience internet addiction so that this
explanation can be used to inform the prevention and treatment of adolescent internet addiction.
2. Materials and Methods
The current literature review is guided by the methodological framework proposed by Arksey
and O'Malley (2005). The framework outlines a five-stage approach, including identifying research
questions, searching for relevant studies, choosing a study, mapping data, and compiling,
summarizing, and reporting results.
Identifying Research Questions (Stage 1)
To guide the current scoping review, we focused on the following main research questions: "Do
risk factors such as school achievement, parental relationships, physical health, mental health, and
family economic status income influence adolescent Internet overuse?".
Identifying Relevant Studies (Phase 2)
We conducted a coverage review of risk factors affecting adolescent Internet use. We used to
search through Science Direct, SpringerLink, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Pubmed for review. Literature
publications between 2015 and 2020. Our used subtitles search keywords were 'internet use,' 'risk
factors,' and 'teenagers.' When completed, a search is performed from each database and then
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 903
documented, and references are imported into a particular database folder where duplicates are
removed.
Choosing a Study (Stage 3)
A total of 3,260 articles were identified through the database site by looking at inclusion and
exclusion criteria based on sub-discipline type, sub-heading, year, language, and content.
Furthermore, filtering was carried out using titles and abstracts with the results of 149 articles. From
the results of 149 study articles, 75 articles were issued because (1) they did not match the title, (2)
the articles were published not in English, then the remaining 74 articles remained to be assessed for
feasibility. Furthermore, the article was reissued after closer examination because article (1) did not
specifically discuss the issue of risk factors affecting internet use in adolescents and (2) duplicate
studies. Finally, this coverage review includes 23 articles focused on risk factors affecting adolescent
Internet use and flow charts used as a guide in reporting this literature review.
Map data (Stage 4)
The author collects and sorts important information from selected articles. The data to be
extracted from several published research literature includes standard information such as author,
year of publication, study title, country, sample size, age, type of article, and primary goals/objectives
that the author has collected.
Compile, summarize, and report results (Stage 5)
The author synthesizes the data according to a predetermined research question. Once the data
is collected, the authors compile, summarize, and report the results of 23 relevant articles. This
process is carried out according to the five stages of Arskey and O'Malley.
3. Result and Discussion
Twenty-three articles were included in the literature review. This article includes eight
quantitative studies, nine cross-sectional studies, one descriptive correlation study, one scoping
review, one paper, one meta-analysis, one literature review, and one longitudinal randomized control
trial. It is known that research studies came from 12 countries. Spain, China, Korea, and Turkey are
the countries that have the most research studies to review the literature on this issue. Some studies
measured adolescents in school, others measured adolescents through clinical records reported by
their research studies to assess risk factors affecting internet use in adolescents. Based on the results
of the literature review, most studies shed light on the problem of mental health risk factors and
adverse family/parental relationship problems.
Discussion
Risk factors are traits or influences that may precede and be significantly associated with a
higher likelihood of adverse effects. These factors may be the tendency of adolescents to excessive
internet use, called internet addiction (IA). The use of the internet, as well as other online activities,
can be addictive. The rapid development of the internet has affected the younger generation, such as
teenagers. We need to understand that during the adolescent stage, young individuals in this age
group undergo physical, nervous, psychological, and social development. Related to the hormonal and
neurodevelopmental that occur during adolescence, psychosocial and emotional changes, including
increased cognitive and intellectual capacity, also develop. Reasoning skills and logical and moral
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 904
thinking are also strongly formed along with thinking and the ability to make rational judgments.
However, changes vary among factors that can affect individuals both from within the individual and
from outside (the environment).
For this reason, adolescents are more susceptible to addiction. Addiction can occur at any age
and in any social condition. The literature review identified risk factors contributing to excessive
internet use among adolescents, including psychological (mental health), physical health, school
achievement, relationships with family/parents, and income and family economic status.
a. Psychological risk factors (mental health)
Results of research conducted by (Malak et al., 2017) revealed that students who attend
school in Jordan have a high prevalence of anxiety and depression because school students aged
12-18 years experience many developmental changes that lead them to experience social and
psychological problems. Therefore, the use of the internet is considered an environment that
meets all their needs and forgets the problems they experience, causing them to experience
internet addiction. Psychological conditions that often accompany internet addiction are
attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety,
and impulsivity. A systematic review of 20 previously described research articles on pathological
internet use reported that 100% of articles claimed that pathological internet use was associated
with ADHD symptoms, and 75% of articles stated internet use was associated with MDD (Hyun
et al., 2015).
b. Physical health risk factors
With the advancement of technology used on mobile devices and internet-based
applications, the use of smartphones has increased sharply in recent years. Smartphones have
become essential devices in everyday life; However, the benefits of the technology cause adverse
side effects if used excessively (Kim et al., 2018). Such can cause headaches and pain in the
muscles of the face and neck and the spine. They also experience eye pain and blurred vision. The
most common problem is carpal tunnel syndrome, which damages the nerves of the hand
because it often works long-term on the computer. Human reactions to increased intensity of
electromagnetic fields can mainly cause damage to the immune, endocrine, and central nervous
systems, which support essential signaling regulatory functions to keep the body in a state of
homeostasis (Tikhonov & Bogoslovskii, 2015).
c. Risk factors for family relationships / parental relationships
The family plays a significant role in sharing affection, overcoming problems that one
family member is experiencing, and shaping the character of each individual in the family.
Research shows that positive parenting can reduce the likelihood of internet addiction.
Conversely, interparental conflict and lack of parental supervision of internet use have been
shown to predict internet addiction (Sebre et al., 2020). Research conducted by (Sela et al., 2020)
found that a dysfunctional, hostile family environment can push adolescents to internet use
problem behavior (PIU). In addition, a hostile family environment correlated with higher
depression among adolescents and with a greater Fear of Missing Out (FoMO), which in turn
increased PIU.
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 905
d. Risk factors for learning achievement in school,
Most children and teenagers spend their time attending school. The information obtained
shows that school children often use smartphones outside school hours, and usually, students
are not allowed to bring smartphones to school. Lwin, Miyazaki, Stanaland, and Lee (2018) state
that children access the Internet for three main reasons: entertainment, socialization, and
information retrieval (Kristianto, 2017). Therefore, children and adolescents prefer to use the
internet because the internet has two online activities, such as online games and social networks,
that can make them experience internet use disorders (IUDs). Internet use disorder (IUD) is
related to school factors such as interaction with classmates, learning behavior, and academic
achievement. IUDs are associated with poor academic performance caused by students failing to
control their internet usage behavior and spending more time online and online gaming. These
students also tend to procrastinate on their schoolwork, resulting in low grades (Kindt et al.,
2019). Gencer and Koc (2012) state that Students with poor academic performance may
experience stressors from school and low self-esteem. Therefore, the internet can be used as a
way to escape these stressors and derive satisfaction and pleasure by fulfilling their potential.
e. Risk factors of family economic income status
Parents of teenagers with high per year, per capita household incomes have a higher
likelihood of internet addiction (Wu et al., 2016). However, a study conducted by (Shek Yu, 2012)
revealed that family economic status had no significant effect on addictive behaviors associated
with internet use. Other research studies conducted by (Malak et al., 2017) revealed that low
family income has high IA level teenagers. Families with high incomes have computers and
internet connection services at home (Ak et al., 2013). This is because adolescent families are
convinced that the Internet can provide many benefits for their children, such as helping with
academic tasks and homework (Hawi, 2012). However, they do not acknowledge any unwanted
effects, such as internet addiction (IA). Results also showed an association between family
income and IA, which is similar to previous reports (Ak et al., 2013) that explained that family
income was considered a risk factor for IA.
4. Conclusion
Overall, these studies contribute to improving understanding of the risk factors that influence
Internet use in adolescents. Risk factors that influence excessive internet use in adolescents are
psychological (mental health), physical health, family/parental relationships, school achievement,
and family economic income status. However, the risk factors that influence internet use in
adolescents have been described in many previous studies. However, little is known about how many
risk factors influence adolescent Internet use, so this review has provided an understanding of the
importance of developing and implementing interventions such as preventive measures and early
diagnosis of Internet addiction (IA) in adolescents. Furthermore, a counseling program is
recommended to increase family awareness about IA, as it has become the responsibility of families
to provide guidance and support for their children. This literature review has several limitations, the
first of which is that it only focuses on one sample, namely adolescents. Secondly, risk factors that
affect internet use in adolescents still need to be addressed. Future research can add risk factors that
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 906
affect internet use in adolescents, such as age, gender, peers, and internet use in rural and urban
adolescents (to assess the high and low internet use in a region). In addition, this literature review is
one review that may still be little reviewed by other researchers related to risk factors that affect
internet use in adolescents, such as risk factors for mental health, physical health, learning
achievement in school, relationships with family/parents and household income status this is a
strength in the current literature review study.
5. References
Choi, M., Park, S., & Cha, S. (2017). Relationships of Mental Health and Internet Use in Korean
Adolescents. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 31(6), 566–571.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2017.07.007
Hawi, N. S. (2012). Internet addiction among adolescents in Lebanon. Computers in Human Behavior,
28(3), 1044–1053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.01.007
Hyun, G. J., Han, D. H., Lee, Y. S., Kang, K. D., Yoo, S. K., Chung, U.-S., & Renshaw, P. F. (2015). Risk factors
associated with online game addiction: A hierarchical model. Computers in Human Behavior, 48,
706–713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.02.008
Jiang, Q., Huang, X., & Tao, R. (2018). Examining Factors Influencing Internet Addiction and Adolescent
Risk Behaviors Among Excessive Internet Users. Health Communication, 33(12), 1434–1444.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2017.1358241
Kim, H.-J., Min, J.-Y., Min, K.-B., Lee, T.-J., & Yoo, S. (2018). Relationship among family environment,
self-control, friendship quality, and adolescents’ smartphone addiction in South Korea: Findings
from nationwide data. PLOS ONE, 13(2), e0190896.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190896
Kindt, S., Szász-Janocha, C., Rehbein, F., & Lindenberg, K. (2019). School-Related Risk Factors of
Internet Use Disorders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
16(24), 4938. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244938
Kristianto, B. (2017). Factors Affecting Social Network Use by Students in Indonesia. Journal of
Information Technology Education: Research, 16, 069–103. https://doi.org/10.28945/3675
Kwon, M., Kim, S. A., & So, W.-Y. (2020). Factors Associated with Adolescents’ Internet Use Duration
by Suicidal Ideation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(2),
433. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020433
Lee, J., Kim, S., Bae, K., Kim, J., Shin, I., Yoon, J., & Kim, S. (2018). Prevalence and risk factors for
problematic Internet use among rural adolescents in Korea. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 10(2).
https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12310
Li, D., Li, X., Zhao, L., Zhou, Y., Sun, W., & Wang, Y. (2017). Linking multiple risk exposure profiles with
adolescent Internet addiction: Insights from the person-centered approach. Computers in Human
Behavior, 75, 236–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.063
Lu, X., & Yeo, K. J. (2015). Pathological Internet use among Malaysia University Students: Risk factors
and the role of cognitive distortion. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 235–242.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.021
e-ISSN: 2723-6692 đź•® p-ISSN: 2723-6595
Jurnal Indonesia Sosial Sains, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2024 907
Malak, M. Z., Khalifeh, A. H., & Shuhaiber, A. H. (2017). Prevalence of Internet Addiction and associated
risk factors in Jordanian school students. Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 556–563.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.01.011
Sebre, S. B., Miltuze, A., & Limonovs, M. (2020). Integrating Adolescent Problematic Internet Use Risk
Factors: Hyperactivity, Inconsistent Parenting, and Maladaptive Cognitions. Journal of Child and
Family Studies, 29(7), 2000–2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01726-0
Tikhonov, M. N., & Bogoslovskii, M. M. (2015). Internet addiction factors. Automatic Documentation
and Mathematical Linguistics, 49(3), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0005105515030073
Wu, X., Zhang, Z., Zhao, F., Wang, W., Li, Y., Bi, L., Qian, Z., Lu, S., Feng, F., Hu, C., Gong, F., & Sun, Y.
(2016). Prevalence of Internet addiction and its association with social support and other related
factors among adolescents in China. Journal of Adolescence, 52(1), 103–111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.07.012
.
