Status and sociodemographic correlates of pathological internet use among adolescents in Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Pathological internet use (PIU) refers to excessive use of the internet and is commonly described using various terms, such as internet addiction disorder (IAD). It is a significant concern for mental health professionals in schools and primary care settings, especially among adolescents. Although in the sphere of psychological assessment, PIU is classified as a behavioral addiction and has been proven to be as serious as substance abuse, PIU is not officially classified as a psychological disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The aims of this study were to investigate the PIU status and explore the sociodemographic correlates of PIU among adolescents in Jordan. This study employed a descriptive‒explorative design with a cross-sectional approach. The study participants were 735 adolescents, grades 9th–11th. Data were collected via valid and reliable self-report questionnaire related to the main study variables over a period ranging from the beginning of March to the end of April 2024. For the data analysis, t tests and ANOVAs were used to identify any significant differences in the mean PIU total score in relation to the sociodemographic variables. The results revealed that among the 735 adolescents, 75.8% (n = 557) experienced PIU, with a significant difference in the mean PIU total score across grades (F = 3.37, p < .05) and academic performance levels (F = 8.76, p < .05), but not in terms of sex (t = .371, p > .05), father’s education level (F = .789, p > .05), or family income level (F = 1.076, p > .05). This study provides practical findings that students with poor academic performance and lower grades have higher levels of PIU. It is recommended that an ongoing screening for PIU be conducted to intervene proactively through multidisciplinary collaboration to manage disproportionate internet use among adolescents. Furthermore, this study adequately raises awareness about the far-reaching consequences of PIU for adolescents of both sexes. Finally, the results will be utilized to guide future studies to highlight more sociodemographic correlates of PIU.