Poster #232 - The Reciprocal Associations Between ADHD Related Behaviors and Excessive Internet Usage

• In Event: 3-206 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Section - Technology, Media & Child Development

Integrative Statement

The associations between excessive Internet usage and ADHD related symptoms have been proposed in literature. However, the possible reciprocal relationship between them has not been well-investigated. Moreover, it is unclear whether different association patterns exist between excessive Internet usage and the three components of ADHD symptoms. Further, no gender difference on the association between Internet addiction and ADHD symptoms has been well investigated. To fill this gap, we collected data of 922 adolescents at two waves (Mage=13.78, SD=1.55 at wave 1), with an interval of 12 months. We examined the longitudinal relationships between three symptoms of ADHD and excessive Internet usage, using three cross-lagged SEMs via AMOS. The results showed that hyperactivity at Time 1 was significantly related to excessive Internet usage at Time 2, while excessive Internet usage at Time 1 was not related to hyperactivity at Time 2. For inattention deficiency, Inattention at Time 1 was positively related to excessive Internet usage at Time 2, while excessive Internet usage at Time 1 was not related to inattention at time 2. Regarding impulsivity, we found that impulsivity at Time 1 was not related to excessive Internet usage at Time 2, while excessive Internet usage at Time 1 was positively related to excessive Internet usage at Time 2. A further mutigroup analysis showed a reciprocal association between hyperactivity and excessive Internet usage across time for males. However, no significant associations between ADHD symptoms and excessive Internet usage were found for females.

Author

• Jin-Liang Wang, Center for mental health education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University
  Presenting Author