Pros and cons of the internet and role of parents in internet addiction

Abstract

Internet addiction among adolescents is an increasingly discussed social issue worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to deepen our understanding of its development to prevent both short- and long-term negative outcomes. The present study aimed to investigate the role of parents in the development of internet addiction in their children. The study sample consisted of 100 young individuals enrolled in colleges and universities, with participants aged between 16 and 28 years. The results of the analysis indicate that parents play a crucial role in determining their children's internet use. There was a strong correlation found between internet addiction and co-parenting behaviors, especially when combined with severe and rejecting parenting approaches. In addition, a powerful predictor of children's internet illnesses was a discordant style of co-parenting together with strictness and overprotection. The association between co-parenting and internet addiction was also influenced by gender.