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The Dark Side of Internet Use: Two Longitudinal Studies of Excessive Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms, School Burnout and Engagement Among Finnish Early and Late Adolescents

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Abstract

Recent research shows an increased concern with well-being at school and potential problems associated with students’ use of socio-digital technologies, i.e., the mobile devices, computers, social media, and the Internet. Simultaneously with supporting creative social activities, socio-digital participation may also lead to compulsive and addictive behavioral patterns affecting both general and school-related mental health problems. Using two longitudinal data waves gathered among 1702 (53 % female) early (age 12–14) and 1636 (64 % female) late (age 16–18) Finnish adolescents, we examined cross-lagged paths between excessive internet use, school engagement and burnout, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling revealed reciprocal cross-lagged paths between excessive internet use and school burnout among both adolescent groups: school burnout predicted later excessive internet use and excessive internet use predicted later school burnout. Reciprocal paths between school burnout and depressive symptoms were also found. Girls typically suffered more than boys from depressive symptoms and, in late adolescence, school burnout. Boys, in turn, more typically suffered from excessive internet use. These results show that, among adolescents, excessive internet use can be a cause of school burnout that can later spill over to depressive symptoms.

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Acknowledgements

Authors Contributions

K S. A. conceived the Mind-the-Gap study, designed the current study and coordinated and drafted the manuscript. K. U. performed the statistical analyses and contributed to the writing of the manuscript. K. H. conceived the Mind-the-Gap study, and helped to draft the manuscript. K. L. conceived the Mind-the-Gap study, and helped to draft the manuscript. K. A. conceived the Mind-the-Gap study and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

The study has been supported by the Academy of Finland Grants 263328 Mind-the-Gap Lonka, Hakkarainen, Alho and Salmela-Aro and 273872 LEAD Salmela-Aro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cicero Learning, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Katariina Salmela-Aro & Katja Upadyaya

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Katariina Salmela-Aro & Katja Upadyaya

  3. Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Kai Hakkarainen & Kimmo Alho

  4. Department of Teacher Education, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Kirsti Lonka

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  1. Katariina Salmela-Aro
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Correspondence to Katariina Salmela-Aro.

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The study protocol was approved by the University of Helsinki Ethical Review Board in the Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

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Participation was voluntary, and informed consent forms were collected from both the students and their parents.

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Salmela-Aro, K., Upadyaya, K., Hakkarainen, K. et al. The Dark Side of Internet Use: Two Longitudinal Studies of Excessive Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms, School Burnout and Engagement Among Finnish Early and Late Adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 46, 343–357 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-016-0494-2

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