Abstract
In the present study, we employed network analysis that conceptualizes internet addiction (IA) as a complex network of mutually influencing symptoms in 108 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to examine the network architecture of IA symptoms and identify central/influential symptoms. Our analysis revealed that defensive and secretive behaviors and concealment of internet use were identified as central symptoms in this population, suggesting that mitigating these symptoms potentially prevent the development and/or maintenance of IA in adolescents with ASD. Providing adolescents and their caregivers with psychoeducation on the role of central symptoms above in IA can be a salient intervention. Doing so may facilitate nonconflicting conversations between them about adolescents’ internet use and promote more healthy adolescents’ internet use behavior.
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This study was approved by the institutional review board at Okayama psychiatric medical center before study enrollment commenced. The authors obtained written informed assent forms from the adolescent participants and written informed consent forms from the participants’ parents.
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Hirota, T., McElroy, E. & So, R. Network Analysis of Internet Addiction Symptoms Among a Clinical Sample of Japanese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 2764–2772 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04714-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04714-x