Parental rejection and control: Potential risks for excessive Internet usage among adolescents

Abstract

Background: Internet addiction is an emergent health hazard among adolescents, especially after COVID19. Parenting factors in a family environment specifically, have potential roles in either causing excessive internet usage, or in protecting teenagers from internet addiction. Aim: The aim of the study was to understand factors in parent-adolescent relationship that determine low and excessive internet usage. Methods: A total of 102 adolescents within the age group of 13 to 18 years from two different schools in urban Bengaluru, India were recruited. Data was collected using three instruments namely semi structured tool to assess socio-demographic characteristics, Young’s internet addiction test for internet usage and parental bonding instrument for adolescent perception about parenting dimensions. Results: Half of the participants were found to have mild to severe levels of internet addiction, and the remaining half had normal levels of internet usage. The results showed that decreased care and increased control from the mother, high autonomy from father and increased rejection from both parents as risk factors associated with adolescent internet excessive use. No other significant associations were found between adolescents’ demographic, academic, peer and school profile and their internet addiction. Conclusion: As internet has become an inevitable part of our life, parent-adolescent relationship forms an essential moderating factor in adolescents’ internet usage.