Internet addiction in Hong Kong adolescents based on four waves of longitudinal data

Using longitudinal data with four waves from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4, the study investigated Internet addiction and its related psychosocial correlates (economic disadvantage, family intactness, family functioning, and positive youth development) among adolescents in Hong Kong. Results showed that although Internet addiction generally declined throughout the adolescent years, around one-fourth to one-fifth of students were classified as Internet addicts in this period. Adolescents from non-intact families reported higher initial levels of Internet addiction, and those from non-intact and nonpoor families reported faster decreasing rate in Internet addiction. Concurrently, family functioning and positive youth development negatively predicted Internet addictive behavior at Wave 4. Longitudinally, economic disadvantage experience and low positive youth development at Wave 1 positively predicted Internet addictive behavior at Wave 4. Findings suggest that while economic disadvantage and family non-intactness are risk factors, family functioning and positive youth development are protective factors in the development of adolescent Internet addiction.