The Role of Self-Regulation in Internet Addiction during Adolescence

Abstract

During adolescence, individuals experience a period of significant development of emotional control, self-regulation and decision-making skills. While this is a period of opportunity for adolescents to benefit from knowledge, social life, and physical activities, it is also a time where the excessive availability of information and internet usage can potentially have detrimental effects on their mental health, academic performance, and physiology. This study aims to discuss the potential relationship between low-level self-regulation and the development of internet addiction in adolescents. With the widespread use of smartphones among young people, internet addiction has become a severe problem. Adolescents who prioritize short-term goals and focus on immediate gratification or adopt competitive gamming style may exhibit low-level self-regulation, which is a risk factor for developing internet addiction. In addition, poor family functioning, low parent education, the presence of interparental conflict, and restrictive parental mediation may also be significant factors contributing to the onset of internet addiction. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of lower self-regulation and severe internet addiction may have a substantial negative impact on academic performance and quality of life. The previous study’s findings demonstrate a causal relationship between self-regulation and internet addiction. However, applying voluntary sampling methods to collect data, social desirability biases, and cultural bias are some of the limitations of most research in this area. Future research should adopt stratified sampling methods, tailor their survey and instruments to be culturally sensitive to investigate the underlying mechanisms that give rise to this association.