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What Adolescents Have to Say about Problematic Internet Use: A Qualitative Study Based on Focus Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Rollo

    (Department of Human and Social Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Claudia Venuleo

    (Department of Human and Social Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Lucrezia Ferrante

    (Department of Human and Social Studies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy)

  • Raffaele De Luca Picione

    (Department of Psychology, “Giustino Fortunato” University Benevento, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

Abstract

In this paper, the study presented is designed to gain a deeper insight into how adolescents describe, understand, and suggest dealing with Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Eight focus groups were activated with a total of 70 students from the 9th and 11th grades (Mean Age = 15.53 ± 1.202; Female = 44.4%) in four different schools in Southern Italy. A Thematic Analysis was applied to the verbatim transcripts, and seven macro-categories were identified throughout the discourses collected: definition of PIU, symptomatology, impact, determinants, intervention strategy, opportunities and limits of the digital world, and needs that adolescents try to satisfy by surfing the net and which the offline world does not fulfill. Participants converge in seeing PIU in terms of addiction but adopt heterogeneous viewpoints in talking about the reasons for problematic engagement and possible preventive intervention strategies. In the overall picture emerging from the responses, PIU appeared to be the outcome of a psychological dynamic emerging from the interaction of individual, interpersonal, and sociocultural dimensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Rollo & Claudia Venuleo & Lucrezia Ferrante & Raffaele De Luca Picione, 2023. "What Adolescents Have to Say about Problematic Internet Use: A Qualitative Study Based on Focus Groups," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(21), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:21:p:7013-:d:1273210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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