The Role of Family and School Factors in the Development of Problematic Internet Use and Mental Health Problems

Abstract

The aim of the research was to examine the role of maternal psychological control and dissatisfaction of psychological needs in the school environment in the development of mental health problems and problematic internet use. The study involved 342 adolescents from three vocational high schools in Zagreb (Mage = 16.45, SD = 0.533), including 174 boys. The research investigated perceived maternal psychological control, dissatisfaction of the needs for autonomy and competence in the school environment, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as problematic internet use. The results indicate that girls exhibit higher levels of problematic internet use and mental health problems than boys. Through path analysis, a direct effect of maternal psychological control on dissatisfaction of needs and internalized problems was established. The results show that dissatisfaction of needs is a mediator between psychological control, internalized problems, and problematic internet use. Additionally, stress serves as a mediator between psychological control and problematic internet use, but only in girls. The research contributes to understanding problematic internet use among adolescents in Croatia. Specifically, the study confirms the theoretical assumptions of Self-Determination Theory that negative effects of psychological control related to success can extend to other contexts, such as the school environment, leading to dissatisfaction of needs in that environment. Ultimately, this can result in negative consequences for the well-being of adolescents, in terms of mental health problems and problematic internet use. The findings can be used to develop interventions to improve the school environment and adopt coping strategies for dissatisfaction of psychological needs to prevent problematic internet use and internalized problems.