IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i11p5978-d567686.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can Adverse Childhood Experiences Heighten Risk for Problematic Internet and Smartphone Use? Findings from a College Sample

Author

Listed:
  • Myriam Forster

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA 91330, USA)

  • Christopher J. Rogers

    (Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research/Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

  • Steven Sussman

    (Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research/Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

  • Jonathan Watts

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA 91330, USA)

  • Tahsin Rahman

    (Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research/Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

  • Sheila Yu

    (Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research/Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

  • Stephanie M. Benjamin

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA 91330, USA)

Abstract

Background: College students are among the heaviest users of smartphones and the Internet, and there is growing concern regarding problematic Internet (PIU) and smartphone use (PSU). A subset of adverse childhood experiences, household dysfunction [(HHD) e.g.; parental substance use, mental illness, incarceration, suicide, intimate partner violence, separation/divorce, homelessness], are robust predictors of behavioral disorders; however, few studies have investigated the link between HHD and PIU and PSU and potential protective factors, such as social support, among students. Methods: Data are from a diverse California student sample ( N = 1027). The Smartphone Addiction Scale—Short Version and Internet Addiction Test assessed dimensions of addiction. Regression models tested associations between students’ level of HHD (No HHD, 1–3 HHD, ≥4 HHD) and PSU and PIU, and the role of extrafamilial social support in these relationships, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, SES, employment loss due to COVID-19, and depression. Results: Compared to students reporting no HHD, students with ≥4 HHD had twice the odds (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.21–3.40) of meeting criteria for PSU, while students with 1–3 HHD and ≥4 HHD had three and six times the odds of moderate to severe PIU (AORs: 2.03–2.46, CI:1.21–3.96) after adjusting for covariates. Extrafamilial social support was inversely associated with PIU and moderated the HHD–PSU association for students with 1–3 HHD. Conclusion: Students exposed to HHD may be especially vulnerable to developing behavioral addictions such as PSU and PIU. Extrafamilial social support offset the negative effects of HHD for PSU among the moderate risk group; implications for prevention efforts are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Myriam Forster & Christopher J. Rogers & Steven Sussman & Jonathan Watts & Tahsin Rahman & Sheila Yu & Stephanie M. Benjamin, 2021. "Can Adverse Childhood Experiences Heighten Risk for Problematic Internet and Smartphone Use? Findings from a College Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5978-:d:567686
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5978/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5978/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hye-Jin Kim & Jin-Young Min & Kyoung-Bok Min & Tae-Jin Lee & Seunghyun Yoo, 2018. "Relationship among family environment, self-control, friendship quality, and adolescents’ smartphone addiction in South Korea: Findings from nationwide data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Kuan-Ying Hsieh & Ray C. Hsiao & Yi-Hsin Yang & Kun-Hua Lee & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2019. "Relationship between Self-Identity Confusion and Internet Addiction among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Christoph Augner & Gerhard Hacker, 2012. "Associations between problematic mobile phone use and psychological parameters in young adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 57(2), pages 437-441, April.
    4. Karl Gauffin & Anders Hjern & Bo Vinnerljung & Emma Björkenstam, 2016. "Childhood Household Dysfunction, Social Inequality and Alcohol Related Illness in Young Adulthood. A Swedish National Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Mark Hayward & Bridget Gorman, 2004. "The long arm of childhood: The influence of early-life social conditions on men’s mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(1), pages 87-107, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Christopher J. Rogers & Myriam Forster & Steven Sussman & Jane Steinberg & Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis & Timothy J. Grigsby & Jennifer B. Unger, 2023. "The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Problematic Alcohol and Drug Use Trajectories and the Moderating Role of Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Steve Sussman & Deborah Louise Sinclair, 2022. "Substance and Behavioral Addictions, and Their Consequences among Vulnerable Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-5, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shen, Ke & Zeng, Yi, 2014. "Direct and indirect effects of childhood conditions on survival and health among male and female elderly in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 207-214.
    2. Kathryn Anderson & James Foster & David Frisvold, 2004. "Investing in Health: The Long-Term Impact of Head Start," Vanderbilt University Department of Economics Working Papers 0426, Vanderbilt University Department of Economics.
    3. Molly A. Martin & Margaret Gough Courtney & Adam M. Lippert, 2022. "The Risks and Consequences of Skipping Meals for Low-Income Mothers," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(6), pages 2613-2644, December.
    4. Hui Zheng & Jonathan Dirlam & Paola Echave, 2021. "Divergent Trends in the Effects of Early Life Factors on Adult Health," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(5), pages 1119-1148, October.
    5. Zai Liang & Feinuo Sun, 2020. "The lasting impact of parental migration on children's education and health outcomes: The case of China," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 43(9), pages 217-244.
    6. Alina Duduciuc, 2014. "Teenagers And The Use Of New Technologies (Ict) For Health Information," Studies and Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, Faculty of Economic Sciences, issue 20.
    7. Ryan Masters & Robert Hummer & Daniel Powers & Audrey Beck & Shih-Fan Lin & Brian Finch, 2014. "Long-Term Trends in Adult Mortality for U.S. Blacks and Whites: An Examination of Period- and Cohort-Based Changes," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(6), pages 2047-2073, December.
    8. Elizabeth M. Lawrence & Elisabeth Root & Stefanie Mollborn, 2015. "Residential mobility in early childhood," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(32), pages 939-950.
    9. Brian Thiede & Matthew M. Brooks, 2018. "Child poverty across immigrant generations in the United States, 1993–2016: Evidence using the official and supplemental poverty measures," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(40), pages 1065-1080.
    10. David Bickham & Yulin Hswen & Michael Rich, 2015. "Media use and depression: exposure, household rules, and symptoms among young adolescents in the USA," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(2), pages 147-155, February.
    11. Smith, Ken R. & Mineau, Geraldine P. & Garibotti, Gilda & Kerber, Richard, 2009. "Effects of childhood and middle-adulthood family conditions on later-life mortality: Evidence from the Utah Population Database, 1850-2002," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1649-1658, May.
    12. Hannes Kröger & Johan Fritzell & Rasmus Hoffmann, 2016. "The Association of Levels of and Decline in Grip Strength in Old Age with Trajectories of Life Course Occupational Position," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.
    13. DeGraff, Deborah S. & Wong, Rebeca, 2014. "Modeling old-age wealth with endogenous early-life outcomes: The case of Mexico," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 3(C), pages 58-70.
    14. Myrskylä, Mikko & Elo, Irma T. & Kohler, Iliana V. & Martikainen, Pekka, 2014. "The association between advanced maternal and paternal ages and increased adult mortality is explained by early parental loss," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 215-223.
    15. Qing Wang & Huyang Zhang & John A. Rizzo & Hai Fang, 2018. "The Effect of Childhood Health Status on Adult Health in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    16. Janssen, Fanny & Kunst, Anton E. & Mackenbach, Johan P., 2006. "Association between gross domestic product throughout the life course and old-age mortality across birth cohorts: Parallel analyses of seven European countries, 1950-1999," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(1), pages 239-254, July.
    17. Dian-Jeng Li & Yu-Ping Chang & Yi-Lung Chen & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Mediating Effects of Emotional Symptoms on the Association between Homophobic Bullying Victimization and Problematic Internet/Smartphone Use among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-10, May.
    18. Beth J. Soldo & Olivia S. Mitchell & Rania Tfaily & John F. McCabe, 2006. "Cross-Cohort Differences in Health on the Verge of Retirement," NBER Working Papers 12762, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Venetia Notara & Elissavet Vagka & Areti Lagiou & Charalambos Gnardellis, 2023. "Perceived Health and Nomophobia among Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Depression and Stress," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    20. James Smith, 2009. "Reconstructing childhood health histories," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 46(2), pages 387-403, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:11:p:5978-:d:567686. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.