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Daily and Compulsive Internet Use and Well-Being in Adolescence: A Diathesis-Stress Model Based on Big Five Personality Traits

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Abstract

This study examined the associations between adolescents’ daily Internet use and low well-being (i.e., loneliness, low self-esteem, and depressive moods). We hypothesized that (a) linkages between high levels of daily Internet use and low well-being would be mediated by compulsive Internet use (CIU), and (b) that adolescents with low levels of agreeableness and emotional stability, and high levels of introversion would be more likely to develop CIU and lower well-being. Data were used from a sample of 7888 Dutch adolescents (11–21 years). Results from structural equation modeling analyses showed that daily Internet use was indirectly related to low well-being through CIU. In addition, daily Internet use was found to be more strongly related to CIU in introverted, low-agreeable, and emotionally less-stable adolescents. In turn, again, CIU was more strongly linked to loneliness in introverted, emotionally less-stable, and less agreeable adolescents.

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Acknowledgments

Geertjan Overbeek was supported by veni-grant (# 451-05-015) from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081, Amsterdam, BT, The Netherlands

    Niels van der Aa

  2. Behavioral Science Institute (BSI), Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Geertjan Overbeek, Rutger C. M. E. Engels & Ron H. J. Scholte

  3. Addiction Research Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Gert-Jan Meerkerk

  4. Department of General Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Regina J. J. M. Van den Eijnden

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  1. Niels van der Aa
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  2. Geertjan Overbeek
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  3. Rutger C. M. E. Engels
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  4. Ron H. J. Scholte
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  5. Gert-Jan Meerkerk
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  6. Regina J. J. M. Van den Eijnden
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Correspondence to Niels van der Aa.

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van der Aa, N., Overbeek, G., Engels, R.C.M.E. et al. Daily and Compulsive Internet Use and Well-Being in Adolescence: A Diathesis-Stress Model Based on Big Five Personality Traits. J Youth Adolescence 38, 765–776 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9298-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9298-3

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