Parent–child communication and adolescent problematic internet use: A cross-sectional dyadic study of protective effects and the primacy of adolescents' own perceptions

Linking Parent-Adolescent Discrepancies in Perceived Adolescent Emotional and Behavioral Problems to Adolescent Problematic Internet Use: A Longitudinal Study.

Bidirectional perspectives on internet-related family communication: Development and validation of the parent–child internet communication scale (PCICS) and associations with problematic internet use

This study developed and validated the Parent–Child Internet Communication Scale (PCICS), a dyadic measure assessing internet-related communication between parents and adolescents. Drawing on parental mediation theory (Livingstone & Helsper, 2008) and Schaefer's (1965) two-dimensional model of parent–child relationships (acceptance–rejection; psychological autonomy–control), items were generated to capture whether internet-related concerns can be openly shared and constructively discussed within the family. Existing measures have focused mainly on mediation behaviors or general communication quality without capturing bidirectional dyadic perceptions. Data were collected from 824 parent–adolescent pairs via a web-based survey in Japan. Factor analyses supported a multidimensional structure: the child version (PCICS-C) yielded two factors (Parental Acceptance, Low Perceived Barriers to Consultation), and the parent version (PCICS-P) yielded three, adding Dialogic Parental Involvement. Metric invariance was confirmed across informants for the two shared subscales, and reliability was satisfactory throughout. Concurrent validity was supported by associations with problematic internet use (PIU) and attachment security. Child-reported low perceived barriers to consultation were negatively associated with PIU, suggesting that adolescents' sense of being able to discuss internet concerns openly may lower PIU risk. Parental acceptance, however, showed weaker associations with adolescent PIU than child reports, suggesting parents' subjective sense of acceptance does not always translate into adolescent-perceived support. These findings underscore the value of assessing internet-related family communication from both perspectives. The PCICS was designed to measure open, bidirectional communication and facilitate constructive family dialogue in intervention contexts; the observed perception gaps illustrate one clinically meaningful application of this dyadic approach.

Family relationships in the digital age: The impact of problematic screen use on parent–adolescent relationships

Objective: Problematic screen use (PSU) in adolescence has been linked to impaired well-being, but its associations with parent–adolescent relationship quality remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined whether PSU levels were associated with positive relationship, negative relationship, and openness dimensions in mother– and father–adolescent relationships. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 196 adolescents aged 11–18 years who presented to a pediatric outpatient clinic. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Child–Adolescent Digital Addiction Scale, and the Parent–Adolescent Relationship Quality Scale. Group differences were evaluated using appropriate non-parametric statistical methods. Results: The mean age of the participants was 14.29±2.21 years, and 59.7% were female. Positive relationship with mother scores differed significantly across PSU groups (p=0.029), with post hoc analysis indicating a difference primarily between healthy users and adolescents in the digital addiction group. Negative relationship with mother scores also differed significantly (p<0.001), with healthy users scoring lower than those in the excessive use and digital addiction groups. Paternal openness (p=0.007), positive relationship with father (p = 0.038), and negative relationship with father (p=0.012) also varied significantly across groups, whereas maternal openness showed a borderline association (p=0.055). Conclusion: Higher PSU was associated with poorer parent–adolescent relationship quality, particularly in the domains of conflict and positive relational functioning. These findings suggest that assessment of adolescent PSU should incorporate family relational processes, especially trust-based communication and parent–adolescent conflict.

Parent-adolescent communication, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation in Chinese adolescents: evidence from a four-wave longitudinal study

Background Previous studies have linked parent–adolescent communication and self-esteem to adolescent suicidal ideation; however, less is known about how these relationships unfold over time, whether maternal and paternal communication play different roles, and whether these associations reflect stable between-person differences or within-person changes. Method Cross-lagged panel models (CLPM) and random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) were used to examine the longitudinal relationships among parent-adolescent communication, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. A four-wave longitudinal survey with six-month intervals was conducted among 1,036 Chinese adolescents (47.4% female; Mage = 13.39 ± 0.54 years). Parent-adolescent communication, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation were assessed using validated self-report measures. Results The CLPM results indicated bidirectional associations between self-esteem and suicidal ideation and showed that both father–adolescent and mother–adolescent communication were associated with subsequent self-esteem and suicidal ideation across time. Self-esteem also accounted for part of the longitudinal associations between parent–adolescent communication and suicidal ideation. The RI-CLPM results further showed that, at the within-person level, only mother–adolescent communication predicted subsequent decreases in suicidal ideation, whereas father–adolescent communication showed no significant effects. Self-esteem consistently predicted subsequent suicidal ideation across time, whereas evidence supporting reverse effects was relatively limited. Conclusion This study advances understanding of the dynamic relationships among parent–adolescent communication, self-esteem, and suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that maternal and paternal communication may play different roles in adolescent mental health and highlight positive parent–adolescent communication and self-esteem as potential targets for adolescent suicide prevention.

Beyond Screen Time: Parent–Adolescent Relationship as a Mediating Pathway Between Problematic Internet Use and Psychological Well-Being Among Malaysian Adolescents

The construct of adolescent psychological well-being has long been a focus of both public discourse and scholarly inquiry. With the widespread adoption of the Internet, there have been growing concerns about adolescents’ exposure to escalating online risks. Parental mediation has been hypothesised to facilitate the guidance and regulation of adolescents’ Internet use. However, the specific mediating role of the parent–adolescent relationship in the association between problematic Internet use and psychological well-being has remained underexamined, a gap explored in the current study. Based on the theoretical underpinnings provided by Phase Three of Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model of Human Development, a cross-sectional survey using validated psychometric instruments was conducted, involving 1598 students (mean age 16.0 years; 51% female) from secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. For data analysis, inferential statistics and partial least squares–structural equation modelling (PLS–SEM) were used to examine the complex structural relationships among the variables. Mean scores for problematic Internet use and psychological well-being indicated moderate severity levels. SEM results indicated the negative influence of problematic Internet use on psychological well-being (β = −0.104 *, p = 0.040) and parent–adolescent relationship (β = −0.241 **, p < 0.001) and a significant positive influence of parent–adolescent relationship on psychological well-being (β = 0.328 **, p < 0.001). Subsequent mediation analysis confirmed the partial mediating effect of parent–adolescent relationship (indirect association: β = −0.079) on the relationship between problematic Internet use and psychological well-being among Malaysian adolescents. This was consistent with Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Model of Human Development. Strengthening the parent–adolescent relationship could mitigate the adverse psychological effects of excessive Internet use. From a policy perspective, these findings supported the use of family-focused intervention as a strategy to address the adverse psychological effects of problematic Internet use among adolescents.

The Bidirectional Relationship Between Internalizing Problems and Problematic Social Media Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults: Longitudinal Mediation of Different Executive Function Subcomponents.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Excessive social media use among adolescents and young adults is increasingly common and negatively affects their physical and mental development. Therefore, identifying the factors associated with problematic social media use (PSMU) is crucial. Although many studies have shown that internalizing problems are closely related to PSMU, the direction of this relationship and the mediating mechanism remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationship between internalizing problems and PSMU among adolescents and young adults, and the role of executive function subcomponents. METHODS A 1-year longitudinal study was conducted with 806 adolescents and young adults (Mage = 15.85, SDage = 0.83; 56.89% girls), assessing internalizing problems, executive function subcomponents, and PSMU at three time points with 6-month intervals. Cross-lagged panel models were used to assess longitudinal associations and mediating effects. RESULTS The results showed that anxiety and PSMU exhibited a bidirectional relationship in the early stages, while depression and PSMU positively predicted each other in later stages. Mediation analyses revealed that inhibitory control at T2 mediated the relationship between internalizing problems (anxiety and depression) at T1 and PSMU at T3; cognitive flexibility at T2 mediated the relationship between anxiety at T1 and PSMU at T3, whereas the mediation effect of working memory was not significant. CONCLUSION This study identified complex predictive patterns between internalizing problems and PSMU among adolescents and young adults, and revealed the unique roles of executive function subcomponents. These findings can guide mental health practitioners in developing intervention strategies to mitigate PSMU among adolescents and young adults, thereby promoting their overall mental health.