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Internet addiction among youth across 26 countries: psychological, personality, and socioeconomic determinants.

Internet addiction (IA) is a significant public health concern, particularly among youth. This study aimed to assess the global prevalence and determinants of IA among youth. A cross-sectional study. Twenty-six countries were selected using a stratified random sampling by income level. Youth aged 15...

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Published in:Public Health (Elsevier) Vol. 249
Main Authors: Fadl, Noha, Gebreal, Assem, Abdelmoneim, Shaimaa Abdelaziz, Abdelmoneim, Fatima Asim, Jasim, Maryam Khalil E., Jebnouni, Achref, Tlili, Mohamed Ayoub, Alshmrani, Layan Saeed, Almazni, Taif Ali A., Mehdad, Slimane, Lahcen, Ayoub Ait, Alzoubi, Marwa Ashraf, Hatem Khrais, Husam Aldean, Elbadawi Elhassan, Mohammed Omer, El Moghrabi, Alaa, Alwakaa, Omar, Abouelmagd, Moaz, Galwab, Armara M., Vadlamudi, Samhitha, Fitriangga, Agus
Format: research Journal Article
Published: Elsevier B.V. Dec2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Public Health (Elsevier)
      issn: 00333506
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    pubinfo:
      dt: Dec2025
      vid: 249
      pid: 467
      pub: Elsevier B.V.
      place: New York, New York
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        189756942
        189756942
        189756942
        10.1016/j.puhe.2025.106037
        189756942
      ppct: 1
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Internet addiction among youth across 26 countries: psychological, personality, and socioeconomic determinants.
      aug:
        au:
          Fadl, Noha
          Gebreal, Assem
          Abdelmoneim, Shaimaa Abdelaziz
          Abdelmoneim, Fatima Asim
          Jasim, Maryam Khalil E.
          Jebnouni, Achref
          Tlili, Mohamed Ayoub
          Alshmrani, Layan Saeed
          Almazni, Taif Ali A.
          Mehdad, Slimane
          Lahcen, Ayoub Ait
          Alzoubi, Marwa Ashraf
          Hatem Khrais, Husam Aldean
          Elbadawi Elhassan, Mohammed Omer
          El Moghrabi, Alaa
          Alwakaa, Omar
          Abouelmagd, Moaz
          Galwab, Armara M.
          Vadlamudi, Samhitha
          Fitriangga, Agus
        affil: High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet Addiction Epidemiology
          Internet Addiction Risk Factors
          Internet Addiction Psychosocial Factors
          Personality Tests
          Socioeconomic Factors
          Risk Assessment
          Human
          Cross Sectional Studies
          Geographic Locations
          Prevalence
          Stratified Random Sample
          Adolescence
          Young Adult
          Convenience Sample
          Snowball Sample
          Scales
          Internet Addiction Evaluation
          Internalizing Behavior Evaluation
          Externalizing Behavior Evaluation
          Linear Regression
          Mediation Analysis
          Descriptive Statistics
          Male
          Female
          Confidence Intervals
          Cameroon
          Vietnam
          Sex Factors
          Age Factors
          Geographic Factors
          Urban Population
          Mothers Psychosocial Factors
          Educational Status
          Parent-Child Relations
          Control (Psychology)
          Social Behavior
          Internet Addiction Prevention and Control
          Developed Countries
          Family Role
          Social Determinants of Health
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Internet addiction (IA) is a significant public health concern, particularly among youth. This study aimed to assess the global prevalence and determinants of IA among youth. A cross-sectional study. Twenty-six countries were selected using a stratified random sampling by income level. Youth aged 15–24 years were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods (n = 12449). The Compulsive Internet Use Scale, the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Big-Five Inventory-2 Extra-Short Form were used to measure IA, internalizing and externalzing problems, and personality traits, respectively. Linear regression and mediation analysis were performed. The mean age was 20.41 ± 2.53 years and 58.2 % were females. The weighted overall prevalence of IA was 38.4 % [95 % confidence interval (CI): 37.0 %–39.8 %], ranging from 24.0 % in Cameroon to 62.4 % in Vietnam. IA was more prevalent among participants aged 15–19 years, females, urban residents, those whose mothers had high school or university education, and those with limited parental control over Internet use. Internalizing symptoms, high negative emotionality, low extraversion, and low open-mindedness increased IA. Residence in higher-income countries, as well as prosocial behavior, reduced IA. The mediation analysis indicated that the country's income level was associated with IA both directly and indirectly through psychological and personality traits, with a direct negative effect across all models, significant positive indirect effects via extraversion and negative emotionality, and a significant negative indirect effect via prosocial behavior. The findings emphasize the need to screen for internalizing and externalzing problems, consider personality traits, and recognize the family's role in addressing IA.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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