Trajectories of Excessive Internet Use in Families (VEIF)

Excessive internet use by young people is becoming increasingly important in science and society. International studies point to a connection with familial influencing factors, but to date there has been a lack of longitudinal studies that describe these connections in detail. This is precisely where the VEIF study comes in, analysing the course of excessive Internet use among adolescents and young adults over a period of nine years, paying particular attention to family circumstances. The aim of the study is to gain fundamental insights into the age and reasons for the onset of excessive internet use, its possible decline and the influence of the family on the individual´s development. To this end, quantitative data from family dyads - consisting of a child and a parent or guardian - has been collected annually since 2016. At the start of the study in 2016, 1,095 family dyads were surveyed. In addition to the subjective perception of the problem, established addiction research instruments were used. In order to be able to differentiate between specific problem trajectories, a test group with an increased risk of excessive internet use was recruited by means of oversampling, supplemented by a control group with no perceived problem. This analysis comprises the data from the first three waves of the survey. Initial results show that strained family circumstances and inadequate media education measures are associated with excessive internet use. Families from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and single-parent households are particularly affected. The study thus emphasises the importance of early and targeted media education support to prevent problematic usage patterns. Overall, the VEIF study provides an important empirical basis that can contribute to the development of prevention, diagnosis and intervention measures in the social and family context.青少年过度使用互联网的问题，在科研与社会领域均受到日益广泛的关注。现有国际研究已证实该问题与家庭层面的影响因素存在关联，但迄今为止仍缺乏对这类关联进行细致阐释的纵向研究。VEIF研究正是针对这一研究空白展开：将在九年周期内追踪青少年与年轻群体过度使用互联网的发展轨迹，并重点关注其家庭环境因素。 本研究旨在深入解析过度使用互联网的起病年龄、诱发因素、可能的缓解路径，以及家庭对个体发展的影响机制，获取基础性研究结论。为此，研究团队自2016年起，每年采集由一名儿童与一名家长或监护人组成的亲子二人组的量化数据。2016年研究启动时，共完成1095组亲子二人组的调研。调研除收集受访者对该问题的主观感知外，还采用了成熟的成瘾研究测评工具。 为精准区分不同的问题发展轨迹，研究团队通过过采样方式招募了过度使用互联网风险升高的实验组，并补充纳入无主观感知问题的对照组。本次分析涵盖了调研前三轮的采集数据。初步研究结果显示，紧张的家庭氛围与不足的媒介素养教育措施，均与过度使用互联网行为存在相关性；社会经济地位弱势家庭与单亲家庭，受该问题的影响尤为显著。 由此，本研究强调了开展早期针对性媒介素养教育帮扶、预防问题性上网行为的重要性。总体而言，VEIF研究为社会与家庭场景下的问题性上网预防、诊断及干预措施的研发，提供了重要的实证基础。