Family Conflict and Parenting Practices as Predictors of Internet Addiction

Abstract This research aimed to analyze the predictive effect of reasons for conflict between parents and children, the interparental conflict and parenting practices for Internet addiction (IA) in young people. The sample consisted of 200 people (152 girls and 48 boys), between 15 and 24 years of age, 85.5% residing in Rio Grande do Sul and 14.5% in other states. Participants individually responded to the protocol available online. Results indicated as predictors conflicts over the internet with the father, the threat of interparental conflict, conflict over the internet with the mother and the practice of parental emotional support. Together, these variables explained 21.2% of Internet addiction. The results corroborate with international studies indicating that family variables investigated have a significant role in predicting the IA, considering that this is a complex and multifactorial phenomenon.

摘要 本研究旨在分析亲子冲突成因、父母间冲突及教养方式对青少年网络成瘾（Internet Addiction, IA）的预测效应。研究样本共200名被试，其中女生152名、男生48名，年龄介于15至24岁之间；85.5%的被试居住于南里奥格兰德州，剩余14.5%来自巴西其他各州。所有被试均独立完成线上公开的测评方案。结果表明，可作为网络成瘾预测因子的变量包括与父亲的网络相关冲突、父母间冲突的威胁感、与母亲的网络相关冲突以及父母情感支持行为。上述变量共同解释了21.2%的网络成瘾变异量。本研究结果与国际同类研究结论一致，证实所考察的家庭变量对网络成瘾具有显著预测作用，这也契合网络成瘾作为复杂多因素现象的本质。