Surfing the Web: the role of Social-Support in the adolescents’ Internet use

This research analyzes what predictors determine either a problematic internet use (PIU) or a functional Internet use (FIU) in 574 adolescents (303 females and 271 males). A cross-sectional study was proposed based on the compilation of an online questionnaire. It was hypothesized that Online Social-Support positively predicts PIU only when Offline Social-Support is low and Online Social-Support positively predicts FIU only when Offline Social-Support is high. Results show that Online Social-Support doesn't predict PIU, while, Offline Social-Support negatively affects It. FIU isn't affected by Offline Social-Support, while Online Social-Support predicts it. Gender differences occurs in PIU, Offline Social-Support and number of acquaintances in favor of males.