Family Factors Associated With Excessive Online Activity Among Adolescents: A Latent Class Analysis of Cross-Sectional Data

Authors

  • Anastasios Fotiou Orcid
    University Mental Health, Neurosciences, & Precision Medicine Research Institute, “COSTAS STEFANIS” (UMHRI), Athens, Greece
  • Eleftheria Kanavou Orcid
    University Mental Health, Neurosciences, & Precision Medicine Research Institute, “COSTAS STEFANIS” (UMHRI), Athens, Greece
  • Myrto Stavrou Orcid
    University Mental Health, Neurosciences, & Precision Medicine Research Institute, “COSTAS STEFANIS” (UMHRI), Athens, Greece
  • Maria Christopoulou
    Department of Psychology, Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens, Greece
  • Panteleimon Voitsidis Orcid
    First Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
  • Maria Lappa
    Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  • Clive Richardson Orcid
    Panteion University of Social & Political Sciences, Athens, Greece
  • Anna Kokkevi Orcid
    University Mental Health, Neurosciences, & Precision Medicine Research Institute, “COSTAS STEFANIS” (UMHRI), Athens, Greece; Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Adolescents’ online engagement offers both opportunities and risks: whereas moderate use can foster learning, social connection, and entertainment, excessive use has been associated with sleep problems, lower academic performance, and psychosocial difficulties. The family context plays a central role in shaping adolescents’ daily routines, including online behaviours, through support, monitoring, and the quality of parent–child relationships. Despite growing concern about compulsive Internet use, evidence linking family factors to distinct patterns of online activity remains limited. This study examined the association between family characteristics and typologies of adolescent Internet use. Latent class analysis was conducted on data from a nationally representative sample of 3,202 16-year-old students in Greece to determine distinct classes of adolescents based on the frequencies of six online activities. Four classes of Internet users were identified: “heavy-with-gaming/gambling”, with high probability of very frequent involvement in all Internet-related activities (14.3%, mostly boys); “heavy-without-gaming/gambling” (44.1%, mostly girls); “moderate” (21.4%, mostly boys); and “light” users (20.3%, mostly girls). Compared with the group of “light” Internet users, the “heavy-with” and “heavy-without-gaming/gambling” groups had seven times and twice the odds, respectively, of reporting compulsive Internet use according to the Compulsive Internet Use Scale score. Multinomial multivariable logistic regression testing for associations with family variables showed that low satisfaction with the relationship with the father was associated with membership of the class of “heavy-with-gaming/gambling” users. Interventions tailored to the specific needs of adolescents engaging in heavy online activity, particularly when including gaming and gambling, should take into account the adolescent–father relationship.