Problematic Internet uses and depression in adolescents: A meta-analysis

Widespread use of the Internet in 21st century society is not risk-free. This paper studies the comorbidity of some problematic uses of Internet with depression in order to assess their correlation. With that aim, a meta-analysis of 19 samples obtained from 13 different studies (n=33,458) was carried out, The subjects of these studies are adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years (i =15.68) from different cultures and continents (Europe, Euro-Asia, America and Asia). The effect size obtained fiom the use of a random-effects model (r=03, p < 0,000) is significant, moderate and positive, thus confirming the relation between pathologic uses of the Internet and depression. Moreover, meta-regression test results showed that 9% of the variance (R-2 =0.09) is associated with the male gender, while age and culture are not significant variables, The variability rate of the studies is high (12=87.085%), as a consequence of heterogeneity rather than publication bias, as Egger's regression test shows (I railedp-value=0.25; 2-tailed p-value=0.50, and 0- = I.57). Therefore, the need for specific interventions in secondary education dealing with this issue is evident to ensure that it does not extend into adult life.