Exploring mediational roles for self-stigma in associations between types of problematic use of internet and psychological distress in youth with ADHD

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities 2023-02, Vol.133, p.104410-104410, Article 104410
• Main Authors: Lee, Kuan-Ying, Chen, Chao-Ying, Chen, Ji-Kang, Liu, Chih-Ching, Chang, Kun-Chia, Fung, Xavier C.C., Chen, Jung-Sheng, Kao, Yu-Chia, Potenza, Marc N., Pakpour, Amir H., Lin, Chung-Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictive behavior; ADHD; Adolescent; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Child; Humans; Impulsive behavior; Internet; Internet addiction disorder; Male; Online; Psychological Distress; Self-stigma; Social Media
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104410

Several studies have linked the problematic use of the Internet (PUI) to psychological distress. Youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are considered a particular disadvantaged population with a high risk of developing PUI, psychological distress, and self-stigma. Nonetheless, the interrelationships of PUI, self-stigma, and psychological distress in adolescents with ADHD are not well understood. This study investigated whether self-stigma mediates relationships between different forms of PUI, such as problematic gaming (PG), problematic social media use (PSMU), problematic smartphone use (PSPU), and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress), in children with ADHD. We recruited 100 youth with ADHD (mean age=10.80 [SD=3.07] years; 84 boys) from psychiatric outpatient clinics in Taiwan. All participants were assessed for PUI (via Internet Gaming Disorder-Short Form for PG, Bergan Social Medica Addiction Scale for PSMU, and Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale for PSPU), self-stigma (via Self-Stigma Short-Scale), and psychological distress (via Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale). The results of path and bootstrapping analyses indicated that self-stigma mediated the associations between PSMU and PSPU, but not PG, and depression, anxiety, and stress. This study expands the extant literature by revealing that self-stigma mediates the association between specific forms of PUI and psychological distress in adolescents with ADHD. Interventions aimed at reducing self-stigma and PUI, particularly PSMU and PSPU, may help decrease psychological distress among adolescents with ADHD. •Problematic use of the internet (PUI) is a growing concern among youth.•Youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience PUI.•All PUI types (gaming, social media, and smartphones) have been linked to psychological distress.•Self-stigma in ADHD is associated with some but not all types of PUI.•Interventions targeting PUI and self-stigma may reduce distress in youth with ADHD.