Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Perspective

Abstract

Internet addiction has gained increased scientific attention during the last decades. However, theoretical models explaining mechanisms underlying Internet addiction are scarce, impeding further development of prevention and treatment approaches. In the present study, we applied the principles of Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT) to gain insight into relevant predictors of Internet addiction. We hypothesized that irrational beliefs are positively, and rational beliefs negatively related to Internet addiction, and that these relationships are mediated by psychopathological tendencies. A sample of 300 adolescents (151 girls and 149 boys, age range 15–18 years, M = 16. 21, SD = 1. 03) completed the following questionnaires: Internet Addiction Test, Serbian Version of the General Attitude and Belief scale, and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Irrational beliefs were positively correlated with Internet addiction, while rational beliefs were unrelated to Internet addiction. The relationship between irrational beliefs and Internet addiction was partially mediated through phobic anxiety and obsessive–compulsive tendencies. The results suggest that the RE&CBT approach might be useful in the prevention and treatment of Internet addiction.