The relationship between internet addiction and mental health conditions in children and young people

This systematic review examined 22 studies about the relationship between internet addiction and mental health conditions in children and adolescents. Internet addiction was associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to children and adolescents without internet addiction. The authors discuss the possibility that internet use may function as a coping strategy for underlying mental health challenges. Shared factors such as emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, reward sensitivity, social withdrawal and sleep disruption may also help explain the relationship between problematic internet use and mental health difficulties.

Why is this important?

• Internet use is an increasingly common part of children’s and adolescents’ daily lives. While it can provide educational, social and recreational benefits, problematic or excessive internet use has emerged as a growing mental health concern among young people.
• Previous studies have suggested links between internet addiction and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but findings have been inconsistent.

What did they do?

• The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the relationship between internet addiction and mental health conditions in children and young people aged 18 years and under.
• Twenty-two studies published between 2014 and 2025 were included in the review, involving a total of 36,432 participants.

What did they find?

• Children and adolescents with internet addiction were significantly more likely to experience depression than those without internet addiction.
• Internet addiction was also associated with a higher likelihood of anxiety, ADHD and OCD.
• The associations remained largely unchanged when the authors examined different geographic regions, study designs and assessment tools, suggesting that the findings were broadly consistent across studies.
• Most of the included studies were cross-sectional, meaning the review could not determine whether internet addiction contributes to mental health difficulties, whether mental health difficulties increase the risk of problematic internet use, or whether both are influenced by shared underlying factors.
• The authors suggest that shared factors such as emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, reward sensitivity, social withdrawal and sleep disruption may help explain the relationship between problematic internet use and mental health difficulties.

What does this mean for practice?

• When a young person presents with significant depression, anxiety, attention difficulties or compulsive behaviours, practitioners could routinely ask about online activities – specifically the impact of internet use on sleep, relationships, schooling and wellbeing.
• Assessment should consider problematic internet use as a possible indicator of broader distress rather than viewing it solely as a behavioural problem. The authors discuss the possibility that internet use may function as a coping strategy for underlying mental health difficulties.
• Psychoeducation for young people and families could focus on helping them recognise links between mood, anxiety, attention difficulties, sleep and online behaviours, rather than simply focusing on reducing screen time.

This summary is one of the child mental health research highlights for June 2026, prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).