Clear Link between Childhood Trauma and Internet Addiction

A meta-analysis published in March 2024 examined the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction.  Whilst the researchers found that many different measurement tools were used, the overall findings were of a significant correlation between childhood trauma and internet addiction.

Evidence of link between childhood trauma and internet addiction

The researchers notably found that abuse and neglect were particular indicators of pathological internet use in adolescents.  They propose that adolescents who have experienced adverse childhood experiences may have lower self-esteem and therefore be more likely to develop addiction problems. 

Specifically, adverse environments can lead to increased negative emotions, cognitive biases, and reduced social relationships among adolescents, and adolescents are at high risk for emotional regulation disorders.  They suggest that adolescents overuse the internet to satisfy the need to be loved and connected and use the virtual world to cope with isolation and obtain social support. In this way they are self-medicating their negative emotions and which ultimately leads to the emergence of internet addiction behaviours.

Summarised from:  Journal of Behavioral Addictions.  Volume 13: Issue 1; The relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction in adolescents: A meta-analysis