Recurrent pain symptoms among adolescents with generalized and specific problematic internet use: A large-scale cross-sectional study

Numerous studies suggest a negative impact of problematic internet use (PIU) not only on mental health but also on somatic components of adolescent health. The present study aimed to identify the associations between different types of PIU – generalized PIU (GPIU), problematic video game use (PVGU), and problematic social media use (PSMU) – and recurrent pain symptoms (headache, abdominal pain, and back pain), as well as to determine the role of psychosocial factors in these associations. In a cross-sectional school-based study, 4411 urban Siberian adolescents were asked about the presence, frequency, and intensity of pain symptoms in the past three months. Standardized psychometric scales were used to assess GPIU, PSMU and PVGU. Given the presence of psychosocial problems as a major confounder, direct associations of PSMU and GPIU with recurrent pain symptoms (headache, abdominal pain, and back pain) were found. PVGU was weakly associated only with abdominal pain. Further analysis indicated that the positive associations were largely mediated by comorbid psychosocial problems. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both problematic internet use and comorbid psychosocial problems to effectively reduce PIU-associated recurrent headaches, abdominal pain, and back pain among adolescents. • Problematic internet use is associated with an increased risk of recurrent pain symptoms among adolescents. • This association was most pronounced for generalized problematic internet use and problematic social media use. • Problematic video game use only showed a weak association with abdominal pain. • Psychosocial problems played an important confounding and mediation role in the associations between these variables among adolescents.