Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study

Bari Ay; Umut Balatacı

Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and psychiatric diagnoses in adolescents aged 11-18 years presenting with problematic internet use symptoms and to examine their associations with internet addiction severity. Methods: A total of 107 adolescents admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic were included. Data were collected using a Sociodemographic Data Form, the Young Internet Addiction Scale to assess problematic internet use symptom severity, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed with K-SADS-PL. Results: The mean age of the participants was 14.42±2.27 years. At least one psychiatric diagnosis was identified in 41.1% of participants, and ADHD was the most common diagnosis. YIAS scores were positively correlated with BDI scores (r=.385, p<.001) and PSQI scores (r=.325, p<.001), while BDI scores were also positively correlated with PSQI scores (r=.554, p<.001). In multivariable regression analysis, internet addiction symptom severity remained independently associated with sleep quality after controlling for depressive symptoms and other covariates (β=.205, p=.031). Depressive symptom severity was the strongest predictor of poor sleep quality (β=.463, p<.001). In addition, internet addiction symptom severity, female sex, and high school level were independently associated with higher depressive symptom scores. Conclusion: In this clinical sample of adolescents presenting with problematic internet use symptoms, internet addiction symptom severity was associated with depressive symptoms, poor sleep quality, and psychiatric comorbidity. Internet addiction symptom severity remained independently related to sleep quality after controlling for depressive symptoms and clinical covariates. These findings should be interpreted as correlational observations within a clinical outpatient sample rather than as evidence of differences compared with adolescents without problematic internet use symptoms. A multidimensional clinical evaluation including depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and psychiatric comorbidities, particularly ADHD, may be useful in adolescents presenting with problematic internet use symptoms.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval for this study was obtained from Karabük University (Decision date: May 21, 2024; Ethics Committee No: 2024/5-16).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Bari Ay ^*
0000-0002-9740-3716
Türkiye

Umut Balatacı
0000-0002-1562-1673
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 16, 2026

Submission Date

March 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Ay, B., & Balatacı, U. (2026). Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(4), 652-661. https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD

AMA

1.Ay B, Balatacı U. Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(4):652-661. https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD

Chicago

Ay, Bari, and Umut Balatacı. 2026. “Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Adolescents With Problematic Internet Use Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (4): 652-61. https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD.

EndNote

Ay B, Balatacı U (July 1, 2026) Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 4 652–661.

IEEE

[1]B. Ay and U. Balatacı, “Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 652–661, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD

ISNAD

Ay, Bari - Balatacı, Umut. “Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Adolescents With Problematic Internet Use Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/4 (July 1, 2026): 652-661. https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD.

JAMA

1.Ay B, Balatacı U. Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:652–661.

MLA

Ay, Bari, and Umut Balatacı. “Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality in Adolescents With Problematic Internet Use Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 652-61, https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD.

Vancouver

1.Bari Ay, Umut Balatacı. Depressive symptoms and sleep quality in adolescents with problematic internet use symptoms: a cross-sectional clinical study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;8(4):652-61. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA25DF35SD