Excessive and pathological Internet use – Risk-behavior or psychopathology?

• Pathological Internet use fits to a latent “psychopathology factor”. Excessive “risk behavior” factor. A dimension ranging from normal via risky pathological is likely. dimensional approach could be applied guide prevention and intervention. (but only with respect gaming) classified as mental disorder in the ICD-11. However, there large group of adolescents showing excessive use, which may rather considered adolescent risk-behavior. The aim was test whether should “psychopathology” or “risk-behavior”. representative, cross-sectional sample 11.110 students 10 European Union countries analyzed. Structural equation models, including factors “risk-behavior” variables were tested against each other. “Risk-behavior” operationalized by several risk-behaviors (e.g. drug abuse, truancy, etc). “Psychopathology” included measures disorders depression, hyperactivity, assessed duration frequency use. Young Diagnostic Questionnaire (i.e., presence addiction criteria). loaded on (? = 0.484, p < .001) 0.071, .007). 0.333, 0.852, .001). Chi-square tests determined that loadings (? 2 (1) 81.98, significantly stronger than “psychopathology”. Vice versa, 107.10, results indicate psychopathology. other hand,