Abstract
The current study explored Internet use variables of overall time online, amount of Internet access, frequency of engaging in specific online behaviors, and problematic Internet use (PIU) of an adolescent clinical population receiving treatment in intensive outpatient programs (IOP). The study sought to determine if Internet use variables could predict mental health treatment outcomes. Data was collected from a sample of adolescents receiving outpatient psychiatric services (N =101) from four IOP programs in a private hospital in Southern California at intake and discharge. Standard multiple regression results indicated that time online, the amount of access to the Internet, the frequency of engaging in specific online activities (general information seeking, risky behaviors, communication, gaming and entertainment, social networking, and health information), and problematic Internet use (PIU) as measured by the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS-2) were not predictive of mental health outcomes as measured by the change in Global Assessment of Functioning from intake to discharge. Implications, Limitations, recommendations for future research, and researcher's lessons learned are discussed.