Toward a Holistic, Age‐Graded Understanding of Excessive Internet Use: An Application of Containment Theory

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Hauptverfasser: Marian J. Borg, Ryan Howard
Format: Artículo Open Access
Veröffentlicht: Wiley 2025
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author Marian J. Borg
Ryan Howard
author_facet Marian J. Borg
Ryan Howard
Marian J. Borg
Ryan Howard
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Toward a Holistic, Age‐Graded Understanding of Excessive Internet Use: An Application of Containment Theory Marian J. Borg Ryan Howard Sociological Inquiry The growing prevalence of internet use and evidence indicating both harmful and beneficial consequences of “being on‐line” suggest the importance of understanding risk and protective factors that may prevent use from becoming “excessive.” While research has explored the psychological factors precipitating excessive use, few analyses have focused simultaneously on the impact of individual traits and social attachments. Drawing on Walter Reckless' arguments in containment theory, we investigate how internal and external “containments” may influence excessive internet use. Using data from a 2017 online survey of adolescents and young adults ( n  = 785) recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans, we also explore how the effect of these factors may change or remain constant for individuals at different stages in the life course. Overall, results indicate that both internal and external containments influence the likelihood of engaging in excessive internet use, though the importance of each varies across age groups. Our findings point to a compelling life course story, suggesting an intersection between internet use and the changing circumstances and priorities that come with increasing age. 10.1111/soin.70021 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
doi_str_mv 10.1111/soin.70021
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id wiley_oa_10_1111_soin_70021
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spellingShingle Toward a Holistic, Age‐Graded Understanding of Excessive Internet Use: An Application of Containment Theory
Marian J. Borg
Ryan Howard
Sociological Inquiry
Toward a Holistic, Age‐Graded Understanding of Excessive Internet Use: An Application of Containment Theory Marian J. Borg Ryan Howard Sociological Inquiry The growing prevalence of internet use and evidence indicating both harmful and beneficial consequences of “being on‐line” suggest the importance of understanding risk and protective factors that may prevent use from becoming “excessive.” While research has explored the psychological factors precipitating excessive use, few analyses have focused simultaneously on the impact of individual traits and social attachments. Drawing on Walter Reckless' arguments in containment theory, we investigate how internal and external “containments” may influence excessive internet use. Using data from a 2017 online survey of adolescents and young adults ( n  = 785) recruited from a demographically balanced sample of Americans, we also explore how the effect of these factors may change or remain constant for individuals at different stages in the life course. Overall, results indicate that both internal and external containments influence the likelihood of engaging in excessive internet use, though the importance of each varies across age groups. Our findings point to a compelling life course story, suggesting an intersection between internet use and the changing circumstances and priorities that come with increasing age. 10.1111/soin.70021 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
title Toward a Holistic, Age‐Graded Understanding of Excessive Internet Use: An Application of Containment Theory
topic Sociological Inquiry
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/soin.70021