Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom from Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Narrative Review

Abstract

In recent years, Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) has become a major mental health concern among adolescents, with detrimental effects on social relationships, academic performance, and emotional well-being. The focus of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on improving self-awareness, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility has drawn interest in MBIs as possible therapeutic approaches for treating IAD. The purpose of this narrative review is to investigate how mindfulness interventions affect teenagers who are experiencing IAD. The review summarizes research findings from multiple studies that look at how well MBIs work to promote healthier online behavior, improve mental health outcomes, and cut down on excessive internet use. According to recent research, adolescents who engage in mindfulness practices are better able to control their compulsive internet usage habits, resist impulsive impulses, and spend less time on the internet. Furthermore, mindfulness practices like breathing exercises, body scanning, and meditation may help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which are the common comorbidities linked to IAD. The review ends by emphasizing the necessity of more research on the long-term impacts of MBIs on IAD, the incorporation of mindfulness into school-based initiatives, and the significance of developing interventions that are specific to the developmental needs of teenagers. All things considered, mindfulness intervention seems like a promising strategy for reducing Internet addiction disorder, but more thorough research is needed to determine its effectiveness and suitability for use in a range of adolescent populations.

Keywords: adolescents; emotional regulation; executive functioning; impulsive behavior; internet addiction disorder; mindfulness; psychological well-being.