Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom from Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Narrative Review.
Priyadarsini Samanta, Ipsa Mohapatra, Rituparna Mitra, Jayanti Mishra, Pranab Mahapatra, Nirmal K Mohakud, Jigyansa I. Pattnaik, Manas Ranjan Behera, Pranati Nanda
Cureus October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72544 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents with Internet Addiction Disorder |
| Intervention | mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation Addiction |
| Keywords | Adolescents Emotional regulation Executive functioning Impulsive behavior Internet addiction disorder Psychological well-being |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions help adolescents reduce excessive internet use, control compulsive online habits, and alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression associated with Internet Addiction Disorder. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions for internet use disorders in adolescents and young adults: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis Journal of Behavioral Addictions September 18, 2026
- The role of cognitive flexibility and psychological well-being in the effect of mindfulness on problematic internet use Scientific Reports August 26, 2025
Cites 11
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
- Mindfulness as a Treatment for Behavioural Addiction Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy 2013
- Mental health promotion in the Internet age: a consultation with Australian young people to inform the design of an online mindfulness training programme Health Promotion International March 11, 2011
and 6 more in the library