Background:

The internet has changed the behavior of teenagers and brought new forms of socialization and communication. However, beyond its advantages there are also some risks. Excessive use can have consequences in the personal, family, social and academic domain, with possible harmful effects on the health and psychological well-being of youngsters.

Aim:

To characterize the psychological well-being and the use of the internet and to relate the problematic use of the Internet to the psychological well-being of adolescents.

Methods:

Descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study, with a sample about 478 adolescents, with an average age of M=14,5 years old (SD =1,9), in a school context. A questionnaire was applied that included the sociodemographic characterization and use of the internet, the Psychological Well-being Questionnaire, short version (QBEP-R) and the Scale of Generalized and Problematic Use of the Internet (GPIUS2). The statistical treatment was performed using descriptive and inferential analysis.

Results:

Satisfactory and high levels of psychological well-being were observed in adolescents, and problematic use of the Internet was held by 13,4% of the sample. There was a negative correlation between problematic use of the Internet and psychological well-being. There were statistically significant differences in psychological well-being in relation to the variables: age, sex, level of education, presence of hobby, use of social networks and online games.

Conclusions:

Adolescents with problematic use of the internet have lower psychological well-being, which justifies the intervention of health professionals, namely nurses, in the implementation of strategies that promote healthy online behaviours and, consequently, psychological well-being.

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