Internet use enhances one's quality of life; yet, excessive use may lead to various problems for their healthy development and wellbeing. Understanding the risk and protective factors in internet addiction has importance to promote individuals' positive development and wellbeing. Therefore, the purpose of the present chapter is to explore the role of psychological maltreatment in the development of the internet addiction. Psychological maltreatment is a significant public health problems associated with a range of short and long–term undesirable mental health and wellbeing outcomes in childhood to adulthood. Considering the outcomes supporting the significant role of child maltreatment on the development of internet addiction, it is clear that maltreated individuals are at–risk to develop internet addiction, and psychological maltreatment, as a risk factor, has a crucial role in the development of internet addiction. However, evidences here are relatively limited, and there is need further research investigated long–term impacts of psychological maltreatment on internet addiction.
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Internet use has become a prominent part of individuals’ daily life, and people can solve many day-to-day problems and obtain knowledge using the internet (e.g. taking online courses, finding specific information, and talking with others; Tsai & Lin, 2001; 2003). Given these benefits of internet use, internet use enhances individuals’ quality–of–life; however, excessive use may lead to various problems for their healthy development and wellbeing (Arslan, 2017a). In recent years, a growing number research have demonstrated that internet addiction is associated with psychopathology, such as depression, anxiety, social adaptation problems, physiological dysfunction (e.g., Akın & Iskender, 2011; Arslan, 2017a; Cao, Sun, Wan, Hao, & Tao, 2011; Şahin, 2014; Özdemir, Kuzucu, & Ak, 2014; Young & Rodgers, 1998), personality traits (Celik, Atak, & Basal, 2012; Kim, Namkoong, Ku, & Kim, 2008; Dong, Wang, Yang, & Zhou, 2013), psychosocial variables, including shyness, compassion, loneliness (Ayas, 2012; Iskender & Akin, 2011; Özdemir et al., 2014), and wellbeing indicators, such as psychological wellbeing, life satisfaction (Bozoglan, Demirer, & Sahin, 2013; Cardak, 2013; Cao et al., 2011; Çelik & Odacı, 2013; Odacı, & Çıkrıkçı, 2014; Telef, 2016). In addition, many other research aimed to explore the diagnostic criteria and treatment of internet addiction disorder (e.g., Beard, 2011; Beard & Wolf, 2001; Caldwell & Cunningham, 2010; Chrismore, Betzelberger, Bier, & Camacho, 2011; Griffiths, 2005; Shaw & Black, 2008; Şenormanci, Konkan, & Sungur, 2012; Toa et al., 2010; Young, 1998; 2007; 2011; 2015).