The bidirectional interactions between addiction, behaviour approach and behaviour inhibition systems among adolescents in a prospective study

Internet addiction is a worldwide mental health problem among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the prediction of the Behaviour Inhibition System (BIS) and the Behaviour Approach System (BAS) on the occurrence of Internet addiction, and determine whether Internet addiction would make any difference on the development of BIS/BAS among adolescents. Adolescents in grade 7 were recruited to complete assessment for Internet addiction and BIS/BAS. Then, a follow-up was performed 1 year later. The results demonstrated that higher BAS and BAS fun seeking predicted the occurrence of Internet addiction. Adolescents with Internet addiction decreased more on BAS and BIS 1 year later than the non-addiction group. These results suggest that higher BAS and fun seeking are risk factors for Internet addiction among adolescents. Besides, interventions for Internet addiction should pay attention to the disturbed development of BAS and BIS.