Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom from Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Narrative Review.
Cureus October 1, 2024 Priyadarsini Samanta, Ipsa Mohapatra, Rituparna Mitra et al. 6 citations
Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) harms adolescents' social relationships, academic performance, and emotional well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) improve self-awareness, emotional regulation, and cognitive flexibility, offering a potential therapeutic approach. This narrative review summarizes research showing that mindfulness practices help adolescents reduce excessive internet use, control compulsive online habits, and resist impulsive urges. Techniques such as breathing exercises, body scanning, and meditation also alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression commonly linked to IAD. The review calls for more research on long-term MBI effects, integration into school programs, and interventions tailored to adolescent developmental needs. Mindfulness appears promising for reducing IAD, but further thorough research is needed.