This study examined the relationship between the dependent variable, pathological Internet use and the independent variables, parenting practices, social isolation together with depression found among secondary school students in Singapore.
The analysis revealed that parental attachment (an element of parenting practices) had a significant negative correlation with pathological Internet use while parental control, social isolation and depression correlated positively with PIU. Setting rules and regulations to regulate Internet use for the youth seemed to show the reverse of the expected consequence which was non pathological Internet use. This was consistent with the negative correlation between parental control and parental attachment. The latter according to Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory when lacking could contribute to deviant behaviour. Social isolation and depression are plausible predictors of pathological Internet use as shown in the findings.