We have obtained information about the prevalence of problematic use of mobile, Internet and video games on adolescents and examined risk factors. Selection of the participating study population and the high response percentage provide a realistic view of the degree of ICT problematic use in adolescents.

Internet addiction in adolescents is a topic of great social and familiar concern. In our study, 13.6 % of the surveyed individuals present problematic behaviour that is associated with this technology. This prevalence is similar to that which was reported by Yen in females [32], although in males it is much higher. In 2010, Carbonell et al. did not find differences and our study has revealed a greater frequency of problems in the females [33]. Most likely, this trend is related to the type of use which in a very short time, has evolved to the increased use of social networks, which tend to be used more frequently by females [34–36]. However, other studies have indicated that female adolescent or university-aged students are more aware of the risk, which should serve as a protective factor [29, 37].

The number of hours invested in Internet, videogames or mobile phone activities is not a definitive criterion in the diagnosis of technological addictions. In fact, researchers distinguish between high engagement and problematic use [38, 39] and suggest that some past studies may have overestimated the prevalence of addiction type problems of ICT users. Therefore the questionnaires like CERI and CERM are based on the negative consequences rather than in the time invested in ICT [30]. However, we have found a strong relationship between intensive use and problematic use as happens in other studies with video gamers [40] and Internet users [41] while the type of use disappears as an additional risk factor upon adjustments made via multivariate analysis. These results seem to indicate that for the youngest users, the number of hours of use is actually a risk factor. Poor family relationships appear as the second most important risk factor. Here, the role of the family as a regulator of use, may be fundamental for preventing Internet addiction [32, 42].

Drug use and impulsivity have been related with problematic Internet behaviour [43]. In our case, we have found associations with tobacco use and a history of binge drinking. As for mobile phones, an increased risk in problematic use has been found only in those that display intensive use of mobile phones or who consume other drugs. These results are consistent with findings from prior studies [6, 44]. Intensive use or the consumption of other drugs has also been associated with the problematic use of video games, as occurs with the male gender, poor academic performance and poor family relationships [45]. The multivariate analysis of logistic regression explores the role played by each of the variables in the problematic use of each ICT when combined with other variables [32, 42].

The risk of problematic use of mobile phones is similar to other studies [37, 46]. It is greatest in the public school students, as well as in those who use tobacco, have poor family relationships and that send more than 10 SMS messages per day [29]. While we are unaware of the association mechanism for type of school with problematic mobile phone behaviour, is may be related to socioeconomic status. Tobacco may constitute a group socialization marker. Once again, the main risk factor is intensity of use, measured as the number of SMS messages. Clearly, today SMS text messages would be substituted by WhatsApp messages. Our data suggest that, comparing to Internet and video games, there is a scarce evidence for considering mobile use as a problematic behaviour [22]. The adolescent not considered video games, which generate intense social alarm, as problematic as other ICT [37]. In our case, the prevalence rate of problematic use of video games found in the present study (6.2 %) indicates a highly comparable prevalence than those found in other European countries [10, 47, 48].

Those students whose parents controlled their game playing time had more occasional problems with this technology. We feel that this may be explained as a reaction to the intensification of playing time in children by parents who are more sensitized and active in the control of video game use. In the multivariate analysis, problematic use was associated with the profile of a male student, solitary player, dedicating many hours to the game, and having poor family relationships.

Based on the results obtained, data suggest that in all of the analysed ICT, intensive use is a good marker of addiction, regardless of the type of use that is engaged in. Similarly, poor family relationships appear to be an important risk factor for ICT problems.

As for academic failure, we feel that this may be a good indicator of the effect of the use of the new technologies in adolescents, although there are authors who have observed more failure in youth who do not use computers [49]. In our case, it has been associated with the presence of frequent problems with Internet and video game use and occasional problems with mobile phone use. In an earlier article, we reported the relationship between low academic performance and the intensive use of the ICT [28].

In the multivariate analysis, poor academic performance appears to be related with a combination of consumption of toxic substances and the moderate or frequent use of the Internet, mobile phones or video games. Being female, having good family relationships and participating in after-school activities appear as protective factors (Table 6).

These findings suggest that in adolescents, the problematic use of ICT is a risk factor for academic failure, in addition to others that may be inherent in this evolutionary stage such as starting to consume toxic substances. This damaging effect is possibly related to the interference and imbalance caused in the acquisition of study habits. Therefore, we agree with other authors that during the 1st cycle of ESO, it is necessary to undertake more future preventative actions in this area [5, 30].