Prevalence and risk factors for problematic Internet use among rural adolescents in Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e12310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju-Yeon Lee ◽  
Seon-Young Kim ◽  
Kyung-Yeol Bae ◽  
Jae-Min Kim ◽  
Il-Seon Shin ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Kang ◽  
Hongjuan Chang ◽  
Shanshan Yuan ◽  
Jingjing Xiang ◽  
Yizhen Yu

BACKGROUND Problematic internet use (PIU) is a growing public health and social issue among adolescents, however, its prevalence in rural adolescents remains to be investigated. Adverse life experiences (ALEs) and resilience have been reported to be important influence factors of PIU, but little is known about the interaction effects of ALEs and resilience on PIU, or gender differences in these effects. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to provide the first prevalence report of PIU in Chinese rural adolescents based on a nationwide sample, and to examine the association among ALEs, resilience and PIU, as well as the gender difference within these relationships. METHODS A school-based survey was conducted in rural areas from five provinces in China in 2014-2015. A total of 15950 students aged 11-22 years finished a complete self-report questionnaire, including demographic characteristics, measurements of PIU, stressful life events, child neglect and maltreatment, and resilience. ALEs were defined as having experienced stressful life events and/or child neglect and maltreatment. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used. RESULTS There were 2734 adolescents assessed with PIU in our sample, with a prevalence rate of 17.1%. Multiple adjusted odds ratios for PIU was significantly increased with higher ALEs scores (5-6: OR=1.28, 95% CI=1.11-1.48; 7-8: OR=1.66, 95% CI=1.43-1.92) and significantly decreased with higher resilience level (Mild: OR=0.83, 95% CI=0.74-0.93; Moderate: OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.60-0.77; High: OR=0.59; 95% CI=0.52-0.67). Moderate resilience had significantly protective effect on PIU in adolescents with high ALEs scores (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.41-0.97). A significant interaction effect was found between ALEs and resilience on PIU only in girls (P=0.021) but not in boys (P=0.081), however, this gender difference showed no significance (P=0.305). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests a relative high prevalence of PIU among Chinese rural adolescents. More ALEs and lower resilience are associated with higher risk for PIU, and resilience can moderate the association between ALEs and PIU. Strategies combining ALEs prevention and resilience promotion both in girls and boys would yield better to decrease PIU problems in adolescents.


Author(s):  
Alfredo Zarco-Alpuente ◽  
Víctor Ciudad-Fernández ◽  
Rafael Ballester-Arnal ◽  
Joël Billieux ◽  
María Dolores Gil-Llario ◽  
...  

The health and socio-economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have led to greater reliance on the internet to meet basic needs and responsibilities. Greater engagement in online activities may have negative mental and physical health consequences for some vulnerable individuals, particularly under mandatory self-isolation or ‘lockdown’ conditions. The present study investigated whether changes in levels of involvement in online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., watching TV series, online sexual activities, video games, social networks, gambling, online shopping, and instant messaging) were associated with problematic internet use, as well as whether certain psychological risk factors (positive/negative affect and impulsivity) were significant predictors of these changes. A total of 1,275 participants (66.1% female, aged between 18-55 years) completed an online survey while in lockdown in Spain (April 15th-23rd, 2020). The survey assessed current engagement in seven different online activities and their engagement prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as psychological risk factors (affect and impulsivity). Most participants (between 60.8%-98.6% depending on the activity) reported no changes in participation in online activities, but there was a significant increase in weekly internet use (between 25 and 336 min). However, increased internet use was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in problematic use, except for problematic TV series watching and video gaming. Psychological risk factors considered in the study (affect, impulsivity traits) were largely minor or non-significant predictors. Thus, increased internet use during the lockdown in Spain was not related to a proportional growth in problematic usage, suggesting that these behavioral changes may constitute adaptive coping strategies in the context of the pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Mamun ◽  
Sharif Hossain ◽  
Mst. Sabrina Moonajilin ◽  
Mohammed Tanvir Masud ◽  
Jannatul Mawa Misti ◽  
...  

Background: Researchers have claimed that problematic internet use (PIU) and internet addiction (IA) is a global mental health problem. However, little research has addressed this issue in Bangladesh and no previous study has examined the relationship between PIU and potential psychological risk factors.Aim: The present study examined the prevalence of PIU and its associated risk factors including socio-demographic variables, internet use behaviors, and other psychological variables including loneliness, self-esteem, and psychological distress.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Bangladeshi students (N = 605). Measures included the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Rosenberg's SelfEsteem Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the General Health Questionnaire.Results: Using a cut-off score of ≤60 (out of 100) on the IAT, the prevalence of PIU was 16.5% (n = 100). Regression analysis showed that sleep disturbance (more or less than 6-7 hours sleeping time), not using internet for academic purposes, and online chatting were risk factors for PIU. Loneliness and psychological distress were positively correlated with PIU, whereas self-esteem was negatively correlated.Conclusions: The present study highlights that PIU among Bangladeshi university students is an issue of concern and that targeted prevention is needed among emergingadults to help overcome the potentially negative effects of problematic internet use.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-129
Author(s):  
Leila Cherif ◽  
Hela Ayadi ◽  
Souhel Khemekhem ◽  
Yousr Moalla ◽  
Farhat Ghribi

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S453-S453 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Cherif ◽  
C. Sahnoun ◽  
K. Khemakhem ◽  
H. Ayadi ◽  
A. Walha ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo identify correlates that might constitute risk factors for problematic video game use (PVU) among urban Tunisian secondary school students.MethodsThis multivariate cross-sectional study was carried out on 587 secondary school students, aged 14 to 20 years. They were randomly selected from seven secondary schools in the urban area of Sfax. The self-administered Fisher's nine-item questionnaire was used in this survey. To identify an associated problematic internet use video game addiction, Young's eight-item questionnaire was used. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire covered socio-demographic, individual and family data.ResultsThe prevalence of PVU was 14.01%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that the individual risk factors for problematic video game use were anxiety symptoms (P = 0.034) and an associated problematic Internet use (P < 0.001). Playing sport was a protective factor (P = 0.011). The poor relationships within the family (P = 0.001), the lack of parental supervision of time spent on playing video game (P < 0.001) and mother profession as mid-to upper level manager (P = 0.002), predicted PVU.ConclusionThe identification of risk factors can help to determine individuals at high risk, and alert mental health providers to be careful to screen these patients for PVU. Total avoidance of the Internet is unrealistic and inadvisable; but a sensibilisation outreach for youth, their families and health professionals may help to limit the onset of PVU among young people.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


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