Kentaro Kawabe1, Fumie Horiuchi2, Marina Ochi2, Yasunori Oka3, Shu-Ichi Ueno2. 1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, and Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Ehime University Hospital, Toon, Japan. k_kentaro_k@yahoo.co.jp. 2. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, and Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Ehime University Hospital, Toon, Japan. 3. Center for Sleep Medicine and Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Ehime University Hospital, Toon, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: Internet addiction disrupts the daily lives of adolescents. We investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction in junior high school students, elucidated the relation between Internet addiction and mental states, and determined the factors associated with Internet addiction in adolescents. METHODS: Junior high school students (aged 12-15 years) were assessed using Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and a questionnaire on access to electronic devices. RESULTS: Based on total IAT scores, 2.0% (male, 2.1%; female, 1.9%) and 21.7% (male, 19.8%; female, 23.6%) of the total 853 participants (response rate, 97.6%) were classified as addicted and possibly addicted, respectively. Total GHQ scores were significantly higher in the addicted (12.9 ± 7.4) and possibly addicted groups (8.8 ± 6.0) than in the non-addicted group (4.3 ± 4.6; P < 0.001, both groups). A comparison of the percentage of students in the pathological range of GHQ scores revealed significantly higher scores in the possibly addicted group than in the non-addicted group. Further, accessibility to smartphones was significantly associated with Internet addiction. CONCLUSION: Students in the addicted and possibly addicted groups were considered 'problematic' Internet users. Use of smartphones warrants special attention, being among the top factors contributing to Internet addiction.
AIM: Internet addiction disrupts the daily lives of adolescents. We investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction in junior high school students, elucidated the relation between Internet addiction and mental states, and determined the factors associated with Internet addiction in adolescents. METHODS: Junior high school students (aged 12-15 years) were assessed using Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and a questionnaire on access to electronic devices. RESULTS: Based on total IAT scores, 2.0% (male, 2.1%; female, 1.9%) and 21.7% (male, 19.8%; female, 23.6%) of the total 853 participants (response rate, 97.6%) were classified as addicted and possibly addicted, respectively. Total GHQ scores were significantly higher in the addicted (12.9 ± 7.4) and possibly addicted groups (8.8 ± 6.0) than in the non-addicted group (4.3 ± 4.6; P < 0.001, both groups). A comparison of the percentage of students in the pathological range of GHQ scores revealed significantly higher scores in the possibly addicted group than in the non-addicted group. Further, accessibility to smartphones was significantly associated with Internet addiction. CONCLUSION: Students in the addicted and possibly addicted groups were considered 'problematic' Internet users. Use of smartphones warrants special attention, being among the top factors contributing to Internet addiction.
Authors: Kentaro Kawabe; Fumie Horiuchi; Rie Hosokawa; Kiwamu Nakachi; Shu-Ichi Ueno Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-01 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Marco Di Nicola; Vittoria Rachele Ferri; Lorenzo Moccia; Isabella Panaccione; Annamaria Miriam Strangio; Daniela Tedeschi; Paolo Grandinetti; Antonino Callea; Fabio De-Giorgio; Giovanni Martinotti; Luigi Janiri Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2017-12-01 Impact factor: 4.157