Prevalence of different types of online behavior and internet addiction among adolescents in central siberia: Gender and age aspects

Abstract

IntroductionAdolescent online behavior is an urgent public health problem in different countries of the world due to the possibility of developing Internet addiction.ObjectivesTo study the prevalence of different types of online behavior and Internet addiction in Siberian adolescents, depending on gender and age.MethodsDuring the period from January to May 2019, 2950 adolescents aged 11-18 years living in the urban area of Central Siberia (Krasnoyarsk) were examined, of them 1348 boys and 1602 girls. The Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) with a cut-off level of 65 points was used. Internet users are divided into three groups: Adaptive Internet Users (AIU) (27–42 points); maladaptive Internet users (MIU) (43–64 points); pathological Internet users (PIU) (score ≥ 65).ResultsThe AIU group comprised 50.3% (55.9% boys and 45.6% girls, p <0.001). The share of adolescents aged 11-14 is 52.0%, the share of adolescents aged 15-18 is 48.4% (p = 0.04). The MIU group constituted 42.9% (46.3% were girls and 38.9% boys, p <0.001). The share of adolescents aged 11-14 is 42.1%, and those aged 15-18 is 43.8%, p > 0.05. The PIU group constituted 6.8% (5.1% boys and 8.2% girls, p <0.001). The share of adolescents aged 11-14 is 5.9% and those aged 15-18 is 7.8% (p = 0.04).ConclusionsAmong adolescents in Central Siberia the prevalence of AIU consist 50.3%, MIU 42.9%, PIU 6.8%. The prevalence of PIU is more common in girls. The increase in PIU was marked in the older age group. The study was funded by RFBR project № 18-29-2203218.Conflict of interestThe reported study was funded by RFBR project № 18-29-22032\18.