Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated with Internet Addiction in Korea

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of Internet addiction in middle school students and to identify associated psychosocial risk factors and depression.MethodsThis study was part of a larger epidemiological study on childhood psychiatric disorders conducted in Osan, a city of Republic of Korea. We used IAS for internet addiction, K-YSR for subjects' emotional and behavioral problems and K-CDI for depressive symptoms. We used the data of n=1217 completed cases. We put on independent variables, which are sex, age, smoking and alcohol experiences, economic status, age of first Internet use, K-YSR and K-CDI score.ResultsThe subjects consisted of addicted users (2.38%), over users (36.89%) and normal Internet users (60.72%). Attention problems, sex, delinquent problems, K-CDI scores, thought problems, age and aggressive behavior were predictable variables of internet addiction. Age of initial Internet use negatively predicted Internet addiction.ConclusionThis result showed similar to other researches about sociodemographic, emotional or behavioral factors related to internet addiction. Generally, subjects with more severe internet addiction had more emotional or behavioral problems. It means that they already have had various difficulties when we found internet addiction of adolescents. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate whether the subjects have any emotional or behavioral troubles and to intervene to prevent internet addiction.

Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Depression in the Iranian Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…27,29 In a Korean study, the correlation between internet addiction and depression was 67% that showed the highest percentage of co-morbidity with internet addiction among all psychological disorders. 32 It was also consistent with the reports from an Indian study. 33 Odds ratio (OR) in a Turkish study between internet addiction and depression was estimated to be 1.180.…”

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

“…Also consistent with previous studies, the total difficulties score on the SDQ‐P was significantly associated with PIU (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, ). Other studies from Korea have also shown that behavioral problems, such as conduct problems, hyperactivity, and inattention, are associated with PIU (Lee et al, ). Behavioral problems in adolescents may negatively impact peer and family relationships and increase difficulties during daily functioning.…”

“…Although PIU may be a strategy for coping with stress (Chou et al, 2015), the present results suggest that adolescents who experience academic stress and lack other leisure-time activities may use the Internet as an unhealthy coping mechanism. According to the limited number of studies conducted in Korea and abroad, early exposure to the Internet has been significantly associated with PIU (Lee, Shin, Cho, & Shin, 2014;Ni, Yan, Chen, & Liu, 2009). Our results support these findings.…”

Internet Usage and Its Addiction Level among Students in a Selected College in Ras Al Khaimah Emirate: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…University students are especially vulnerable to developing dependence on the Internet, more than most other segments of the society. This can be attributed to several factors including the following: Availability of time; ease of use; unlimited access to the Internet; the psychological and developmental characteristics of young adulthood; limited or no parental supervision; some courses are Internet-dependent, from assignments and projects to communication with peers and mentors; the Internet offering a route of escape from examination stress, all of which make Internet overuse a significant cause of concern for parents and faculty (Lee et al, 2014). This health concerns necessitate urgent awareness, prevention and prompt intervention to curb the menace.…”