The Effects of Stress, Social Support and Impulsiveness on Adolescents' Internet Addiction

Park, Gieun; Choi, Yeonhee

Abstract

PURPOSE
The study was to identify the influences of stress, social support and impulsiveness on the internet addiction of adolescents.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 243 male middle and high school students in D city. Data were collected from March to April in 2009 using self-report questionnaires such as internet addiction test, perceived stress, social support appraisal scale and Barratt impulsiveness scale. Data were analyzed using frequency, mean, Pearson's corelation coefficient, & hierarchial multiple regression.
RESULTS
The results showed that adolescents who had poor social support or higher stress and impulsiveness were more likely to have higher levels of internet addiction. The internet addiction was positively related to the stress and impulsiveness and negatively related to the social support. And education, record at school, stress, social support and impulsiveness had influence on the depression.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings, school nurses need to screen the risk of the internet addiction for adolescents who are in serious stress and have poor social support and impulsiveness. It is necessary to develop some preventive programs for those in high risk of internet addiction.