J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2015 Jun;26(2):169-177. 10.12799/jkachn.2015.26.2.169.

The Relationship between Internet Use for Non-academic Purposes and Happiness and Stress in Adolescents

• Park H

• KMID: 2292695
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2015.26.2.169

Abstract

PURPOSE
Previous studies focused on the negative effects of Internet use such as obesity, depression, and addiction. However, few studies investigated whether the Internet use for an appropriate time has positive effects on adolescents' health. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine the dose-response relationship between Internet use for non-academic purposes (NAP) and happiness/stress in adolescents.
METHODS
This study used data from the 2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. A total of 72,435 adolescents were included. Rao-Scott chi2 and multiple logistic regression were conducted. To test the dose-response relationship, this study examined how happiness/stress changed with increase in the time of Internet use for NAP.
RESULTS
After controlling for general characteristics, the odds ratios for being unhappy and stressful were lowest in adolescents using the Internet for NAP for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day. Interestingly, students who did not use the Internet for NAP had a significantly higher risk of being unhappy/stressful than those using for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day.
CONCLUSION
Internet use for NAP for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day has positive effects on happiness/stress in adolescents.

Keyword

Internet; Happiness; Life stress; Adolescent

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Depression
Happiness*
Humans
Internet*
Korea
Logistic Models
Obesity
Odds Ratio
Risk-Taking
Stress, Psychological

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