A Study on Teenagers' Internet Addiction and Influencing Factors

Kim, Chunmi

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to examine teenagers' Internet addiction and to find factors influencing it.
METHODS
Data were collected from 596 middle and high school students between June 1 and June 20, 2009 with a self-rating questionnaire. The data were processed with SPSS/WIN 12.0.
RESULTS
(1) 20.3% of the students were spending over three hours a day in Internet use. The percentages of mild and serious Internet addiction were 22.3 and 2.1, respectively. (2) The stronger Internet addiction was, the higher stress was and the lower social support was. There was a negative correlation between stress and social support (r = -.296, p < .01). There was also a positive correlation between Internet addiction and stress (r = .264, p < .01) while a negative correlation between Internet addiction and social support (r = -.127, p < .01). (3) Among the subjects' characteristics, sex, school and family type, frequency of processed food intake, average daily Internet use hour and sleeping hour, subjective health perception, and satisfaction level with parents and family made difference in the Internet addiction level.
CONCLUSION
The result of this study will provide useful background data for the selection of target population, stress management and social support promotion programs to prevent teenagers' Internet addiction.