Relationship between Internet Addiction and Anxiety, Depression, and Self Efficacy in Middle and High School Students

Lee, Seok Bum; Lee, Kyung Kyu; Paik, Ki Chung; Kim, Hyun Woo; Shin, Soo Kyung

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Internet addiction is a newly appeared addiction phenomenon that is defined as 'difficulty in real life due to internet over-use', 'excessive time spent on the internet or replacement of genuine real relationships with superficial virtual ones' or 'weakness in self-control about internet use and if withdrawn, fallen in psychological confusion and anergic state'. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of the internet addiction in Korean middle and high school students who are known to suffering from severe academic loading compared to foreign students, and to compare the demographic factors, internet-using patterns, anxiety trait, depression and internet self-efficacy and outcome expectancy between addicted group and non-addicted group.
METHODS
Subjects were middle and high school students in Seoul and Cheonan city (N=1173). Self-rating questionnaire included demographic data, Korean version of Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), and questions for internetusing pattern, Young internet addiction scale, internet self-efficacy and outcome expectancy scale. We have received the consent form teachers and students.
RESULTS
In this study, prevalence of internet addiction is 2.9%. Addicted group showed higher level of anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy acquired from internet use than those of non-addicted group. Addicted group spent much more leisure time alone, used more high-speed internet service, and thought negatively about influence of internet to real life than non-addicted group. Addicted group had higher rate of insight for internet addiction than non-addicted group.
CONCLUSION
This study suggest that prevalence of internet addiction is much lower than expected, but internet addiction can worse the anxious and depressive tendency. Also this study show that internet overusing and subsequent internet addiction can have negative influences on the real life.