ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПРОФИЛАКТИКА ИНТЕРНЕТ-ЗАВИСИМОСТИ У СТУДЕНЧЕСКОЙ МОЛОДЕЖИ

Abstract

The number of Internet users is increasing every year: 62.5 % of the world’s population already have access to the World Wide Web. Most of them are people aged 12-24 years. It is this age range that is the main risk group for the development of Internet addiction (IA). The COVID-19 pandemic, in turn, has had a huge impact on increasing the time spent by citizens on the Internet. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of the COVID–19 pandemic on the development of IA among students on the example of the Northern State Medical University of Arkhangelsk; search for currently created IA prevention measures; update them and develop new ones. Materials and methods: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of IA, an intra-university online survey was conducted using the Kimberly Young methodology (Internet Addiction Test, IAT). The theoretical analysis of the problem was carried out on the refereed databases: eLibrary. Ru, CyberLeninka, PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. Results: during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the students increased the duration of their stay on the Internet; however, the average value of +3.39 points does not allow us to say that this increase had a significant impact on the formation of IA. In accordance with the WHO classification, the main methods of prevention are presented from: the formation of a culture of Internet use by parents, conducting preventive conversations – as primary prevention. Secondary prevention consists in the use of the PROTECT curriculum, applications for digital detoxification; the formation of a self-determination setting or the use of professional assistance (clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, etc.). As a type of tertiary prevention, it is necessary to consider methods of social support, the creation of favorable and emotional conditions in the real world and the training of addicts in controlled Internet use.