A Comparison Study on the Internet Addiction and Health Problems of Middle School Students between Urban and Rural Area

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate determinent factors of the internet addiction that have influenced on middle school students. We randomly selected each one middle school in urban and rural areas, and conducted survey in 862 students of 2nd and 3rd grade from September 1 to 15, 2005. By using a statistical program called SPSS10.0, the data collected thereby were analyzed through a series of statistical methods including -test, logistic regression analysis. The result of logistic regression analysis showed that the significant variables in urban area were resting time and using time a day. In rural area, sex, economic level, resting time and using time a day were significant variables. Higher status of internet addiction showed significant relationship with physical problems, anxiety, maladjustment to school, insufficient sleep time, fatigue in eyes, headache, pain in neck or shoulder, chronic fatigue, reduced vision, weight reduction, indigestion, xeroderma and adjustment to school. Especially, resting time and using time a day have dominant influence on internet addiction. And in case that the groups who showed high addiction tendency, there were negative health problem by physical, mental and social problem. To prevent internet addiction health education programs of right internet use and time, importance of rest, and health problems must be considered in internet addiction prevention policy.