An examination of the relationship between possible Internet addiction and the levels of aggression and empathy among high school students in Isparta province

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Objective: Adolescents are a potential group for developing internet addiction due to their frequent use of the internet. Therefore, detecting adolescents with possible internet addiction (PIA) and revealing the relationship between their internet use and their mental health is quite important for the development of preventive measures. This study aims to determine the characteristics of Internet usage associated with PIA, the relationship between levels of empathy and aggression with PIA, and the prevalence of PIA among high school students. Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study was planned on high-school adolescents. The Internet Addiction Scale, Basic Empathy Scale, Aggression Scale, and Information Form associated with Socio-Demographic Data and Internet Usage were given to the students. Results: The prevalence of PIA was found to be 19.9%. Home-based internet connections, weekly internet usage time, and high aggression levels were found to be significantly higher in adolescents who are possible internet addicts than adolescents who are not. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of empathy levels. It was determined that adolescents who are possible Internet addicts were significantly more likely to use the Internet for online games than adolescents who are not possible addicts, and also that the Internet was their favorite leisure-time activity. Conclusion: The early detection of adolescents who are possible Internet addicts, evaluation of the causes that lead these adolescents to the internet and online games, and taking necessary precautions to monitor/control usage time and purpose can prevent these adolescents from being drawn into a web of problems.