Correlates of Internet addiction in Turkish adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of Internet addiction with age, gender, sitting time, duration of smartphone use, playing violent digital games, and exercising. Three hundred and sixty-two adolescents completed questionnaires regarding physical activity and Internet addiction. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age (β = −0.159) and over 2 h of smartphone use (β = 0.309) had a linear relationship with Internet addiction (p < 0.05) in Model II (female adolescents). In both Model I (all adolescents) and Model III (male adolescents), smartphone use for over 2 h (β = 0.315 and β = 0.314, respectively) and playing violent digital games (β = 0.178 and β = 0.181 and, respectively) were related linearly with Internet addiction (p < 0.05). In addition, Internet addiction was significantly and positively associated with sitting time in all adolescents (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the variables of playing violent digital games in male adolescents, age in female adolescents, and the use of smartphones for over 2 h in all adolescents contribute to the occurrence of Internet addiction.