Prevalence and determinants of Internet addiction among adolescents

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, it is agreed that the internet can serve as a tool that enhances well-being but there is no consensus regarding what constitutes problematic internet use and internet use relationship with offline behavioural addictions. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents and to determine whether it is a distinct disorder from offline behavioural addictions. MethodsUsing survey design, a total of 1022 University adolescents comprising undergraduates and postgraduates were selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Revised Internet Addiction Test (RIAT), a questionnaire made up of EPQR-S Lie Scale, Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Internet Use Reasons, Hypersexual Behaviour Inventory and Problem Video Game Playing Scale. ResultsThere was prevalence of IA among the adolescents; the prevalence rate was 3.3%, in a male to female ratio of approximately 3:1. Adolescents’ online addiction was mainly influenced by extrinsic reasons for internet use, although there were few whose reasons for going online were mainly intrinsic. Using the internet to communicate on important matters, getting sex-oriented materials, and making money (especially amongst females) seemed to dominate addicts’ minds; thus, majority were ‘addicts on the internet’ and not ‘addicts to the internet’. ConclusionsOffline behavioural addictions was not an IA causal factor but rather a motivating factor, while intrinsic reasons for internet use was not found to be a reliable factor for distinguishing addicts from non-addicts.