Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the resting-state plasma catecholamine and anxiety levels of Korean male adolescents with Internet game addiction (IGA) and those without IGA. This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with 230 male high school students in a South Korean city. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were employed, and data were collected using (1) participant blood samples analyzed for dopamine (DA), epinephrine (Epi), and norepinephrine (NE) and (2) two questionnaires to assess IGA and anxiety levels. Using SPSS 15.0, data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, χ2-tests, t-tests, and Pearson's correlation tests. The plasma Epi (t = 1.962, p < 0.050) and NE (t = 2.003, p = 0.046) levels were significantly lower in the IGA group than in the non-IGA group; DA levels did not significantly differ between the groups. The mean anxiety level of the IGA group was significantly higher compared with the non-IGA group (t =−6.193, p < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between catecholamine and anxiety levels. These results showed that excessive Internet gaming over time induced decreased peripheral Epi and NE levels, thus altering autonomic regulation, and increasing anxiety levels in male high school students. Based on these physiological and psychological effects, interventions intended to prevent and treat IGA should include stabilizing Epi, NE, and anxiety levels in adolescents.
Highlights
Internet addiction (IA) is one of the most pervasive public health issues among youth worldwide
We investigated whether male adolescents with and without Internet game addiction (IGA) differed in plasma catecholamine levels and self-reported anxiety levels
This excessive prolonged Internet gaming was likely related to the alterations in Epi and NE levels and the higher anxiety levels in the IGA group
Summary
Internet addiction (IA) is one of the most pervasive public health issues among youth worldwide. In Korea, almost 100 percent of adolescents access the Internet on a daily basis.[1] This high rate of Internet use has been accompanied by an increase in IA.[2] According to a recent survey performed by the Korean government, the IA rate is 11.7 percent among middle and high school students, the highest among all age groups in Korea.[1] Internet game addiction (IGA) is a subtype of IA,[3] and IGA has received more social and research attention than other subtypes such as using social networking services, viewing pornography, and online shopping.[4] IGA has been subjected to so much scrutiny because it has more serious individual and social consequences than other pathological Internet activities. In Korea, gaming is the major purpose of Internet use among adolescent highrisk Internet users,[1] and an increasing number of adolescents are considered to be at risk for IGA.[5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
