Risk-taking behavior and academic self-efficacy as variables accounting for problematic internet use in adolescent university students

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study investigated the relationship between risk-taking behavior and academic self-efficacy and problematic internet use in adolescent university students and whether problematic internet use varies according to the variables of gender, possession of a computer and living with the family. Methods The study was performed with 556 students from the Karadeniz Technical University Fatih Faculty of Education in Turkey. The Problematic Internet Use Scale, the Adolescent Risk-Taking Questionnaire, the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale and Personal Information Collection Form were used in the collection of data. Results Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between problematic internet use and risk-taking behavior (r = .37, p .05). Conclusions Risk-taking behavior and academic self-efficacy emerged as significant predictors of problematic internet use.