Predict Internet Use Research Articles

Adolescent internet use predicts higher levels of generalized and social anxiety symptoms for girls but not boys

Past research suggests that internet use can increase the risks of internalizing symptoms in adolescents. However, bidirectional relationships between adolescent internet use and anxiety symptoms have received very little attention. Furthermore, few studies have examined these links according to sex. The present study attempts to fill this gap by investigating longitudinal associations between Canadian boys’ and girls’ internet use and symptoms of generalized anxiety and social anxiety using data from the Quebec longitudinal Study of Child Development. A sample of 1324 adolescents (698 girls, 626 boys) self-reported the number of hours per week they spent on the internet and their symptoms of generalized and social anxiety at ages 15 and 17. We estimated two cross-lagged panel models with social or generalized anxiety symptoms and internet use at age 15 predicting those same variables at age 17. Sex was used as a grouping variable and socioeconomic status was included as a control variable. Internet use at 15 predicted generalized and social anxiety symptoms at age 17 in girls, but not boys. Social and generalized anxiety symptoms at age 15 did not predict internet use at age 17 for both boys and girls. These results suggest that internet use can be a significant risk factor for the development of anxiety symptoms in adolescent girls. Girls may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of internet use due to increased sensitivity to social comparisons. Thus, helping girls develop healthier internet use habits should be a target for promoting their mental health.

Longitudinal Investigations of Autoregressive Cross-Lagged Path Models Among Internet Use, Executive Function Problems, and Maternal Control in Young Korean Children.

Excessive Internet use is related to behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions, but little is known about the relationship between them in young elementary school children. This study examined the longitudinal relationship between children's Internet use for entertainment purposes, executive function problems, and maternal control. Differences by children's Internet addiction status in their associations were also examined. Data from Wave 9 (2016) to Wave 11 (2018) of 1,463 children and mothers who participated in the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) were used. The children's ages were 8 (grade 2), 9 (grade 3), and 10 years (grade 4) at Waves 9, 10, and 11, respectively. Associations between the variables were analyzed using autoregressive cross-lagged model estimations and multi-group analysis. The results showed the longitudinal stability of each of children's Internet use, executive function problems, and maternal control over the 3 years. Mutual associations between maternal control and children's Internet use were found especially in the low-risk group. In addition, children's executive function problems positively predicted Internet use, and negative associations from executive function problems to maternal control were significant over the years. However, some of these associations were significant only in the high-risk group. Discussions have focused on the protective role of maternal control and cognitive intervention, which could reduce children's excessive Internet use.

Depression and Social Anxiety Predict Internet Use Disorder Symptoms in Children and Adolescents at 12-Month Follow-Up: Results From a Longitudinal Study.

Trajectories of internalizing disorders and behavioral addictions are still largely unknown. Research shows that both disorders are highly comorbid. Previous longitudinal studies have focused on associations between internalizing disorders and behavioral addictions using screening instruments. Our aim was to develop and examine a theory-based model of trajectories, according to which internalizing disorders foster symptoms of Internet use disorders, mediated by a reward deprivation and maladaptive emotion regulation. We applied clinically relevant measures for depression and social anxiety in a prospective longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up investigation. On the basis of an at-risk population of 476 students (mean age = 14.99 years, SD = 1.99), we investigated the predictive influence of clinically relevant depression and social anxiety at baseline (t1) on Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up (t2) using multiple linear regression analyses. Our results showed that both clinically relevant depression and social anxiety significantly predicted symptom severity of Internet use disorders one year later after controlling for baseline symptoms of Internet use disorders, gender and age. These results remained robust after including both depression and social anxiety simultaneously in the model, indicating an independent influence of both predictors on Internet use disorder symptoms. The present study enhances knowledge going beyond a mere association between internalizing disorders and Internet use disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating clinically relevant depression and social anxiety to predict future Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up. In line with our model of trajectories, a significant temporal relationship between clinically relevant internalizing disorders and Internet use disorder symptoms at 12-month follow-up was confirmed. Further studies should investigate the mediating role of reward deprivation and maladaptive emotion regulation, as postulated in our model. One implication of these findings is that clinicians should pay particular attention to the increased risk of developing behavioral addictions for adolescents with depression and social anxiety.

Competence for internet use: Integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes

The activities in which internet users engage and their individual empowerment are an expression of what we call their internet competence. That is, the level of internet knowledge, internet skills, and internet attitudes. However, studying the implications of internet competence for internet use is not straightforward as measuring access to the internet. Even recognizing the key role of knowledge, skills and attitudes in this context, limited research focus on the potential relationship among them. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated to what extent internet competence predicted internet use. We conducted a survey with high school and college students. We collected data from subject's sociodemographic background and validated and checked the reliability of the scales applied in our context. We performed an ordinary least square regression model, which revealed that internet knowledge, internet skills, and internet attitudes predicted internet use. Only information skills coefficient was not statistically significant. We could add to the debate that internet knowledge is not the same as internet skills. It must be addressed separately and included as a predictor of internet use. Our findings still support that technical-related internet skills have an important role to use the internet. However, content-related internet skills, internet knowledge, and internet attitudes are less device dependent. As the internet evolves, they must be addressed together in education efforts as they are critical in a scenario where information and communication are mediated through this technology.

Mental Health Problems and Their Association With Internet Use in Medical Residents.

Objectives: Mental health problems (MHP) among medical residents are often found in clinical settings and sometimes lead to professional lapses. Evidence suggests that excessive Internet use is associated with MHP. We investigated the MHP of residents (depression, anxiety, and self-esteem) and their association with Internet use using a longitudinal design.Methods: Participants were 208 residents. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to assess anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. The Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2) was used to measure Internet use. Data were obtained twice, at baseline and 3 months later when the risk of MHP in residency is highest.Results: Residents with MHP (N = 36) had higher GHQ scores than those without MHP (N = 172) at follow-up. Residents with MHP had more depression and less self-esteem than those without MHP at baseline and follow-up. GPIUS2 total scores, and scores on the subscale preference for online social communication, were higher in residents with MHP. Preference for online social communication at follow-up was positively correlated with depression at baseline and follow-up, and negatively correlated with self-esteem at follow-up.Conclusions: Depression and self-esteem may predict Internet use when the risk of MHP is greatest for residents, indicating potential risks of excessive Internet use or Internet use as a compensatory coping behavior. Together with depression and self-esteem assessment, Internet use may be a useful index of resident mental health.

Integrating health belief model and technology acceptance model: an investigation of health-related internet use.

BackgroundToday, people use the Internet to satisfy health-related information and communication needs. In Malaysia, Internet use for health management has become increasingly significant due to the increase in the incidence of chronic diseases, in particular among urban women and their desire to stay healthy. Past studies adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Health Belief Model (HBM) independently to explain Internet use for health-related purposes. Although both the TAM and HBM have their own merits, independently they lack the ability to explain the cognition and the related mechanism in which individuals use the Internet for health purposes.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the influence of perceived health risk and health consciousness on health-related Internet use based on the HBM. Drawing on the TAM, it also tested the mediating effects of perceived usefulness of the Internet for health information and attitude toward Internet use for health purposes for the relationship between health-related factors, namely perceived health risk and health consciousness on health-related Internet use.MethodsData obtained for the current study were collected using purposive sampling; the sample consisted of women in Malaysia who had Internet access. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to test the research hypotheses developed.ResultsPerceived health risk (β=.135, t 1999=2.676) and health consciousness (β=.447, t 1999=9.168) had a positive influence on health-related Internet use. Moreover, perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude toward Internet use for health-related purposes partially mediated the influence of health consciousness on health-related Internet use (β=.025, t 1999=3.234), whereas the effect of perceived health risk on health-related Internet use was fully mediated by perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude (β=.029, t 1999=3.609). These results suggest the central role of perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude toward Internet use for health purposes for women who were health conscious and who perceived their health to be at risk.ConclusionsThe integrated model proposed and tested in this study shows that the HBM, when combined with the TAM, is able to predict Internet use for health purposes. For women who subjectively evaluate their health as vulnerable to diseases and are concerned about their health, cognition beliefs in and positive affective feelings about the Internet come into play in determining the use of health-related Internet use. Furthermore, this study shows that engaging in health-related Internet use is a proactive behavior rather than a reactive behavior, suggesting that TAM dimensions have a significant mediating role in Internet health management.

Predictors of Reported Internet Use in Older Adults with High and Low Health Literacy: The Role of Socio-Demographics and Visual and Cognitive Function

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the role of health literacy and visual and cognitive function in the self-reported Internet use of two demographically distinct study samples of older adults. Measures of health literacy, vision, cognition, and Internet use were administered (total n = 250). Comparisons by study and by health literacy were made. Hierarchical logistic models were used to evaluate predictors of Internet use by sample and overall. Internet use, and predictors thereof, differed by sample. The sample with lower levels of income, education, and health literacy rarely used the Internet; cognition alone predicted Internet use. In contrast, Internet use in the sample with higher levels of income, education, and health literacy was predicted by vision and cognition. The influence of health literacy, vision, and cognition on Internet use may vary as a function of socio-demographic characteristics and may represent important considerations in addressing older adults’ barriers to Internet use.

Internet and Television Are Not Substitutes for Seeking Political Information

Internet news consumption is growing and television news viewership is decreasing; however, online news is not a substitute for television news. This study found motives for seeking political information from television and the Internet to be information-seeking, entertainment, civic duty, and social utility. In seeking political information, audiences use Internet and television in conjunction as supplements or complements, rather than as substitutes. Multiple regression analysis showed that information-seeking and social utility predicted television use, and information-seeking and civic duty predicted Internet use.

Extending TAM and IDT to Predict the Adoption of the Internet for B-to-B Marketing Activities

There has been considerable Research into the usage of the Internet for Business-to-Business (B-to-B) marketing activities in recent years. The need to understand how and why B-to-B companies utilize the Internet is important for researchers and practitioners alike. This study combines Davis’ model-the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)- and Roger’s Theory- the Innovation diffusion Theory (IDT) to understand the process of Internet adoption for marketing purposes. It makes a comprehensive review of information technology, information systems, and marketing literature to locate factors that predict Internet use for marketing purposes. Moreover, it extends both TAM and IDT to find out factors that affect relative advantage, ease of use and compatibility of using the Internet for B-to-B marketing activities. Using a sample of 123 UK companies utilize the Internet, we found a substantial positive effect of the proposed factors on the Internet usage for B-to-B marketing activities.

Explaining the Global Digital Divide: Economic, Political and Sociological Drivers of Cross-National Internet Use

We argue that the global digital divide, as measured by cross-national differences in Internet use, is the result of the economic, regulatory and sociopolitical characteristics of countries and their evolution over time. We predict Internet use to increase with worldsystem status, privatization and competition in the telecommunications sector, democracy and cosmopolitanism. Using data on 118 countries from 1997 through 2001, we find relatively robust support for each of our hypotheses. We conclude by exploring the implications of this new, powerful communication medium for the global political economy and for the spread of democracy around the world. The Internet has developed unevenly throughout the world, creating what has become known as the “global digital divide” (Castells 2001; Kirkman et al. 2002; Mosaic Group 1998; Norris 2001; Rogers 2001). The number of Internet users is one of the most widely used indicators of development of this emerging medium of communication. Less than 10 percent of the world’s population uses the Internet, and the gap between developed and developing countries has continued to widen since the early 1990s (see Figure 1). Differences by country are remarkable. Statistics compiled by the International Telecommunication Union as of the end of 2002 indicate that Internet use as a proportion of the population ranges from less than one percent in many underdeveloped African, Central American, and South Asian countries to between 50 and 60 percent in Iceland, the United States, Scandinavia, Singapore or South Korea (ITU 2003).1 The growth of the Internet has captured the imagination of users, policymakers, entrepreneurs, corporate managers, military strategists, social commentators, scholars, and journalists. Some early optimistic analyses envisioned the Internet as a “decentralizing, globalizing, harmonizing, and empowering” medium (Negroponte 1995:229), as a new communication technology that would bring about a “smaller, more open world.” (Tapscott and Caston 1993:313) The most enthusiastic visionaries have argued that the Internet means the “triumph over time and space,” the rise of the “netizen,” and the crowning of the “customer as sovereign” (Gilder 2000). According to the cyber-optimists, the Internet can create a public sphere in Habermas’s (1989) sense, one that is not regulated by the state or by commercial interests but rather owned and controlled by the participants themselves (Schneider 1996). While some of the cyber-optimists recognized the looming issue of inequality in access to the Internet (e.g. Tapscott and Caston 1993:312), it was not until the late 1990s that international organizations, governments, think tanks, and universities started to warn about the existence of a yawning digital divide, both within and across countries (e.g., U.S.

Polychronicity, the Internet, and the Mass Media: A Singapore Study

Polychronicity is time-use preference, which people acquire through socialization. The literature shows that polychrons, who favor simultaneous activities, and monochrons, who favor linear activities, exhibit different perceptual and behavioral patterns. This article examines the relationship among polychronicity, Internet skills, Internet use, and Internet perception. In addition, it investigates the hypothesis that Internet use displaces other activity. A total of 1,048 adult Singapore citizens and permanent residents participated in a computer-assisted telephone interview. Of these, 380 were non-Internet users and 668 were users. For the purpose of this study, only responses from the 668 Internet users were included in the analyses. Two-stage least squares regression analyses showed that polychronicity was not associated with Internet use, but it predicted Internet perception. Internet skills positively predicted Internet use and perception. The Internet neither displaced nor promoted television viewing, radio listening, and newspaper reading. However, there was some indication that polychronicity suppressed television viewing.

Internet use by patients with prostate cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Objectives To analyze the amount of Internet use, type of Internet use, and factors that predict Internet use by patients with prostate cancer. Methods A questionnaire evaluating the use of the Internet was given to 295 patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer in three different settings: an academic center (AC), a Veterans Affairs center (VA), and a community hospital. The study included 171 AC patients (58%), 104 VA patients (35%), and 20 community hospital patients (7%). Results The response rate to the questionnaire was greater than 99%. Overall, 128 (43%) of 295 patients had a home computer. This differed among the institutions, with 64% of AC patients and only 5% of VA patients having a home computer ( P <0.0001). Overall, 94 (32%) of 295 patients used the Internet to access cancer information, with 48% of AC patients and 8% of VA patients using the Internet ( P <0.0001). Seventeen percent of black patients (n = 113) had a home computer compared with 62% of white patients (n = 175; P <0.0001). Equal access to computers did not influence Internet use because, among those patients who had access to computers, black patients used the Internet less than did white patients (32% versus 61%, P <0.0001). Men 65 years of age or younger were more likely to use the Internet (45%) than those older than 65 years (28%; P = 0.004). Patients used many sites to access different types of information. Conclusions A significant number of patients with prostate cancer access the Internet to obtain cancer information. Urologists and radiation oncologists should be familiar with this important resource to help patients access appropriate material.

A Web for all reasons: uses and gratifications of Internet components for political information

This study surveyed politically interested Internet users online during the 2000 presidential election to examine their motives for using Web, bulletin boards/electronic mailing lists and chat forums for political information and to determine whether political attitudes, Internet experience and personal characteristics predict Internet use motivations. The findings indicate that each Internet component satisfies slightly different needs, which can be predicted by some political attitudes and demographics, and Internet experience. Additionally, results from this study are compared to findings from an earlier study of politically interested Web users during the 1996 presidential election.

Internet attitudes and Internet use: some surprising findings from the HomeNetToo project

HomeNetToo is a longitudinal field study to examine the antecedents and consequences of home Internet use in low-income families. Among the antecedents considered are attitudes about the Internet and their ability to predict Internet use. Participants in the project were 117 adults who completed attitude measures at pre-trial, 3 months, 9 months and post-trial (16 months) and had their Internet use automatically recorded. Ethnographic accounts of their experiences with the Internet were also obtained. Findings indicate that attitudes about privacy and reliability of information on the Internet predict Internet use, but not as expected. Participants who believed less in privacy and reliability of information used the Internet more, even after the contributions of demographic characteristics (race and age), pre-trial experience using the Internet, and actual Internet use during the preceding time period were considered. Attitudes about the potential harm to children and health from Internet use predicted less use. Implications for efforts to reduce the digital divide, the importance of gathering both quantitative and qualitative data, and directions for future research are discussed.

Use of the Internet by infertile couples

Objective: To evaluate and compare the extent of Internet use by infertile couples attending a government-funded and a private assisted reproductive technology clinic. Design: A prospective study. Setting: One private and one public tertiary care fertility clinic in Toronto. Patient(s): 250 patients were approached, and 150 (60%) responded. Intervention(s): A self-administered questionnaire on socioeconomic status, fertility history, and computer and Internet use. Main Outcome Measure(s): The extent of Internet use on fertility-related issues was determined, correlated with socioeconomic status and fertility history, and compared between the two clinics. Result(s): Higher levels of education, employment, and combined family income characterized patients at the private clinic. A similarly high proportion of patients at both clinics had previous experience with the Internet (mean, 75.3%). Overall, 42% of the total study population and 55.8% of current Internet users had used the Internet for fertility-related issues. Using a logistic regression model, none of the patients’ socioeconomic or clinical variables predicted Internet use. Thirty percent of the patients found the Internet helpful in their decision making process. Conclusion(s): A considerable proportion of infertile couples from all socioeconomic levels is actively using the Internet with regard to their fertility problems. Health care providers should consider the Internet an important tool for all aspects of their interaction with infertile persons.

Factors affecting Internet use in a saturated-access population

There is a large body of literature that focuses on technology and innovation adoption. Much of that deals with the factors that affect adoption at different stages. Some research deals with early adoption, such as that by Rogers (1995). Other research looks at innovations as they begin to penetrate the general population, such as Lin’s (1998) study of personal computer use. Across these studies the impact of the factors changes. For example, demographics are better at predicting early adoption but become less important for general adoption. This study looks at factors that affect usage of an innovation when it is available to most of the population. In this case the population was the faculty and staff at Washington State University, where 97% had access to the Internet. Like Lin’s study, the present research used the four scales of adoption factors (resources, need for innovativeness, complexity, advantages), media use, technology clusters, and demographics as predictors. Unlike Lin’s study which predicted PC adoption, this study predicted Internet use. Based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 296 faculty and staff in the Spring of 1998 the major findings were: 1. The four factors found in Lin’s study were replicated, but the strengths differed. 2. Gender and age were significant demographic predictors of use, younger males being heavier users. 3. Those owning more technologies were heavier users. 4. Those more positive on two perceptual factors (viewing the Internet as less complex and seeing more advantages) were heavier users.