Prevalence Of Internet Use Research Articles

Edge Based Network Attack Detection Using Pulsar

The edge-based network attacks are increasing largely in size, scale and frequency with the booming internet. The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks is one of the most diffused types of attacks in the cyberworld which is a great concern for all organizations today. There were 5.2 billion Google searches in the year 2017 alone. Research shows that there cannot be a better example to show how prevalent internet use is nowadays. What started off as a point to point conversation in 1970s as a mode of communication has expanded to millions and millions of devices communicating with each other via some or the other form of the web. And therefore, this research focuses on the strategic approach that has been taken to defend from the growing cyber threat. In this dissertation, the focus is on defending against these edge-based network attacks and collaborating with other neighboring networks in order to communicate with them to transfer information about potentially malicious hosts. This research has focused on exploring ways of integrating the Software Defined Networking with the pub-sub messaging system in order to show a collaborative approach of defense to these attacks. The attacks from unknown multiple sources have also been analyzed in order to cope with them through this robust solution that has been proposed and implemented in this dissertation.

Mixed-method study on internet use and information-seeking during transition to motherhood

Abstract Background Traditional approaches to antenatal education have been questioned as to their effectiveness. The use of the internet for information-seeking is very prevalent, however sources are of varied quality. We explored the information-seeking behaviour of pregnant women in the context of health literacy skills and informed decision-making. Methods In a mixed-method descriptive study, 12 focus groups with a culturally diverse set of pregnant women and new mothers (N = 62), a non-participant observation study of antenatal education classes and a web-based questionnaire survey were performed (N = 200). The survey explored use and critical appraisal of internet sources of information, perceived role in assisting decision-making, user-provider interaction, alliance and autonomy in decision making. Results Six themes emerged: in a generally “unsupportive system”, pregnant women want to have a “confident voice” but find themselves “self-navigating” in parallel worlds of formal and informal information, using a process of “supplementing and filtering”, sometimes instinctively and selectively, ending up in a state of “doubt and faith” with regards to the trustworthiness of the information and physician dominance in communication, while the “art of communication” is essential to break the cycle. Internet information-searching is very prevalent, even though 60% characterize the information as misleading and 90% would like health professionals to recommend trusted sites. While the majority report discussing this information with their healthcare providers, only 57% characterize the reception as positive. Conclusions Women want to have control over decisions affecting their pregnancy. While the internet is a prevalent information source, they value the communication with their healthcare providers and want direction. Maternity healthcare professionals need to recognize the phenomenon, offer appropriate guidance and support shared decision-making. Key messages “Traditional” antenatal education arrangements are not effective in supporting informed decision-making. In a landscape of prevalent internet use, a shift is needed from current practices of unguided information-searching.

Caregivers of cancer patients: what are their information-seeking behaviours and resource preferences?

Cancer impacts not only the patient but also the family members who share the distressing trajectory of the patient. The literature indicates that caregivers have many unmet information needs while providing care and support to the cancer patients, and caregivers have to resort to seeking information to supplement their information needs. This study aims to establish the prevalence of health-information-seeking behaviours among caregivers of cancer patients as a means of ascertaining if their information needs have been met and their information source and resource preference. Data were obtained via a self-reported questionnaire from caregivers of cancer patients at the National Cancer Centre Singapore between 10 September and 7 December 2018. A total of 986 caregivers responded of which 180 (18%) caregivers did not undertake information search and the common reasons were ‘trust healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) more than other sources (64%), and ‘HCPs provide enough information’ (59%). Among the 795 caregivers who have searched for cancer information, about half of these caregivers (54%) have searched information on the Internet and another 15% have obtained their information from HCPs in their most recent search. A total of 371 (47%) caregivers have used their preferred source of information to conduct their most recent information search. The top three most commonly sought information was treatment (35.6%), disease (35.6%) and side effects (26.5%). Almost half (46%) of these caregivers was concerned about the quality of information they have found on the Internet. Our study supports that information-seeking is prevalent amongst caregivers of cancer patients and reveals the prevalence of Internet use and the concerns associated with its use. Patterns of information-seeking revealed a discrepancy between preferred and actual source. The results also suggest that HCPs play a significant role in the information-seeking behaviours of caregivers of cancer patients.

Impact of an educational intervention on internet usage, among students of an urban higher secondary school in Kochi, Kerala

Background: Two-thirds of the 1.11 billion internet users globally are from developing countries. In India, there were 243 million internet users, in 2014. The objectives were to determine the impact of an educational intervention, on internet usage, to estimate the prevalence and to assess the pattern of usage and to assess factors associated with internet usage among students of a higher secondary school.Methods: A school-based interventional study was carried out in Model Technical Higher secondary school, randomly selected from a list of schools in the field practice area of the department. The minimum calculated sample size was 50. All students from 11th and 12th standards were included in the study. The intervention was an interactive health education session focussing on the efficient and safe use of the internet. Post-test data were collected one month after the intervention.Results: The prevalence of internet use was 97%, with the majority starting to use the internet between the ages of 11 and 14 years. Our intervention did not bring a significant change to the number of internet users; however, there was a significant decrease in the number of students using the internet from cafés, the safety concerns of which were addressed during the educational talk.Conclusions: The educational intervention had a positive impact on internet use among students. Therefore, identifying patterns of internet use among students and educating the youth regarding the proper use of the internet is essential.

Readability of Patient Educational Materials in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Has a Decade Made a Difference?

BackgroundThe Internet has become an increasingly popular resource among orthopedic patients for health education. Numerous organisations recommend that patient educational materials (PEMs) should not exceed the 6th grade reading level. Despite this, studies have repeatedly shown the reading grade level (RGL) of PEMs to be too advanced across a range of surgical specialties. We aimed to determine the readability of online hip and knee arthroplasty PEMs. MethodsThe readability of 134 articles pertaining to hip and knee arthroplasty from 5leading worldwide healthcare websites were assessed, using 8 readability formulae; the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level, the Flesch Reading Ease Score, Raygor Estimate, SMOG, Coleman-Liau, Fry, FORCAST and Gunning Fog. The mean RGL was compared to the 6th and 8thgrade reading level. The mean RGL of each website was also compared. ResultsThe mean cumulative RGL was 12 (range = 7-16.1). No articles (0%) were written at a 6th grade reading level and only 4 articles (3%) were written at or below the 8th grade reading level. The mean RGL was significantly higher than the 6th (95% CI, 5.62-6.30; P < .0001) and 8th grade reading level (95% CI, 3.63-4.30; P < .0001). There was a significant difference between the RGLs of the 5websites (P = .001). ConclusionArthroplasty PEMs produced by leading worldwide healthcare organisations have readability scores that are above the recommended levels. Given the imperative role of health literacy in patient outcomes and satisfaction, and the increasing prevalence of Internet use among orthopedic patients, a substantial amount of work needs to be done to improve the readability of these materials.

Variety, frequency, and type of Internet use and its association with risk of depression in middle- and older-aged Chinese: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundInternet use is beneficial to mental health has been acknowledged, but its specific patterns await further investigation in China's context of urban-rural disparity. Therefore, we aimed to understand the patterns of Internet use and measure their associations with risk of depression in China from three dimensions: variety, frequency and type. MethodsWe selected 18,492 urban and rural Chinses respondents aged 45 years and older from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2015 dataset. Risk of depression was measured by 10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies (CES-D 10). Internet use was measured from three dimensions: variety, frequency and type, whereas its relationship with risk of depression was examined by multivariate logistic regression model. ResultsIn the whole sample, 67.2% of respondents had no risk of depression, and approximately 7% used Internet, which was inversely associated with risk of depression (AOR=0.617, 95% CI=0.444, 0.858). Rural respondents had higher risk of depression (37.1% VS 26.2%) and lower prevalence of Internet use (2.6% VS 13%). Among rural respondents, using Internet occasionally (AOR=0.338; 95% CI=0.130, 0.881), using one type of device (AOR=0.293; 95% CI=0.113, 0.760), especially mobile phone (AOR=0.427; 95% CI=0.187, 0.978) were associated with lower odds of depression. No significant associations were observed in urban respondents. LimitationsThe causal relationship between variables awaits further investigation with a longitudinal design. ConclusionInternet use was negatively associated with risks of depression, especially in rural but not in urban participants. Rural-urban disparities should be considered when designing strategies to encourage moderate Internet use.

Prevalence and factors associated with the use of internet, and its psychopathological effects among intermediate students in Hyderabad city, India

Background: Excessive use of the internet has become one of the leading challenges of the modern society and causes both physical and mental impairment. There are various researches done worldwide to know the prevalence of internet addiction, factors influencing it and it impact on the lives of adolescent population. Keeping this in mind this study is planned to estimate the use of internet and its impact among intermediate students in Hyderabad city. To know the prevalence of internet use, depression, stress and anxiety among the students; and psychopathological effect of internet use among them.Methods: Multi-centric, cross-sectional study was conducted among intermediate college students. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to assess the internet use and psychopathological effect like behavioural problems, loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress using appropriate scales. It was a self-reported questionnaire.Results: Abnormal internet use was found in 55.9% of students. It was significantly found among those students living alone or sharing room with friends, who had phones before the age of 16 years. It was found more among males and those earning, but not significantly.Conclusions: It can be seen that higher internet use causes sleep problems, behavioural issues, physical health problems, depression, anxiety and stress. But it is also seen that there are factors which have a great influence on the internet use, which can be easily controlled or modified.

The Russian rural school children of adolescent age as Internet users

In Russia, the society shares the opinion that children, adolescents and the youth are the main users of the Internet. However, the information impact of the Internet on the emerging consciousness, intelligence, life values of younger generation is ambiguous and requires comprehensive and in-depth study. Materials and methods. In 2016-2017, large-scale sample study of prevalence and peculiarities of Internet use in rural teenagers aged 15-17 years was carried out in Russia, covering 17 Oblasts from 6 Federal Okrugs of Russia. The sampling consisted of 18 222 rural teenagers (8 208 boys and 10 014 girls). The set of material (questionnaires), formation of databases and their statistical processing was carried out using software program "The Risk Factors". According to the data study, prevalence of Internet use among boys was 96.1 and among girls 97.2 out of 100 adolescents of the appropriate age and sex. Besides, 85.4% of boys and 90.0% of girls used the Internet on daily basis and 44.4% of boys and 60.4% of girls - 3 hours or more per day. Teenagers using the Internet every day during 3 hours or more constitute "risk group" since they have both social and psychological difficulties and high risk of developing Internet addiction. Despite the differences in the age of the respondent's gradations in frequency and duration of Internet using, the results of study correspond to data of studies carried out in different years by the Internet Development Fund and testify high level of prevalence of Internet use among schoolchildren. The results of the study revealed the emerging problems in rural schoolchildren of adolescent age due to long (3 hours or more per day) use of the Internet, as well as the need to teach them to appropriate, dosed and effective use of the Internet, which would broaden mind, increase academic performance and enrich leisure activities.

Internet Use among Young Adults in the Philippines: An Inter-Leisure Demand Analysis

With the important implications of the prevalence of internet use and the continual rise in the time allocated for it, I investigate the factors that affect its demand and measure the probability of displacement that it causes other leisure activities. I use the Young Adult Fertility Survey 4 as the main source of data and categorize leisure into five general activities namely internet use, traditional media use, reading, exercise, and sleep. I find that the use of internet is significantly influenced by factors affecting skill and access namely age, educational attainment, level of urbanity, internet access at home, type of school the individual currently attends, civil status, family size, and number of friends. I also find that income variables and the availability of capital goods are significantly related to being online. In terms of displacement at low levels of internet use, I find that sleep is the most vulnerable and online engagement appears to complement use of traditional media. At higher levels of internet use, displacement occurs to almost all possible leisure combinations. Sleep still has the highest probability of being displaced but online engagement becomes a substitute to traditional media use.

Internet Use and Addiction Among Medical Students in Qassim University, Saudi Arabia.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure the prevalence of Internet use and addiction and determine its association with gender, academic performance and health among medical students.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2017 and April 2018 at the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. The validated Internet Addiction Test questionnaire was distributed by simple random methods to medical students (N = 216) in the pre-clinical phase (first-, second- and third-years). A chi-square test was used to determine significant relationships between Internet use and addiction and gender, academic performance and health.ResultsA total of 209 student completed the questionnaire (response rate: 96.8%) and the majority (57.9%) were male. In total, 12.4% were addicted to the Internet and 57.9 had the potential to become addicted. Females were more frequent Internet users than males (w = 0.006). Academic performance was affected in 63.1% of students and 71.8% lost sleep due to late-night Internet use, which affected their attendance to morning activities. The majority (59.7%) expressed feeling depressed, moody or nervous when they were offline.ConclusionInternet addiction among medical students at Qassim University was very high, with addiction affecting academic performance and psychological well-being. Suitable interventional and preventive measures are needed for proper Internet use to protect students’ mental and physical health.

A review of addictive behaviors of Greek Cypriots: Profiles of associated problematic behaviors

This study presents a systematic recording of addictive behaviors in the Greek-speaking population in Cyprus. Furthermore, it presents the participants’ perceptions about the presence of addiction-related dimensions such as negative consequences, negative emotional context, positive emotional context, search for stimulation or pleasure, loss of control, and cognitive salience. Finally, the study extracts specific profiles of people who develop an addictive behavior through the extrapolation of common factors behind groups of associated addictive behaviors. A total of 175 participants took part in an online survey. Descriptive and factor analyses were used to answer the research questions. The results showed little prevalence of illicit drug use but high prevalence of Internet use and smoking. In addition, the association of addictive behaviors with positive emotions was confirmed, as well as the relatively low recognition of the negative consequences of those behaviors. Finally, the emergence of potential profiles of individuals who develop addictive behaviors appears to be possible.

Prevalence of addictive internet use and its correlates among urban school students in Tamilnadu, South India – a cross-sectional study

Background: Use of Internet has drastically increased in the last decades. Despite of the advantages, use of it can lead to addictive behaviours that can affect various domains of a person’s life like physical, social, mental and financial wellbeing. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of Internet use and its correlates among 150 urban school students in 13-15 years age group in a selected school in Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu, South India. Study was conducted using apredesigned, pretested questionnaire part of the questions were retrieved from Young’s 20 item Internet Addiction Test. Results: Among the 150 study participants, 53 (35.4%) are not addicted to use of internet, 63 (42%) are in mild addiction level, 29(19.3%) are in moderate addiction level and 5(3.3%) comes under severe addiction level, 43.4% were using internet for social networking and with regard to duration of use of internet, 17% were using internet for duration of 1-2 hours a day and 6% use it for more than 2 hours a day. Conclusion: The current study shows a higher level of internet use and addiction to it among students. Need to enhance the awareness regarding the consequences of these technologies to students.

Socio-emotional ability, temperament and coping strategies associated with different use of Internet in Internet addiction.

The aim of the present study was to compare socio-emotional patterns, temperamental traits, and coping strategies, between a group of Internet addiction (IA) patients and a control group. Twenty-five IA patients and twenty-six healthy matched subjects were tested on IA, temperament, coping strategies, alexithymia and attachment dimensions. Participants reported their prevalent Internet use (online pornography, social networks, online games). The IA patients using Internet for gaming online showed a greater attitude to novelty seeking and a lower tendency to use socio-emotional support and self-distraction compared to patients using Internet for social networking. Moreover, they showed a lower level of acceptance than patients using Internet for pornography. In the control group, the participants using Internet for online gaming showed higher levels of IA, emotional impairments and social alienation compared to social-networks and pornography users. Findings showed a higher psychological impairment in gaming online users compared to social networking and online pornography users.

Internet and Social Media Use After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study

To characterize Internet and social media use among adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with Internet use between those with and without TBI. Ten Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centers. Persons with moderate to severe TBI (N = 337) enrolled in the TBI Model Systems National Database and eligible for follow-up from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. Prospective cross-sectional observational cohort study. Internet usage survey. The proportion of Internet users with TBI was high (74%) but significantly lower than those in the general population (84%). Smartphones were the most prevalent means of Internet access for persons with TBI. The majority of Internet users with TBI had a profile account on a social networking site (79%), with more than half of the sample reporting multiplatform use of 2 or more social networking sites. Despite the prevalence of Internet use among persons with TBI, technological disparities remain in comparison with the general population. The extent of social media use among persons with TBI demonstrates the potential of these platforms for social engagement and other purposes. However, further research examining the quality of online activities and identifying potential risk factors of problematic use is recommended.

Online sexual solicitation by adults and peers – Results from a population based German sample

Prevalence of Internet use among adolescents is high, but little is known about the online sexual activities of German adolescents. This study aimed to describe the 12-month prevalence of German adolescents’ online sexual experiences with a focus on Online Sexual Solicitation (OSS, subjectively negative online sexual experiences with a peer or any sexual online experience, positive or negative, with an adult). A sample of male and female adolescents aged 14–17 (N=2238) was recruited using online survey panel. The sample was representative for gender and education. Subjects completed an online survey reporting their online sexual activities (i.e., sexual conversation, exchanging pictures, and cybersex) with peers (14–17y.) and/or adults (≥18y.). Findings illustrated that 51.3% (n=1148) of adolescents had experienced online sexual activity, which mostly involved peers (n=969; 84.4%). In contrast, 23.2% (n=519) of the adolescents experienced OSS with 2.6% (n=57) reporting subjectively negative online sexual interactions with peers and 22.2% (n=490) reporting online sexual interactions with adults, of which 10.4% (n=51) were perceived as negative. The findings suggest that adolescents frequently engage in sexual interactions on the Internet with only a relatively small number perceiving such contacts as exploitative. In addition, females and adolescents with incomplete family situation, foreign nationality, higher education, homo- or bisexual orientation, and those without perceived social support reported OSS significantly more often.

Problematic Internet use, well-being, self-esteem and self-control: Data from a high-school survey in China

Given the prevalence of Internet use among youth, there is concern that a subset of Internet-using youth may exhibit problematic or addictive patterns of Internet use. The present study examines the association between problematic Internet use (PIU), demographic variables, and health-related measures among Chinese adolescents. Survey data from 1552 adolescents (male=653, mean age=15.43years) from Jilin Province, China, were collected. According to the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction (YDQ), 77.8% (n=1207), 16.8% (n=260), and 5.5% (n=85) showed adaptive, maladaptive, and problematic Internet use, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that gender and family income per month differed between youth showing problematic and adaptive patterns of Internet use. Well-being, self-esteem, and self-control were related to severity of problematic Internet use, with greater severity typically associated with poorer measures in each domain. The findings that severity of problematic Internet use is associated with specific socio-demographic features and temperamental and well-being measures suggest that specific groups of youth may be particularly vulnerable to developing problematic Internet use. Early prevention/intervention programs targeting at-risk groups may help improve public health.

Internet Use among University Students in South West Bank: Prevalence, Advantages and Disadvantages, and Association with Psychological Health

University students are frequently using the Internet for educational purposes and for other purposes. Recently, there is a debate on advantages and disadvantages of Internet use and its effects on the students’ psychological health. This study examines the prevalence of Internet use, its advantages and disadvantages, and its relationship with the psychological health of university students in the southern part of the West Bank. Mixed methods employing sequential exploratory design were used. Three focused groups were included to inform the development of the cross-sectional survey. Then, a convenience sample of 144 students from three universities in the south West Bank completed the survey. The results revealed that 96 % of university students reported using the Internet. Different advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet among students were emphasized. A high rate of Internet use was associated with students’ poor psychological health. Internet use has negative and positive educational, social and psychological consequences for students. However, advantages of Internet use were shown to be more than its disadvantages.

Prevalence of Internet Use and Internet Addiction Disorder among Medical Students: A Case from Low Income Country.

Prevalence of Internet Use and Internet Addiction Disorder among Medical Students: A Case from Low Income Country.

Prevalence of Internet Addiction among Schoolchildren in Novi Sad.

Internet use has increased rapidly all over the world. Excessive Internet use tends to lead to the creation of a non-chemical addiction, most commonly known as "Internet addiction." The aim of this study was an assessment of the prevalence of Internet use and Internet addiction among school children aged 14-18 years in the Municipality of Novi Sad, Serbia, and influence of sociodemographic variables on Internet use. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Novi Sad among final-year students from elementary and first- and second-year students from high schools.The prevalence of Internet addiction was assessed by using Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire. Out of 553 participants, 62.7% were females, and the average age was 15.6 years. The sample consisted of 153 elementary school students and 400 high school students. Majority of respondents had a computer in their household. Our study showed widespread Internet use among adolescents. Facebook and YouTube were among most visited web-sites. The main purpose of Internet use was entertainment. Estimated prevalence of Internet addiction was high (18.7%), Mostly among younger adolescents (p = 0.013). Internet addiction was found in every fifth adolescent. Accessibility and availability of Internet use is constantly growing and therefore it is necessary to define more sensitive diagnostic tools for the assessment of Internet addiction and its underlying causes, in order to implement effective preventive programs.

Boys and girls taking risks online: A gendered perspective on social context and adolescents’ risky online behavior

This study explores gender differences in the relationship between adolescents’ risky online behavior and their social context, as in family factors and the prevalence of Internet use in a country. Using the EU Kids Online dataset, including information on 8554, 14- to 16-year-old adolescents in 25 countries, and applying multilevel modeling, this study shows that social context is additionally and differentially related to adolescent boys’ and girls’ risky online behavior. When taking individual characteristics such as sensation seeking and digital skills into account, particularly for male adolescents, growing up in a single-parent household and lacking parental co-use increases the chance of online risk behavior. Adolescents, especially males, however, are less likely to participate in risky online behavior in societies where Internet use is widespread. Overall, this study shows that it is important to take account of individual and social factors when explaining adolescents’ online risk taking and gender differences herein.