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Personal Factors, Internet Characteristics, and Environmental Factors Contributing to Adolescent Internet Addiction: A Public Health Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Sulki Chung

    (Department of Social Welfare, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea)

  • Jaekyoung Lee

    (Korea Center on Gambling Problems, Research and Development Team, Seoul 04554, Korea)

  • Hae Kook Lee

    (Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu-si 11765, Korea)

Abstract

Individual characteristics, family- and school-related variables, and environmental variables have equal importance in understanding Internet addiction. Most previous studies on Internet addiction have focused on individual factors; those that considered environmental influence typically only examined the proximal environment. Effective prevention and intervention of Internet addiction require a framework that integrates individual- and environmental-level factors. This study examined the relationships between personal factors, family/school factors, perceived Internet characteristics, and environmental variables as they contribute to Internet addiction among adolescents based on the public health model. A representative sample of 1628 junior high school students from 56 regions in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do participated in the study via questionnaires with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the district office of education. The study analyzed psychological factors, family cohesion, attitudes toward academic activities, Internet characteristics, accessibility to PC cafés, and exposure to Internet game advertising. About 6% of the adolescents were categorized as being in the severely addicted group. Between-group comparisons showed that the addicted group had started using the Internet earlier; had higher levels of depression, compulsivity, and aggressiveness as well as lower family cohesion; and reported higher accessibility to PC cafés and exposure to Internet game advertising. Multiple logistic regression indicated that for adolescents, environmental factors had a greater influence than family or school-related factors. Policy implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Sulki Chung & Jaekyoung Lee & Hae Kook Lee, 2019. "Personal Factors, Internet Characteristics, and Environmental Factors Contributing to Adolescent Internet Addiction: A Public Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4635-:d:289582
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Manji Hu & Lin Xu & Wei Zhu & Tingting Zhang & Qiang Wang & Zisheng Ai & Xudong Zhao, 2022. "The Influence of Childhood Trauma and Family Functioning on Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Chain-Mediated Model Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, 2021. "Emerging Health and Education Issues Related to Internet Technologies and Addictive Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Jie Wu & Zhenliang Yang & Mengxuan Wu & Hui Huang, 2023. "The Relationship Between College Students' Mobile Phone Addiction and Aggression: A Moderated Mediation Model," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 1037-1055, April.

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