Internet addiction in high school and university students: an evaluation in terms of various psychological, social and personal variables

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine internet addiction among high school and university students in terms of interpersonal relationships, automatic thoughts and problem-solving skills. The sample of the study comprised a total of 480 participants: 195 (40.6%) high school and 285 (59.4%) university students. Females constituted 53.3% (256) of the participants and males 46.7% (224). In addition to a Personal Information Form, the Interpersonal Relationship Styles Scale, Automatic Thoughts Scale, Problem Solving Inventory and Internet Addiction Scale, for which validity, reliability and adaptation studies were performed, were used for data collection. A significant difference was determined between the groups with no or limited symptoms of internet addiction in terms of inhibitory interpersonal relationship styles, automatic thoughts and problem-solving skills. Inhibitory interpersonal relationships, automatic thoughts and problem-solving skills were identified as predictive of internet addiction.

Problematic Internet Use among University Students and Its Relationship with Social Skills

“…For example, the study by Delgado et al [6] involving 1405 university students found that students with better social skills were less likely to be addicted to social networks. Similarly, Odaci et al conducted a study involving 480 students and found that inhibitory interpersonal relationships, automatic thoughts and problem-solving skills are predictors of problematic internet use [15]. Similar conclusions were reached by Terroso and Argimon [8].…”

“…However, on the other hand, there are authors who argue that problematic internet use reduces the time spent on interpersonal relationships and can lead to social isolation [14,15]. Increased time spent on the Internet could lead to a decrease in face-to-face communication and thus a decrease in social interaction [14].…”

“…Increased time spent on the Internet could lead to a decrease in face-to-face communication and thus a decrease in social interaction [14]. In addition, people who believe that they lack good social skills and have poor communication skills may think that interacting through the Internet can hide these shortcomings [6][7][8]15]. They may also make the decision to avoid interacting and communicating with others and focus exclusively on surfing the Internet alone, thus avoiding facing their difficulties [15].…”