Internet addiction among eighth grade students: Çanakkale sample

Abstract

Objective: The persuasive and influential presence of internet has affected the whole society, especially children and adolescents. This study aimed to define internet addiction prevalence and its relation with income level among the 8th grade elementary school students who were in early adolescence years.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was planned among the 8th grade elementary school students. The Internet Addiction Scale, which was originally developed by Young, was used for determining the internet addiction level.

Results: One hundred twenty (47.0%) girls and 137 (53.0%) boys, a total of 257 students were enrolled to the study. Mean score of test was 29.3 ± 20.0 in boys and 26.5 ± 17.0 in girls and there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). Prevalence of internet addiction was 0.8% (n=2) and they were from the schools with children from high income level families. Boys were more likely to be an internet addict than girls but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Schools with children from high income level families had significantly higher number of internet addicts or likely addict students than the low income level schools (p = 0.018).

Conclusion: The internet addiction among adolescent students participating to the study from the elementary schools is rather low. Male sex and high level income seem to be effective in identifying the likely internet addict students.