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Exploration Of Problematic Internet Use And 
Loneliness Among Distance Education Students

Year 2014, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 75 - 90, 01.06.2014
https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.43009

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationship between problematic Internet use and levels of loneliness among 311 distance education students. “The Problematic Internet Use Scale” and “UCLA-Loneliness Scale III” were used to collect the data. Independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were conducted to examine the differences; and correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between variables. Findings revealed that male students’ use of the Internet was more problematic compared to female students’. As the time spent on the Internet increased, so did the problematic Internet use levels. In addition, the problematic Internet use levels of students varied with regard to marital status and not varied regard to their ages. A significant relationship was found between the level of problematic Internet use and loneliness, and loneliness was found to be among the predictors of problematic Internet use. Implications and suggestions for further research are provided.

References

  • Acier, D., & Kern, L. (2010). Problematic Internet use: perceptions of addiction counselors. Computers & Education, 56(4), 983–989.
  • Balta, O. Ç., & Horzum, M., B., (2008). The factors that affect Internet addiction of students in a web based learning environment. Journal of Faculty of Educational
  • Sciences, 41(1), 187-205. Ankara University, Turkey. Batıgün, A. D., & Hasta, D. (2010). Internet addiction: an evaluation in terms of loneliness and interpersonal relationship styles. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 11(3), 213-2
  • Beard, K. W., & Wolf, E. M. (2001). Modification in the proposed diagnostic criteria for
  • Internet addiction. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4(3), 377-383. Caplan, S. E. (2007). Relations among loneliness, social anxiety and problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 234–242.
  • Caplan, S. E. (2005). A social skill account of problematic Internet use. Journal of Communication, 55(4), 721-736.
  • Ceyhan, A. A. (2008). Predictors of problematic Internet use on Turkish university students. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(3), 363–366.
  • Ceyhan, A. A., & Ceyhan, E. (2008). Loneliness, depression and computer self-efficacy as predictors of problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(6), 699–701.
  • Ceyhan, E. (2010). Predictiveness of Identity Status, Main Internet Use Purposes and Gender on University Students' the Problematic Internet Use. Educational Sciences:
  • Theory & Practice (ESTP), 10(3), 1323–1355.
  • Chak, K., & Leung, L. (2004). Shyness and locus of control as predictors of Internet addiction and Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(5), 559–570.
  • Chou, C., Condron, L., & Belland, J. C. (2005). A review of the research on Internet addiction. Educational Psychology Review, 17(4), 363-388.
  • Chou, C., & Hsiao, M., C. (2000). Internet addiction, usage, gratification, and pleasure experience: the Taiwan college students' case. Computers & Education, 35(1), 65-80.
  • Cao, F., & Su, L. (2007). Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents: prevalence and psychological features. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(3), 275–281.
  • Cagır, G. (2010). The relation between the well-being states perceiving thanks to problematic internet usage of high school and university students and their loneliness level [Lise ve üniversite öğrencilerinin problemli internet kullanım düzeyleri ile algılanan esenlik halleri ve yalnızlık düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki]. (Master's dissertation). Balıkesir
  • University Social Sciences Institute, Balıkesir, Turkey. Available from the Council of Higher Education, National Dissertation Center, Dissertation ID: 273197.
  • Cuhadar, C. (2012). Exploration of problematic Internet use and social interaction anxiety among Turkish pre-service teachers. Computers & Education 59(2), 173–181.
  • Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use.
  • Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187-195. Dogan, H., Isıklar, A., & Eroğlu, E. S. (2008). Observation of Adolescents' Problematic
  • Internet Usage According To Some Variables. Journal of Kâzim Karabekir Education Faculty, 18, 106–124. Erdogan, Y. (2008). Exploring the relationships among Internet usage, Internet attitudes and loneliness of Turkish adolescents. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial
  • Research on Cyberspace, 2(2). Frangos, C. C., Frangos, C. C., & Sotiropoulos, I. (2011). Problematic Internet use among
  • Greek university students: an ordinal logistic regression with risk factors of negative psychological beliefs, pornographic sites, and online games. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 14(1/2), 51-58. Ghamari, F., Mohammadbeigi, A., Mohammadsalehi, N., & Hashiani, A. A. (2011). Internet addiction and modeling its risk factors in medical students, Iran. Indian Journal of
  • Psychological Medicine, 33(2), 158-162. Joinson, A. (2001). Self-disclosure in computer-mediated communication: the role of self-awareness and visual anonymity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 31(2), 177- 1
  • Isman, A. (2008). Instructional technology and material design [Öğretim teknolojileri ve materyal tasarımı] (3rd Edition). Ankara: Cantekin Matbaası.
  • Kandell, J. J. (1998). Internet addiction on campus: The vulnerability of college students.
  • CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(1), 11–17. Karasar, N. (2008). Concept-Policy-Techniques for Scientific Research Method [Bilimsel
  • Araştırma Yöntemi Kavram-İlke-Teknikler] (18th Edition). Ankara: Nobel Yayınevi. Keser-Ozcan, N., & Buzlu, S. (2007). Internet use and its relation with the psychosocial situation for a sample of university students. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(6), 767- 7
  • Kim, H., & Davis, K. E. (2009). Toward a comprehensive theory of problematic Internet use: evaluating the role of self-esteem, anxiety, flow, and the self-rated importance of
  • Internet activities. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(2), 490–500. Kim, J, LaRose, R., & Peng, W. (2009). Loneliness as the cause and the effect of problematic Internet use: the relationship between Internet use and psychological well- being. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 4(12),451-455.
  • Koc, M. (2011). Internet addiction and psychopathology. TOJET: The Turkish Online
  • Journal of Educational Technology, 10(1), 143-148. Lavin, M., Marvin, K., McLarney, A., Nola, V., & Scott, L. (1999). Sensation seeking and collegiate vulnerability to Internet dependence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2(5), 425- 4
  • Lavin, M. J., Yuen, C. N., Weinman, M., & Kozak, K. (2004). Internet dependence in the collegiate population: The role of shyness. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 379-83.
  • Lee, S. (2009). Problematic Internet Use among College Students: An Exploratory Survey
  • Research Study. (Doctoral dissertation), The University of Texas at Austin, ABD. Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (UMI No. 850521425).
  • Mazhari, S. (2012). The prevalence of problematic internet use and the related factors in medical students, Kerman, Iran. Addict & Health, 4 (3-4), 87-94.
  • Mesudoglu, C., Aydin, G., & Yerin-Güneri, O. (2011). The role of gender, age, social skills and shy in predicting faculty of education students' problematic Internet usage. 11th
  • National Congress of Psychological Counselling and Guidance, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Morahan-Martin, J., & Schumacher, P. (2003). Loneliness and social uses of the Internet.
  • Computers in Human Behavior, 19(6), 659-671. Morahan-Martin, J., & Schumacher, P. (2000). Incidence and Correlates of Pathological
  • Internet Use among College Students. Computers in Human Behaviour, 16(1), 1329.
  • Nalwa, K., & Anand, A. P. (2003). Internet addiction in students: A cause of concern.
  • Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 6(6), 653-656. Niemz, K., Griffiths, M., & Banyard, P. (2005). Prevalence of pathological Internet use among university students and correlations with self-esteem, the general questionnaire and disinhibition. Cyberpsychology & Behavior,8(6), 562-570.
  • Odacı, H. (2011). Academic self-efficacy and academic procrastination as predictors of problematic Internet use in university students. Computers & Education, 57(1), 1109- 1
  • Odacı, H., & Kalkan, M. (2010). Problematic Internet use, loneliness and dating anxiety among young adult university students. Computers & Education, 55(3), 1091-1097.
  • Ozodasık, M. (2001). Modern insanın yalnızlıgı [The loneliness of modern man]. Konya: Çizgi Kitabevi.
  • Oztürk, O., Odabasıoglu, G., Eraslan, D., Genc, Y., & Kalyoncu, O. A. (2007). Internet addiction: Clinical aspects and treatment strategies. Journal of Dependence, 8(1), 36-41.
  • Peplau, L. A., & Perlman, D. (Eds.) (1982). Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy. New York: Wiley-Interscience.
  • Rehm, L. M. (2003). The Internet and critical issues for families. Journal of Family
  • Consumer Sciences Eucation, 21(2), 33-43. Subrahmanyam, K., & Lin, G. (2007). Adolescents on the Net: Internet use and well- being. Adolescence, 42(168), 659−677.
  • Shapira, N. A., Goldsmith, T. D., Keek Jr, P. E., Khosla, U. M., & McElroy, S. L. (2000).
  • Psychiatric features of individuals with problematic Internet use. Journal of Affective Disorders, 57(1-3), 267-272. Shapira, N. A., Lessig, M. C., Goldsmith, T. D., Szabo, S. T., Lazoritz, M., & Gold, M. S. (2003). Problematic Internet use: Proposed classifıcation and diagnostic criteria.
  • Depression and Anxiety, 17(4), 207-216. Shepherd, R. M., & Edelmann, R. J. (2005). Reasons for Internet use and social anxiety.
  • Personality & Individual Differences, 39(5), 949–958. Sahin, Y. G., Balta, S., & Ercan, T. (2010). The use of Internet resources by university students during their course project solicitation: a case study. TOJET: The Turkish Online
  • Journal of Educational Technology, 9(2), 234-244. Tahiroglu, A.Y., Celik, G. G., Uzel, M., Ozcan, N., & Avcı, A. (2008). Internet use among
  • Turkish adolescents. Cyberpsychology & Behavıor, 11(5), 241-246. Tekinarslan, E., & Gürer, M. D. (2011). Problematic Internet use among Turkish university students: A multidimensional investigation based on demographics and Internet activities. International Journal of Human Sciences, 8(1), 1028-1051.
  • Tutgun, A., & Deniz, L. (2010). Problematic Internet usage among prospective teachers,
  • International Educational Technology Conference (IETC) 2010 (2), 1226-1240, Boğaziçi University, İstanbul.
  • Tutgun, A., Deniz, L., & Moon, Man-Ki, (2011). A comparative study of problematic
  • Internet use and loneliness among Turkish and Korean prospective teachers. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 10(4), 14-30. Turkish Statistical Institute-TSI (2012, August, 16). 2012, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage Survey on Households and Individuals.
  • Retrieved August, 16, 2012 fromhttp://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=10880
  • Yang, S. C., & Tung, C. J. (2007). Comparison of Internet addicts and non-addicts in
  • Taiwanese highs chool. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(2007),79–96.
  • Yellowlees, P. M., & Marks, S. (2005). Problematic Internet Use or Addiction? Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), 1447-1453.
  • Yıldız, M. C., ve Bölükbas, K. (2005). İnternet kafeler, gençlik ve sosyal sapma, İnternet ve toplum [Internet cafes, youth and social deviation, Internet and society]. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
  • Yuen, C., N., & Lavin, M., J. (2004). Internet dependence in the collegiate population: the role of shyness. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 379–383.
  • Weiss, R. S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation, MIT Press: Cambridge.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Hasan OZGUR Trakya University Faculty of Education Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technologies Address: Faculty of Education

Year 2014, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 75 - 90, 01.06.2014
https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.43009

Abstract

References

  • Acier, D., & Kern, L. (2010). Problematic Internet use: perceptions of addiction counselors. Computers & Education, 56(4), 983–989.
  • Balta, O. Ç., & Horzum, M., B., (2008). The factors that affect Internet addiction of students in a web based learning environment. Journal of Faculty of Educational
  • Sciences, 41(1), 187-205. Ankara University, Turkey. Batıgün, A. D., & Hasta, D. (2010). Internet addiction: an evaluation in terms of loneliness and interpersonal relationship styles. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry, 11(3), 213-2
  • Beard, K. W., & Wolf, E. M. (2001). Modification in the proposed diagnostic criteria for
  • Internet addiction. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4(3), 377-383. Caplan, S. E. (2007). Relations among loneliness, social anxiety and problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 234–242.
  • Caplan, S. E. (2005). A social skill account of problematic Internet use. Journal of Communication, 55(4), 721-736.
  • Ceyhan, A. A. (2008). Predictors of problematic Internet use on Turkish university students. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(3), 363–366.
  • Ceyhan, A. A., & Ceyhan, E. (2008). Loneliness, depression and computer self-efficacy as predictors of problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 11(6), 699–701.
  • Ceyhan, E. (2010). Predictiveness of Identity Status, Main Internet Use Purposes and Gender on University Students' the Problematic Internet Use. Educational Sciences:
  • Theory & Practice (ESTP), 10(3), 1323–1355.
  • Chak, K., & Leung, L. (2004). Shyness and locus of control as predictors of Internet addiction and Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(5), 559–570.
  • Chou, C., Condron, L., & Belland, J. C. (2005). A review of the research on Internet addiction. Educational Psychology Review, 17(4), 363-388.
  • Chou, C., & Hsiao, M., C. (2000). Internet addiction, usage, gratification, and pleasure experience: the Taiwan college students' case. Computers & Education, 35(1), 65-80.
  • Cao, F., & Su, L. (2007). Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents: prevalence and psychological features. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(3), 275–281.
  • Cagır, G. (2010). The relation between the well-being states perceiving thanks to problematic internet usage of high school and university students and their loneliness level [Lise ve üniversite öğrencilerinin problemli internet kullanım düzeyleri ile algılanan esenlik halleri ve yalnızlık düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki]. (Master's dissertation). Balıkesir
  • University Social Sciences Institute, Balıkesir, Turkey. Available from the Council of Higher Education, National Dissertation Center, Dissertation ID: 273197.
  • Cuhadar, C. (2012). Exploration of problematic Internet use and social interaction anxiety among Turkish pre-service teachers. Computers & Education 59(2), 173–181.
  • Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use.
  • Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187-195. Dogan, H., Isıklar, A., & Eroğlu, E. S. (2008). Observation of Adolescents' Problematic
  • Internet Usage According To Some Variables. Journal of Kâzim Karabekir Education Faculty, 18, 106–124. Erdogan, Y. (2008). Exploring the relationships among Internet usage, Internet attitudes and loneliness of Turkish adolescents. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial
  • Research on Cyberspace, 2(2). Frangos, C. C., Frangos, C. C., & Sotiropoulos, I. (2011). Problematic Internet use among
  • Greek university students: an ordinal logistic regression with risk factors of negative psychological beliefs, pornographic sites, and online games. CyberPsychology, Behavior & Social Networking, 14(1/2), 51-58. Ghamari, F., Mohammadbeigi, A., Mohammadsalehi, N., & Hashiani, A. A. (2011). Internet addiction and modeling its risk factors in medical students, Iran. Indian Journal of
  • Psychological Medicine, 33(2), 158-162. Joinson, A. (2001). Self-disclosure in computer-mediated communication: the role of self-awareness and visual anonymity. European Journal of Social Psychology, 31(2), 177- 1
  • Isman, A. (2008). Instructional technology and material design [Öğretim teknolojileri ve materyal tasarımı] (3rd Edition). Ankara: Cantekin Matbaası.
  • Kandell, J. J. (1998). Internet addiction on campus: The vulnerability of college students.
  • CyberPsychology & Behavior, 1(1), 11–17. Karasar, N. (2008). Concept-Policy-Techniques for Scientific Research Method [Bilimsel
  • Araştırma Yöntemi Kavram-İlke-Teknikler] (18th Edition). Ankara: Nobel Yayınevi. Keser-Ozcan, N., & Buzlu, S. (2007). Internet use and its relation with the psychosocial situation for a sample of university students. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(6), 767- 7
  • Kim, H., & Davis, K. E. (2009). Toward a comprehensive theory of problematic Internet use: evaluating the role of self-esteem, anxiety, flow, and the self-rated importance of
  • Internet activities. Computers in Human Behavior, 25(2), 490–500. Kim, J, LaRose, R., & Peng, W. (2009). Loneliness as the cause and the effect of problematic Internet use: the relationship between Internet use and psychological well- being. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 4(12),451-455.
  • Koc, M. (2011). Internet addiction and psychopathology. TOJET: The Turkish Online
  • Journal of Educational Technology, 10(1), 143-148. Lavin, M., Marvin, K., McLarney, A., Nola, V., & Scott, L. (1999). Sensation seeking and collegiate vulnerability to Internet dependence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 2(5), 425- 4
  • Lavin, M. J., Yuen, C. N., Weinman, M., & Kozak, K. (2004). Internet dependence in the collegiate population: The role of shyness. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 379-83.
  • Lee, S. (2009). Problematic Internet Use among College Students: An Exploratory Survey
  • Research Study. (Doctoral dissertation), The University of Texas at Austin, ABD. Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (UMI No. 850521425).
  • Mazhari, S. (2012). The prevalence of problematic internet use and the related factors in medical students, Kerman, Iran. Addict & Health, 4 (3-4), 87-94.
  • Mesudoglu, C., Aydin, G., & Yerin-Güneri, O. (2011). The role of gender, age, social skills and shy in predicting faculty of education students' problematic Internet usage. 11th
  • National Congress of Psychological Counselling and Guidance, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. Morahan-Martin, J., & Schumacher, P. (2003). Loneliness and social uses of the Internet.
  • Computers in Human Behavior, 19(6), 659-671. Morahan-Martin, J., & Schumacher, P. (2000). Incidence and Correlates of Pathological
  • Internet Use among College Students. Computers in Human Behaviour, 16(1), 1329.
  • Nalwa, K., & Anand, A. P. (2003). Internet addiction in students: A cause of concern.
  • Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 6(6), 653-656. Niemz, K., Griffiths, M., & Banyard, P. (2005). Prevalence of pathological Internet use among university students and correlations with self-esteem, the general questionnaire and disinhibition. Cyberpsychology & Behavior,8(6), 562-570.
  • Odacı, H. (2011). Academic self-efficacy and academic procrastination as predictors of problematic Internet use in university students. Computers & Education, 57(1), 1109- 1
  • Odacı, H., & Kalkan, M. (2010). Problematic Internet use, loneliness and dating anxiety among young adult university students. Computers & Education, 55(3), 1091-1097.
  • Ozodasık, M. (2001). Modern insanın yalnızlıgı [The loneliness of modern man]. Konya: Çizgi Kitabevi.
  • Oztürk, O., Odabasıoglu, G., Eraslan, D., Genc, Y., & Kalyoncu, O. A. (2007). Internet addiction: Clinical aspects and treatment strategies. Journal of Dependence, 8(1), 36-41.
  • Peplau, L. A., & Perlman, D. (Eds.) (1982). Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy. New York: Wiley-Interscience.
  • Rehm, L. M. (2003). The Internet and critical issues for families. Journal of Family
  • Consumer Sciences Eucation, 21(2), 33-43. Subrahmanyam, K., & Lin, G. (2007). Adolescents on the Net: Internet use and well- being. Adolescence, 42(168), 659−677.
  • Shapira, N. A., Goldsmith, T. D., Keek Jr, P. E., Khosla, U. M., & McElroy, S. L. (2000).
  • Psychiatric features of individuals with problematic Internet use. Journal of Affective Disorders, 57(1-3), 267-272. Shapira, N. A., Lessig, M. C., Goldsmith, T. D., Szabo, S. T., Lazoritz, M., & Gold, M. S. (2003). Problematic Internet use: Proposed classifıcation and diagnostic criteria.
  • Depression and Anxiety, 17(4), 207-216. Shepherd, R. M., & Edelmann, R. J. (2005). Reasons for Internet use and social anxiety.
  • Personality & Individual Differences, 39(5), 949–958. Sahin, Y. G., Balta, S., & Ercan, T. (2010). The use of Internet resources by university students during their course project solicitation: a case study. TOJET: The Turkish Online
  • Journal of Educational Technology, 9(2), 234-244. Tahiroglu, A.Y., Celik, G. G., Uzel, M., Ozcan, N., & Avcı, A. (2008). Internet use among
  • Turkish adolescents. Cyberpsychology & Behavıor, 11(5), 241-246. Tekinarslan, E., & Gürer, M. D. (2011). Problematic Internet use among Turkish university students: A multidimensional investigation based on demographics and Internet activities. International Journal of Human Sciences, 8(1), 1028-1051.
  • Tutgun, A., & Deniz, L. (2010). Problematic Internet usage among prospective teachers,
  • International Educational Technology Conference (IETC) 2010 (2), 1226-1240, Boğaziçi University, İstanbul.
  • Tutgun, A., Deniz, L., & Moon, Man-Ki, (2011). A comparative study of problematic
  • Internet use and loneliness among Turkish and Korean prospective teachers. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 10(4), 14-30. Turkish Statistical Institute-TSI (2012, August, 16). 2012, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage Survey on Households and Individuals.
  • Retrieved August, 16, 2012 fromhttp://www.turkstat.gov.tr/PreHaberBultenleri.do?id=10880
  • Yang, S. C., & Tung, C. J. (2007). Comparison of Internet addicts and non-addicts in
  • Taiwanese highs chool. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(2007),79–96.
  • Yellowlees, P. M., & Marks, S. (2005). Problematic Internet Use or Addiction? Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), 1447-1453.
  • Yıldız, M. C., ve Bölükbas, K. (2005). İnternet kafeler, gençlik ve sosyal sapma, İnternet ve toplum [Internet cafes, youth and social deviation, Internet and society]. Ankara: Anı Yayıncılık.
  • Yuen, C., N., & Lavin, M., J. (2004). Internet dependence in the collegiate population: the role of shyness. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(4), 379–383.
  • Weiss, R. S. (1973). Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation, MIT Press: Cambridge.
There are 65 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hasan Ozgur This is me

Tülay Demıralay This is me

İlkay Demıralay This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2014
Submission Date February 27, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2014 Volume: 15 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Ozgur, H., Demıralay, T., & Demıralay, İ. (2014). Exploration Of Problematic Internet Use And 
Loneliness Among Distance Education Students. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 15(2), 75-90. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.43009