The Effectiveness of Reality Therapy Based Psycho-Education Program Regarding Decreasing the Level of Problematic Internet Usage of Adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of 10 session psycho educational program which was developed within the scope of the research to decrease the problematic internet usage level of adolescents. Embedded design, which is one of the mixed method types of research, was used in the research. In the quantitative experimental stage of the research, experiment, control, and placebo x pretest-posttest-follow-up test design was used. In addition, qualitative data were obtained with the focus group interview after the experiment. The study was started with 12 adolescents in each group, but it was completed with 11 adolescents in the experimental and control group, 12 in the placebo group, due to the loss of test subjects during the experiment. The data of the research was collected via Problematic Internet Usage Scale-Adolescent Form, Basic Needs Scale and Personal Information Questionnaire. The quantitative findings obtained from the research indicated that as a result of the experimental process the program has a significant effect on decreasing problematic internet usage levels of adolescents and meeting the need for love and belonging; however, it does not have a significant effect on the level of meeting other psychological needs. There was no significant difference between the control and placebo groups. Moreover, the findings of the focus group interview conducted with the experimental group revealed that adolescents gained awareness of internet use, their frequency of internet use decreased, and their aims changed, and they tried to meet their psychological needs in a social environment.

Keywords

• Problematic Internet Use
• Psychological Need
• Reality Therapy
• Adolescent

References

1. Aydın, M. (2017). Relationships between university students' problematic internet use and their irrational beliefs and sense of inadequacy. Unpublished Master Thesis. Eskişehir: Anadolu University, Institute of Educational Sciences.
2. Bagatarhan, T., & Siyez, D. M. (2017). Programs for preventing Internet addiction during adolescence: A systematic review. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 4(2), 243-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.15805/addicta.2017.4.2.0015
3. Balcı, E., Durmuş, H. ve Sezer, L. (2021). Does Distance Education Create a Risk in The Development of Addiction in Corona Days?. Journal of Dependence, 22(1), 100–102.
4. Baltacı, Ö., Akbulut, Ö. F., & Zafer, R. (2020). COVID-19 pandemisinde problemli internet kullanımı: Bir nitel araştırma. Kırşehir Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 1(3), 126-140. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ahievransaglik/issue/64424/979283
5. Barker, A. (1995). Success of emotionally disturbed adolescents in therapeutic wilderness. Houston: Houston State University Press.
6. Brighi, A., Menin, D., Skrzypiec, G., & Guarini, A. (2019). Young, bullying, and connected. Common pathways to cyberbullying and problematic internet use in adolescence. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1467. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01467
7. Busari, A. O. (2016). Academic Stress and Internet Addiction among Adolescents: Solution Focused Social Interest Programme as Treatment Option. Journal of mental disorders and treatment, 2(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4172/2471-271X.1000114
8. Canoğulları, Ö. (2014). Examining the psychological needs, social anxiety and parental attitude perceptions of adolescents with different internet addiction levels according to their gender. Unpublished master's thesis, Adana: Çukurova University Institute of Social Sciences.

9. Cao, F. and Su, L. (2007). İnternet addiction among Chinese adolescent: prevalance and psychological features. Child: care, health and development, 33(3), 275-281. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00715.x
10. Caplan, S. E. (2006). Relations among loneliness, social anxiety, and problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & behavior, 10(2), 234-242. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2006.9963
11. Ceyhan, A. A., & Ceyhan, E. (2014). Validity and reliability study of the Problematic Internet Use Scale in adolescents. Journal of Dependence, 15 (2), 56-64. https://doi.org/110.15805/ADDICTA.2014.1.2.063
12. Ceyhan, E. (2010). Predictiveness of Identity Status, Main Internet Use Purposes and Gender on University Students' the Problematic Internet Use. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice. 10(3). 1325-1355.
13. Ceyhan, E. (2014). İnternet-Based Identity Experiments in Late Adolescence. Education and Science, 39(174), 249–258. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2014.1366
14. Diana, X. P. C., & Xavier, C. (2014). The model of the big five personality factors and problematic Internet use in Colombian youth. Adicciones, 26(1)
15. Doğan, K., Ersoy, A. F. (2020). Öğrencilerin Problemli İnternet Kullanımının Okul Sosyal Hizmeti Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi: Nitel Bir Çalışma. Üçüncü Sektör Sosyal Ekonomi Dergisi, 55(3), 1822- 1836. https://doi: 10.15659/3.sektor-sosyal-ekonomi.20.08.1392
16. Erol, B. (2019). The effect of cognitive behavioral approach based psychoeducation program on problematic internet usage levels of adolescents. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Ankara: Gazi University, Institute of Educational Sciences.
17. Erses, T. & Müezzin, E. (2018). The effect of human values psycho-education program on ınternet use in adolescents. International Journal of Humanities and Education, 4(7), 313-326. https://doi.org/36883/346987
18. Gámez-Guadix, M. (2014). Depressive symptoms and problematic Internet use among adolescents: Analysis of the longitudinal relationships from the cognitive–behavioral model. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 17(11), 714-719. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0226
19. Gámez-Guadix, M., Orue, I., Smith, P. K., & Calvete, E. (2013). Longitudinal and reciprocal relations of cyberbullying with depression, substance use, and problematic internet use among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(4), 446-452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.03.030
20. Glasser, W. (1998). Choice theory in the classroom (Rev. ed.). New York: Harper Perennial.
21. Göker, M. E. ve Turan, Ş. (2020). Problematic use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. ESTÜDAM Journal of Public Health, 5, 108--114. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.35232/estudamhsd.767526
22. Greenfield, D. (2011). The Addictive Properties of Internet Usage. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment. Kimberly S. Young, Cristiano Nabuco De Abreu. (Ed.). John Wiley & Sons, 135- 153.
23. Griffiths, M. D. (1998). Internet addiction: Does it really exist? In J. Gackenbach (Ed.), Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, interpersonal and transpersonal applications (pp. 61–75). New York, NY: Academic Press.
24. Günlü, A. ve Ceyhan, A. A. (2017). Investigation of internet and problematic internet usage behavior in adolescents. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 4, 75–117 I http://dx.doi.org/10.15805/addicta.2017.4.1.0016
25. İkinci, M. (2003). The relationship between the level of meeting basic needs and coping behaviors in adolescents. Trabzon: Unpublished Master Thesis. Karadeniz Technical University Institute of Social Sciences.
26. Kızıldağ, S., Arıkan, Ç. A. ve Koç, M. (2019). Examining the relationship between problematic internet use (PİU) and emotion regulation in adolescents with canonical correlation. Black Sea Journal of Social Sciences, 11 (20), 57-74.
27. Kurtaran, G. T. (2008). Investigation of variables predicting internet addiction. Unpublished Master Thesis, Mersin: Mersin University. Social Sciences Institute.
28. Li, D., Zhang, W., Li, X., Zhen, S., & Wang, Y. (2010). Stressful life events and problematic Internet use by adolescent females and males: A mediated moderation model. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 1199-1207 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.03.031
29. Lin, C. H., Chen, S. K., Chang, S. M., & Lin, S. S. (2013). Cross-lagged relationships between problematic Internet use and lifestyle changes. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2615-2621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.06.029
30. Lindenberg, K., Halasy, K., & Schoenmaekers, S. (2017). A randomized efficacy trial of a cognitive-behavioral group intervention to prevent Internet Use Disorder onset in adolescents: The PROTECT study protocol. Contemporary clinical trials communications, 6, 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2017.02.011
31. Liu, T. and Potenza, M. N. (2010). Problematic internet use clinical aspects. Impulse control disorders, 167-181. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511711930.016
32. Morahan-Martin, J., and Schumacher, P. (2003). Loneliness and social uses of the Internet. Computers in Human Behavior, 19(6), 659-671. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0747-5632(03)00040-2
33. Mulawarman, M., Rahmawati, A., Ariffudin, I., Wibowo, M., Purwanto, E., Shafie, A., & Afriwilda, M. (2021). Reality Group Counseling for Indonesian-Malaysian Muslim Students with Problematic Internet Use: Is it Effective? If So, How Does It Work?. Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal, 4(2). 169-180. https://doi.org/10.25217/igcj.v4i2.1700
34. Odacı, H., and Berber Çelik, Ç. (2017). Group counselling on college students’ internet dependency and life satisfaction. Journal of psychologists and counsellors in schools, 27(2), 239-250. https://doi.org/10.1017/jgc.2017.9
35. Ögel, K. (2012). Internet addiction, understanding the psychology of the internet and dealing with addiction. Istanbul: Turkey Business Bank of Publication
36. Öztabak, M. Ü. (2018). Examining the feelings and views of adolescents with problematic internet use about internet use. OPUS International Journal of Society Studies, 8 (15), 1022-1055. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.419667
37. Park, S., Kang, M., & Kim, E. (2014). Social relationship on problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents in South Korea: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and self-control. Computers in Human Behavior, 38, 349-357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.06.005
38. Pednekar, N. K., & Tung, S. (2017). Problematic internet use in adolescents: Role of identity styles, emotional autonomy, attachment, family environment and well-being. Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, 8(4).
39. Peker, A. ve İskender, M. (2015). The effect of human values oriented psychoeducational program on cyberbullying. Atatürk University Journal of Social Sciences Institute, 19 (1), 11-22.
40. Ruggieri, R. A., Santoro, E., Francesco De Caro, M. D., Palmieri, L., Capunzo, M., Venuleo, C., & Boccia, G. (2016). Internet addiction: A prevention action-research intervention. Epidemiol Biostat Public Health, 13, 4. https://doi.org/10.2427/11817
41. Satan, A.A. (2013). The effect of peer pressure on internet addiction in secondary school students. International Journal of Social Science, 6(8), 511-526. http://dx.doi.org/10.9761/JASSS1608
42. Schatz, M. T. (2017). Training effects on recovering parents' self-efficacy to identify problems, solutions and resources to prevent internet addiction in youth. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation. East Carolina University, USA.
43. Shafie, A. A., Kahar, N. F., Anuar, M. K., Rahimi, B., & Ahmad, R. B. (2019). The Effectiveness of Reality Group Counseling Therapy in Enhancing Multiple Intelligence among Malaysian Students with the Tendency of Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Internatıonal Journal of Academıc Research in Busıness and Socıal ScıenceS, 9(6). http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i6/5944
44. Shen, C. X., Liu, R. D., & Wang, D. (2013). Why are children attracted to the Internet? The role of need satisfaction perceived online and perceived in daily real life. Computers in human behavior, 29(1), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.08.004
45. Şahan, M. ve Çapan, B. E. (2017). The role of cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships and social anxiety in adolescents' problematic internet use. Aegean Education Journal, 18 (2), 887-913. https://doi.org/10.12984/egeefd.336391
46. Şermet Kaya, Ş. (2017). The effect of solution-focused approach on problematic internet use, sleep quality and school success in adolescents. . Unpublished Master Thesis. Kayseri: Erciyes University / Institute of Health Sciences.
47. Turel, O., Mouttapa, M. ve Donato, E. (2015). Preventing problematic internet use through video-based interventions: A theoretical model and empirical test. Behaviour & Information Technology, 34(4), 349. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2014.936041
48. van Rooij, A. J., Zinn, M. F., Schoenmakers, T. M., & Van de Mheen, D. (2012). Treating internet addiction with cognitive-behavioral therapy: A thematic analysis of the experiences of therapists. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10(1), 69-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-010-9295-0
49. Yalçın, N. (2006). Do we use the internet correctly? Are we addicted to the internet? Are our children and young people at risk? Information Technologies Congress Academic Informatics Proceedings, (p. 585- 588) Denizli: Pamukkale University.
50. Yavuzaslan-Gök, A. (2017). Examining the relationship between problematic internet use, personality traits and social skills in adolescents. Master Thesis. Marmara University, Institute of Educational Sciences, Istanbul.
51. Yorgun, A. ve Voltan-Acar, N. (2014). Applicability of reality therapy to Turkish culture: A critical perspective from a cultural perspective. Education and Science, 39 (175). 216-226. https://doi.org/10.15390/EB.2014.460
52. Young, K. (2007). Cognitive behaviour therapy with internet addicts: Treatment outcomes and implications. Cyber Psychology & Behavior, 10; 671–679. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2007.9971