The Examining of Internet Addiction and its Related Factors in Children Aged 6-18 Years

Abstract

Objective: Our research classified variables associated with internet addiction and examined their relations with such addiction. Our study aim was to reveal how variables that may have separate effects on internet addiction predict such addiction as an integral whole. The variables that emerge are important in terms of determining the profiles of internet-addicted individuals and of use as additional indicators of addiction. Materials and Methods: The research was designed as a cross-sectional survey. The research data were collected from students at primary, middle, and high schools in the province center of Trabzon in the Black Sea region of Turkey in the 2018 academic year. The measurement tools were applied to 8651 students attending 122 schools from the three academic stages. Data were collected using a survey and the Internet Addiction Scale. Results: As a result of the research, children’s current internet addiction status was evaluated and 17% of the children in the sample were determined to be internet-addicted. However, a high level of risk of addiction was also observed (39.8%). Also, variables associated with themes predicting internet addiction, such as ‘ownership of and access to technology,’ ‘the family,’ ‘use control’ ‘activities/hobbies’, ‘peer/friend influence’ and ‘purpose of use’ were established by making particular use of the previous literature, and relations were examined in a holistic manner. Conclusion: In the fight against internet addiction risk factors, family, student and environmental factors should be addressed.

Keywords

• family
• internet addiction
• children
• adolescent
• regression
• family

6-18 Yaş Grubu Çocuklarda İnternet Bağımlılığının ve İlişkili Faktörlerin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Araştırmamız internet bağımlılığı ile ilişkili değişkenleri sınıflandırmak ve bu bağımlılıkla ilişkilerini incelemektedir. Çalışmamızın amacı, internet bağımlılığı üzerinde ayrı etkilere sahip olabilecek değişkenlerin, bu bağımlılığı bütünsel bir bütün olarak nasıl yordadığını ortaya koymaktır. Ortaya çıkan değişkenler, internet bağımlısı bireylerin profillerinin belirlenmesi ve bağımlılığın ek göstergeleri olarak kullanılması açısından önemlidir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırma, kesitsel bir araştırma olarak tasarlanmıştır. Araştırma verileri 2018 eğitim öğretim yılında Karadeniz bölgesinde Trabzon İl merkezindeki ilkokul, ortaokul ve lise öğrencilerinden toplanmıştır. Ölçme araçları, üç akademik aşamadan 122 okula devam eden 8651 öğrenciye uygulanmıştır. Veriler bir anket ve İnternet Bağımlılığı Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırma sonucunda çocukların mevcut internet bağımlılık durumu değerlendirilmiş ve örneklemdeki çocukların %17'sinin internet bağımlısı olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ancak yüksek düzeyde bağımlılık riski de gözlenmiştir (%39.8). Ayrıca, 'teknolojiye sahip olma ve teknolojiye erişim', 'aile' 'kullanım kontrolü' 'aktiviteler / hobiler', 'akran / arkadaş etkisi' ve 'kullanım amacı' gibi internet bağımlılığını öngören temalarla ilişkili değişkenler önceki literatürden özel olarak yararlanılarak kurulmuş ve ilişkiler bütüncül bir şekilde incelenmiştir. Sonuç: İnternet bağımlılığı ile mücadelede risk faktörleri, aile, öğrenci ve çevresel faktörler ele alınmalıdır.

Keywords

• İnternet Bağımlılığı
• Çocuklar
• Ergen
• Regresyon
• Aile

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