J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2013 Jun;26(3 Suppl):S10-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2013.03.010.
Source
Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, P.R. China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The present study investigated the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of Internet addiction in Hong Kong adolescents using a longitudinal design.
DESIGN:
Three waves of data were collected over 3 years from students in 28 secondary schools in Hong Kong (Wave 1: 3,325 students, age = 12.59 ± 0.74 y; Wave 2: 3,638 students, age = 13.64 ± 0.75 y; Wave 3: 4,106 students, age = 14.65 ± 0.80 y).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Young’s 10-item Internet Addiction Test, Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale, and Chinese Family Assessment Instrument were used.
RESULTS:
At Wave 3, 22.5% of the participants met the criterion of Internet addiction, which was lower than those observed at Wave 1 (26.4%) and Wave 2 (26.7%). Using different measures at Wave 1 to predict Internet addiction at Wave 3, it was found that male students showed more problematic Internet use behavior than did female students; good family functioning predicted lower probability of having Internet addiction; positive youth development indicators negatively predicted Internet addictive behaviors over time.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that strengthening family functioning and promoting positive youth development could be a direction for preventing Internet addiction in Hong Kong adolescents.
Copyright © 2013 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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