Factors Related to Internet Addiction in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ana  Pjevac; Teodora  Safiye; Elvis  Mahmutovic; Ardea  Milidrag; Aleksandar  Radlovic; Zaklina  Rajkovic; Sonja  Milosavljevic; Andjela  Gogic; Mirjana  Jovanovic

doi:10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15592

Ana Pjevac Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Teodora Safiye Department of Psychology, State University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia
Elvis Mahmutovic Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia
Ardea Milidrag Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Aleksandar Radlovic Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Zaklina Rajkovic Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Sonja Milosavljevic Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Andjela Gogic Department of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
Mirjana Jovanovic Psychiatric Clinic, University Clinical Hospital Center of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v53i5.15592

Keywords: Internet; Addiction; Adolescents; Temperament

Abstract

Background: The term "internet addiction" (IA) describes a compulsive behavior associated with any online activity that disrupts everyday social interactions. Main aim of this research was to determine variables and development predictors of Internet addiction.

Methods: A total of 1,669 respondents participated in this research; 1,040 of them (62.3%) were female, 590 (35.4%) were male, and 39 (2.3%) did not want to declare their gender. The average age of the respondents was 15.09±1.757. Data were collected using an online form consisted of demographic data, questions related to the use of the Internet, the Internet Addiction Scale, and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A) for adolescents.

Results: The relationship between Internet addiction and age, addictive substance use frequency, purpose, time spent on the internet, and type of temperament has been proven. Analysis results indicate that the risk of developing internet addiction is higher if an adolescent spends 1-3 hours and more than 3 hours daily (2.8 and 8.2 times, respectively). Increasing age numbers for 1 unit (year), the risk of internet addiction developing is decreasing by 11.3%. Hyperthymic temperament type decreases the risk of 70.9% of internet addiction developing.

Conclusion: It is important to highlight importance of our results since practitioners can utilize our findings to create targeted treatments and prevent internet addiction in adolescents.