Association of Internet Addiction with Family Functionality, Depression, Self-Efficacy and Self-Esteem among Early Adolescents

Hsiao-Ching Chen, Jiun-Yi Wang, Ying-Lien Lin and Shang-Yu Yang
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Hsiao-Ching Chen: Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan
Jiun-Yi Wang: Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan
Ying-Lien Lin: Department of Industrial and Information Management, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Shang-Yu Yang: Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Early adolescents usually have worse self-control and poor time management abilities. They are a higher-risk group for Internet addiction than older adolescents or adults. This study aims to explore the prevalence of Internet addiction and associated factors in early adolescents. Participants included 451 fifth and sixth-grade students in Central Taiwan. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire that consisted of demographics, Young’s Internet Addiction Test, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The participants were 50.8% male, and the mean age was 11.35, with a range of 10.33–12.92 years. A total of 33.7% of all participants were prone to Internet addiction. The results showed that participants who were male and had high money allowance, poor family atmosphere, parents who did not limit Internet usage time, high depression, low self-efficacy and low self-esteem were more prone to Internet addiction. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that being male, having parents who did not limit Internet usage time and higher degrees of depression were the associated factors of Internet addiction in early adolescents. The phenomenon of Internet addiction among early adolescents seems to be increasing. Improving family functionality and individual mental health may be effective ways to reduce Internet addiction.

Keywords: internet addiction; early adolescent; gender; family functionality; money allowance; depression; self-efficacy; self-esteem (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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