Internet addiction? Potentially problematic use of the Internet in a population of 12–18 year-old adolescents

TLDR

Online surveys indicate that excessive Internet use can cause psychosocial problems, yet population studies on adolescents are scarce; a representative Finnish survey of 12–18‑year‑olds in 2001 examined the prevalence of harmful use, which is expected to rise with increasing Internet access. The study surveyed 7,292 Finnish adolescents via postal questionnaire, applying gambling‑based criteria (four of seven) to define Internet addiction and found that 85 % reported Internet use. Among daily users, 4.6 % of boys and 4.7 % of girls met the addiction criteria, compared with 0.3–0.5 % of infrequent users and 1.7–1.4 % overall; those classified as addicts spent an average of 2.7 h/day online versus 1.3 h for non‑addicts, indicating a potentially harmful relationship.

Abstract

On-line surveys indicate harmful excessive use of the Internet resulting in psychosocial problems (Internet addiction). Population studies are scarce, particularly on adolescents who are a vulnerable group in the middle of their personality development.The prevalence of features suggesting harmful use of the Internet is studied in a representative sample of 12–18 year-old Finns (N = 7292) in a postal survey in 2001. Criteria were tailored analogously to the criteria of pathological gambling, fulfilling four of the seven criteria operationalised as Internet addiction.Eighty five percent used the Internet. Among daily users 4.6% of boys and 4.7% of girls fulfilled the four criteria, infrequent users 0.3 and 0.5%, and all respondents 1.7 and 1.4%, respectively. The "addicts" spent more hours (mean = 2.7) in the Internet daily than the "non-addicts" (mean = 1.3).Some adolescents reported a potentially harmful relationship with the Internet comparable to addictive disorders. Although not common now, it will most likely increase with the increasing Internet use.