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Attached to the web — harmful use of the Internet and its correlates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

J. Korkeila ,
S. Kaarlas ,
M. Jääskeläinen ,
T. Vahlberg  and
T. Taiminen
J. Korkeila*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kunnallissairaalantie 20, 20700Turku, Finland Harjavalta Hospital, Satakunta Hospital District, Sairaalatie 14, 29200Harjavalta, Finland
S. Kaarlas
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Turku, Kunnallissairaalantie 20, 20700Turku, Finland
M. Jääskeläinen
Affiliation:
Turku University Central Hospital, Kiinanmyllynkatu 4–8, 20521Turku, Finland
T. Vahlberg
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 1, 20014Turun Yliopisto, Finland
T. Taiminen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Central Hospital, Kiinanmyllynkatu 4–8, 20521Turku, Finland
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 2 269 2557; fax: +358 2 269 2528. E-mail addresses: jyrki.korkeila@utu.fi, jyrki.korkeila@fimnet.fi (J. Korkeila).
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Abstract

Background and aims

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the Finnish version of the Internet Addiction Test and the correlates of harmful use of the Internet.

Methods

One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five students (45.5% men and 54.5% women, mean age 24.7 years, S.D. = 5.7) filled in a web-based questionnaire including IAT, reasons for use of the Internet, distress, social support, and substance use.

Results

Men had a statistically significantly higher mean score on the IAT than women. Subjects with self-reported use of cannabis had higher mean score on the IAT compared to non-users (39.5 [11.3] vs 35.8 [10.8]). The total IAT score was associated with “adult entertainment” (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.06–1.08, P < 0.001), “playing games” (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.04–1.06, P < 0.001), “chatting” (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.06–1.08, P < 0.001) and “discussion” (OR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.07–1.09, P < 0.001) as reasons for Internet use. The IAT score had a significant negative correlation with social support (r = −0.24, P < 0.001) and a significant positive correlation with the CAGE score (r = 0.18, P < 0.001). Using factor analysis, we found a single factor solution with a Cronbach's α of 0.92.

Conclusions

The IAT seems to provide a valid measurement of harmful use of the Internet, as the score was significantly associated with variables tapping psychopathology.

Keywords

Internet addictionPsychological distressSubstance abuseSocial support
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , May 2010 , pp. 236 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2010

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