Internet addiction: a review of current assessment techniques and potential assessment questions.

The concept of Internet addiction has been proposed as an explanation for uncontrollable and damaging use of the Internet. Symptoms of excessive Internet use have been compared to the criteria used to diagnose other addictions such as pathological gambling. Although criteria to diagnose this problem have been proposed, methods of assessing excessive Internet use are limited. A structured interview based on the criteria proposed by Beard and Wolf is proposed to aid in the assessment of "Internet addiction." This, in turn, could aid in the diagnosis and intervention of a client who enters treatment reporting difficulties with excessive Internet use.     

大学新生网络使用时间与网络成瘾的关系：有中介的调节模型

通过整群取样的方法选取北京市某所高校2250名大一新生为测查对象, 采用问卷方式探讨了大学新生网络使用时间、网络社交使用占网络使用总时间的比重、网络使用的背景性渴求以及网络成瘾程度之间的关系。基于网络使用满足的相关理论以及渴求的条件反射理论, 本研究构建了一个有中介的调节模型, 即网络社交使用比重在网络使用时间与网络成瘾之间起调节作用, 而且这一调节作用通过网络使用的背景性渴求这一中介变量得以实现。结果显示：(1)大学新生每周上网时间为13.58 ± 8.94小时, 网络社交使用占全部上网时间的比重为27.18 ± 18.15%; (2)网络使用时间、网络社交使用比重、网络使用背景性渴求与网络成瘾的五个维度及总分呈显著正相关; (3)网络使用时间以及网络社交使用比重均能够直接正向预测网络成瘾, 同时网络社交比重在网络使用时间预测网络成瘾这一关系中起调节作用, 即相比较少使用网络社交的被试, 较多使用网络社交的群体表现出更高的网络成瘾程度, 且网络使用时间对网络成瘾程度的预测作用相对较低; 而且网络社交比重的调节作用部分通过网络使用的背景性渴求这一中介变量实现。     

Psychological applications on the internet: A discipline on the threshold of a new millennium

The rapid developments in computers and information technology over the past decade has had an impact on psychology, which has moved in this context from local computer applications to network applications that take advantage of the Internet. This article critically reviews various psychological applications in use on the Internet, with special emphasis given to their promises and advantages as well as to their shortcomings and problems. Specifically, 10 types of psychological Internet applications are reviewed: information resources on psychological concepts and issues; self-help guides; psychological testing and assessment; help in deciding to undergo therapy; information about specific psychological services; single-session psychological advice through e-mail or c-bulletin boards; ongoing personal counseling and therapy through e-mail; real-time counseling through chat, web telephony, and videoconferencing; synchronous and asynchronous support groups, discussion groups, and group counseling; and psychological and social research. Following a discussion of ethical and related concerns, a call is voiced for intensive research and international brainstorming.     

The bits and bytes of computer/internet addiction: A factor analytic approach

A factor analytic approach was used to explore possible constructs underlying so-called computer/Internet addiction. A 94-item survey was developed, from which two major and two minor factors were derived. Factor 1 focused on problematic computer-related behaviors in heavy users of the Internet, whereas Factor 2 focused on the usefulness and general purpose nature of computers and the Internet. Factor 3 isolated a combination of use of the Internet for sexual gratification and shyness/introversion, and Factor 4 focused on an absence of problems related to Internet use that were coupled with a mild aversion or a disinterest in this technology. These data support the notion that some individuals have a mixture of obsessive-like characteristics related specifically to their computer/Internet use but that, not surprisingly, they also exhibit a preference for on-line, rather than in-person, interactions.     

大学新生的羞怯、自尊与网络依赖的关系：交叉滞后分析

对361名大一新生进行为期3个月的追踪测量,以考察羞怯、自尊与网络依赖的发展变化及相互关系。结果发现：（1）大一新生的羞怯、自尊和网络依赖的水平具有一定程度的横向稳定性。（2）羞怯与网络依赖正相关,自尊与网络依赖负相关。（3）T1的网络依赖正向预测T2的羞怯,T2的羞怯正向预测T3的网络依赖;T1和T2的网络依赖分别负向预测T2和T3的自尊。结论：羞怯与网络依赖之间存在恶性循环,并且网络依赖会导致自尊水平的下降。     

互联网使用动机、行为与其社会-心理健康的模型构建

以581名大学生为被试,采用结构方程模型技术构建了互联网使用动机、病理性互联网使用行为与其相关社会-心理健康的关系模型。其中,互联网使用动机包括信息获取性动机和人际情感性动机两种模式;病理性互联网使用行为包括上网冲动性、分离/逃避和网上优越感三个初级因素;互联网相关社会-心理健康包括孤独感、社会参与度、一般抑郁、生活幸福感和生活满意度五个初级因素,并进一步概括为社会健康和心理健康两个维度。研究结果表明,基于信息获取性动机而使用互联网有助于相关社会-心理健康水平的提高;基于人际情感性动机而使用互联网更容易导致病理性互联网使用行为,并由此对使用者的社会-心理健康产生负面影响;大学生使用互联网的积极效应大于消极效应,且信息获取性动机对社会健康具有更大的积极效应,而人际情感性动机对对心理健康具有更大的消极效应     

The emerging relationship of psychology and the Internet: proposed guidelines for conducting Internet intervention research

The Internet is rapidly developing into an important medium of communication in modern society, and both psychological research and therapeutic interventions are being increasingly conducted using this new communication medium. As therapeutic interventions using the Internet are becoming more prevalent, it is becoming increasingly important to conduct research on psychotherapeutic Internet interventions to assist in the development of an appropriate standard of practice regarding interventions using this new medium. In this article, we examine the Internet and the current psychological uses which are being initiated using this medium. Ethical concerns related to the psychological use of the Internet are discussed, and guidelines are proposed for the conduct of Internet intervention research.     

大学生心理需求与网络社交:认知评估与自我调控的作用

为探讨大学生心理需求、认知评估、自我调控和网络社交的关系,采用大学生心理需求量表、网络利弊权衡问卷、自我调控问卷和网络交往问卷对503名大学生进行调查,结果发现:(1)大学生心理需求可显著正向预测网络社交;对上网的好处和代价认知评估在两者间起部分中介作用。(2)自我调控在心理需求和网络社交间起调节作用。由此得出结论,大学生的心理需求可显著影响网络社交,对上网的好处和代价认知评估在二者间起中介作用,自我调控起调节作用。研究结果进一步揭示了心理需求影响网络社交的内在机制,可为网络时代大学生进行健康网络社交提供有益指导。     

Internet use in the contemporary media environment

Although a significant amount of research has focused on traditional media choice and use, and even on some ‘new’ media, these studies have either neglected the Internet and World Wide Web or were conducted prior to their recent popularity. This study offers a novel exploration of individuals' use of three Internet functions (information retrieval, information giving, and conversation capabilities) in the context of the use of other communication media. Data from 684 individuals demonstrate that the Internet is a multidimensional technology used in a manner similar to other, more traditional media. Specifically, conversation features of the Internet align with mediated interpersonal technologies (the telephone and electronic mail), whereas the Internet's information‐retrieval and information‐giving features are used in ways similar to mass media channels (newspapers, television, and books and magazines). In addition, needs fulfilled by these channels cluster in ways consistent with past research, regardless of the technologies employed to meet them.     

The impact of time online: social capital and cyberbalkanization.

Hypotheses and research questions about the Internet displacing social capital, atomizing users, creating loneliness, and creating new forms of community were addressed through an original survey of Internet users. A key innovation of this research is that it collects parallel measures of social capital for online and offline contexts, which can then be compared. The results show that while Internet use does suggest a displacing effect, it is also a source of new, qualitatively different social capital. However, there is no connection between Internet use and atomization (or out-group antagonism), and the latter is actually lower online. Taken together, the results suggest that the Internet is no panacea but is not a direct source of problems either. More likely is the case that the costs and benefits for individuals will be predicted by their personalities and particular kinds of Internet use. The results are discussed, along with their implications for theory and future research.     

儿童网络使用与学业成就：有调节的中介模型

摘 要 为探讨网络使用对学业成就的影响及其作用机制,从自我效能感理论的角度使用问卷对425名小学生进行调查。结果表明：（1）网络使用完全通过学习效能感的中介作用正向预测学业成就;（2）学习效能感中介作用受到开放性的调节,即在开放性高的个体中,学习效能感在网络使用与学业成就之间的中介效应不显著;在开放性低的个体中,学习效能在网络使用与学业成就之间有显著的中介效应。研究结果揭示了网络使用对学业成就的影响与作用机制,对家长、教育工作者根据儿童的个人特质对网络使用进行适度引导有启示意义。     

Gender Differences in the Use of the Internet by English Secondary School Children

Access to the Internet is an important issue in terms of equity and the UK government has stated ‘Our goal is to ensure that everyone who wants it has access to the Internet by 2005.’ (UK Online Annual Report, 2002). This survey of Internet use by 1340 secondary school students from four schools in the Teesside area of England was carried out in order to assess whether the government is realising its ambition of Internet access amongst 11–16 year-olds, and also to determine whether or not gender differences exist in Internet use. Furthermore, the data supplied are intended to inform later studies of more specific aspects of children's Internet use. Generally, it was found that most children used the Internet, were quite comfortable with it, and used it for a variety of applications. However, a considerable minority of respondents also considered themselves non-users of the Internet. There were also some gender differences found in the data which in general suggested something of a male bias towards Internet use. It was concluded that these are issues that need to be addressed for the purposes of equity and if the government is to achieve its goal of Internet access for all by 2005. A number of suggestions for further research into Internet use by children are also suggested in this paper.     

The promise of the internet for disability: a study of on-line services and web site accessibility at Centers for Independent Living

The Internet provides individuals with disabilities numerous tools to live independently. In the convenience of the home, a person can access an abundance of information, an electronic community, updates on the latest disability advocacy news, education through distance-learning classes, and on-line shopping for books, clothes, assistive technology, and a host of other consumer goods. Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are consumer-run, non-profit grassroots disability service organizations at the forefront of the disability rights movement. Providing services to individuals across the range of disabilities, CILs have begun to use the Internet as a complement to their traditional service delivery methods. This article examines the emerging trend of independent living services on the web. The investigation examines 200 CIL Internet sites across the United States during the period of April to August 2001. Information is collected and analyzed about how CILs are using the Internet to provide their services and programs. In addition, the article examines the technological accessibility of their web sites. Implications of the findings for CILs, consumers with disabilities, and disability policy are examined.     

Internet café addiction of Taiwanese adolescents.

With the recent vigorous development, the Internet has become a part of life. And the Internet café has become an emerging industry under this new wave of Internet heat. However, the Internet café has also brought about many unexpected social problems and negative effects on society in Taiwan. For example, Internet café addiction (or pathological use) is a particular phenomenon derived from Internet café in Taiwan. But currently there are just a few scholars who attend to this problem. This study focuses mainly on the phenomenon of Internet café addiction among adolescents in Taiwan, the Internet café patronage behavior, and the cause of this phenomenon. Result of a questionnaire survey indicate that a significant difference exists between male and female adolescent in the following two aspects: "the stay hours for each visit in Internet café" and "Internet café addiction scores." Males' stay hours in Internet café are longer than females', and males also get higher Internet café addiction scores than females. The results also indicate that participants' degree of self-esteem and support from their social network can account for 30% of variance of Internet café addiction. Further, the results also suggest that social support is positively related to Internet café addiction score, whereas a negative relationship between self-esteem and Internet café addiction score is observed.     

Internet Search Behaviors and Mood Alterations: A Selective Exposure Approach

The present study has been designed in an attempt to replicate and expand the parameters of D. Zillmann and J. Bryant's selective exposure approach to use of the Internet. In applying this theoretical framework to the Internet, it was expected that persons experiencing unpleasant levels of excitation would arrange their Internet environment in order to terminate their aversive states. Through experimentally manipulating levels of boredom and stress and subsequently recording Internet surfing patterns, it was found that although mood significantly predicted Internet hits, it was not associated with the hedonic valence of the site.     

The use of health technology and information: e-learning technological approach.

The Internet is becoming the preferred place for finding information. Millions of people go online in search of health and medical information. Likewise, health care professionals must be able to retrieve and manage information in an efficient, effective manner. The development of health technology and informatics (HTI) has been rapid, yet little is known about the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students with regard to using HTI. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to explore nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes toward using HTI and to use an e-learning workshop to enhance the effective use of HTI. In Phase I, 115 first-year full-time nursing students were invited to complete a 13-item questionnaire regarding knowledge of and attitudes toward computer and Internet use, knowledge of HTI, and attitudes toward the future development of HTI. Participants perceived themselves to be knowledgeable in computer and Internet use, while knowledge of HTI was perceived to be low and attitudes toward the future development of HTI were generally positive. Phase II was an e-learning HTI workshop; topics included an introduction to HTI, examples of HTI in use, and the application and implementation of various HTI projects. There were 30 participants in the E-learning workshop, and their feedback was positive. Nurses and all health care professionals must be prepared to participate in the development of health technology and informatics. Teaching and learning activities should be geared toward mastery of HTI in the nursing education curriculum in order to enhance health care quality and safety.     

Net-generation attributes and seductive properties of the internet as predictors of online activities and internet addiction.

Born between 1977 and 1997, Net-generation is the first generation to grow up surrounded by home computers, video games, and the Internet. As children of the Baby Boomers, the Internet is the medium of choice for the Net-geners. Based on the assumption that Net-generation has unique characteristics, this study examined (1) how Net-geners addicted to the Internet differ from the non-addicted and (2) how these attributes, together with the seductive properties of the Internet, are related to Internet addiction. Data were gathered from a probability sample of 699 Net-geners between the ages of 16 and 24. Results show that Net-geners addicted to the Internet tend to be young female students. Being emotionally open on the Net and a heavy user of ICQ were most influential in predicting Net-geners' problematic use of the Internet. Addicted Net-geners are also strongly linked to the pleasure of being able to control the simulated world in online games. The finding reinforces previous research that "dependents" of the Internet spend most of their time in the synchronous communication environment engaging in interactive online games, chat rooms, and ICQ for pleasure-seeking or escape, while "non-dependents" use information-gathering functions available on the Internet. Furthermore, Internet addicts tend to watch television significantly less, indicating a displacement effect on traditional media use for the Net-generation.     

负面评价恐惧与大学生网络过度使用的关系：社交焦虑和自我控制的中介作用

本研究以864名大学生为被试,探讨负面评价恐惧与网络过度使用的关系以及社交焦虑和自我控制在这一关系中的中介作用。结果发现：（1）负面评价恐惧与社交焦虑和网络过度使用之间均呈显著正相关,与自我控制存在显著负相关;（2）负面评价恐惧通过社交焦虑和自我控制的中介作用对网络过度使用产生影响,这一中介作用包含了三条路径：社交焦虑和自我控制的单独中介作用以及社交焦虑-自我控制的序列中介作用。这一结论有助于促进对大学生网络过度使用的干预与预防。     

Developmental Process of Internet Gaming Disorder among South Korean Adolescents: Effects of Family Environment and Recreation Experience

Despite growing public concern over Internet game use disorder, the popularity of Internet gaming has rapidly increased among adolescents. Since Internet gaming disorder has largely been investigated through the lens of serious psychiatric syndromes, most previous studies employed diverse psychopathological concepts like depression and anxiety. Unlike those studies, this study provides useful opportunities to better understand how adolescents’ Internet gaming disorder is conceptually linked with their family environment and recreation experience. Using a large sample of South Korean high school students (N?=?2215), this study found that adolescents’ levels of Internet gaming disorder were positively associated with their perception of constraints to recreation participation. The structural equation model additionally indicated that respondents’ problematic engagement in the online activity was negatively related to the cohesive and adaptable characteristics of family system. According to the effect decomposition results, the concept of leisure constraints served as more important factor than family functioning and leisure satisfaction in determining respondents’ degrees of problematic involvement in Internet gaming. This study also revealed that the exogenous variable of family functioning was significantly related to leisure constraints and leisure satisfaction with an opposite path coefficient sign. Based on study findings derived from the conceptual framework, several policy implications are discussed to decrease adolescents’ excessive immersion in Internet games.