Background: The internet was originally designed to facilitate communication and research
activities. However, the dramatic increase in the use of the internet in recent years has led to
pathological use (Internet addiction disorder). The adolescent population is highly prone to
internet addiction and this can affect their personal, family, academic, interpersonal and social
life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the internet addiction disorder on adolescents'
students. Research design: A Descriptive design was used in this study. Setting: The study was
conducted at all secondary schools for girls at Benha City they named; Benha Secondary
School, El Shimaa Secondary School, and Om Elmoamneen Secondary School. The sample
included 200 secondary female students they were selected as systematic random sample from
studied schools. Tools: A structured interviewing questionnaire consisted of five parts 1) the
socio-demographic characteristics, 2) the pattern of internet use, 3) diagnostic criteria of internet
addiction among the students, 4) students' knowledge regarding internet addiction and 5)
student's reported practices regarding internet addiction disorder. Results of this study showed;
42% of the students aged from 15 to less than 16 years old (X±SD = 15.62 ± 1.12). As regard
birth order 79% were the youngest, 48% of them in the third year of the study, and 75% live in
urban area. 75% of the students were having the accessibility to internet at home, and 65% of
them use the Internet every free time per day. Total knowledge scores of the secondary schools
students regarding internet addiction disorder were good for only31%, and the total practices
scores regarding internet addiction were satisfactory for only 26% of the students. This study
concluded that: The internet addiction has a high negative impact among the students. Also there
were high statistically significant relation between socio demographic characteristics of the
students and their knowledge and practices regarding internet addiction disorder. The study
recommended that: A similar study can be replicated on a large sample and a comparative study
can be done with students of different groups of adolescents.
|
