Dalamaria T, Pinto WDJ, Farias EDS, Souza OFD. INTERNET ADDICTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN A WESTERN BRAZILIAN AMAZONIAN CITY.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020;
39:e2019270. [PMID:
32638945 PMCID:
PMC7333942 DOI:
10.1590/1984-0462/2021/39/2019270]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Objective:
Analyze the prevalence and factors associated with internet addiction in a
sample of high school adolescents in Acre, a state in northern Brazil.
Methods:
A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,387
adolescents between 14 and 18 years old enrolled in high schools in the city
of Rio Branco, Acre. A structured questionnaire with questions about
demographics, family and behavioral patterns was applied. Internet addiction
was verified using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), with a cutoff equal to
or greater than 70 points. The associated factors were identified by
multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results:
The overall prevalence of Internet addiction was 10.6%. Higher dependence
was observed in females. The factors associated with Internet addiction were
being female, using the computer for more than two hours a day during
weekdays and on the weekend, not practicing physical activities and going
out to dance at nightclubs and concerts at least once a month. A protective
association of reading habits in relation to Internet dependence was
observed.
Conclusions:
The present study showed a high prevalence of Internet dependence, with
female adolescents being more susceptible. Behavioral aspects were
associated with internet dependence in a sample of adolescents from Rio
Branco, Acre.
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