ARTICLE
Problematic Internet Use and health behaviors in adolescent residents of urban and rural areas in Poland - a cross-sectional study
1
Department of Medical Law of the Social Medicine Chair, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Poland
2
Student Science Club, Social Medicine Chair, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Poland
3
Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460, Poland
4
Department of Social Medicine and Public Health of the Social Medicine Chair, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Poland
Submission date: 2019-05-21
Final revision date: 2019-08-26
Acceptance date: 2019-08-28
Online publication date: 2019-12-18
Publication date: 2019-12-18
Corresponding author
Marta Kożybska
Department of Medical Law of the Social Medicine Chair, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Poland
Department of Medical Law of the Social Medicine Chair, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Szczecin, Żołnierska 48, 71-210, Poland
Arch Psych Psych 2019;21(4):82-91
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
This paper attempts to assess Internet addiction and health behaviors in Polish adolescent residents of urban and rural areas.
Subject or material and methods:
131 high school students, including 62 (47.3%) residents of rural and 69 (52.7%) residents of urban areas, completed the Polish adaptation of the Problematic Internet Use Test, the Health Behavior Inventory for children and adolescents, and a self-designed survey on the characteristics of Internet use.
Results:
28.2% of respondents used the Internet for over 6 hours on school days, compared to 45.8% on no-school days. In total, high and very high risk of Internet addiction was recorded in 7.7% of respondents. Significantly higher PIU scores were reported in the residents of rural areas (p <0.05). Most respondents exhibited positive health behaviors. Higher index of general health behaviors correlated with a stronger declared willingness to reduce online activity in favor of spending time outside the house.
Discussion:
Creating more opportunities for teenagers to spend time outdoors/away from home can contribute to their reduced online activity, and thus reduce the risk of PIU.
Conclusions:
Young people devote much of their time to Internet use, which is associated with their lesser engagement in health behaviors.
This paper attempts to assess Internet addiction and health behaviors in Polish adolescent residents of urban and rural areas.
Subject or material and methods:
131 high school students, including 62 (47.3%) residents of rural and 69 (52.7%) residents of urban areas, completed the Polish adaptation of the Problematic Internet Use Test, the Health Behavior Inventory for children and adolescents, and a self-designed survey on the characteristics of Internet use.
Results:
28.2% of respondents used the Internet for over 6 hours on school days, compared to 45.8% on no-school days. In total, high and very high risk of Internet addiction was recorded in 7.7% of respondents. Significantly higher PIU scores were reported in the residents of rural areas (p <0.05). Most respondents exhibited positive health behaviors. Higher index of general health behaviors correlated with a stronger declared willingness to reduce online activity in favor of spending time outside the house.
Discussion:
Creating more opportunities for teenagers to spend time outdoors/away from home can contribute to their reduced online activity, and thus reduce the risk of PIU.
Conclusions:
Young people devote much of their time to Internet use, which is associated with their lesser engagement in health behaviors.
| eISSN: | 2083-828X |
| ISSN: | 1509-2046 |
Project no. RCN/SN/0189/2021/1 implemented from 2022 to 2024
Total value of the project: PLN 200 000
Amount funded by the MEiN: PLN 80 000
Aims of the project: Publication in Open Access mode on the Internet of 8 consecutive issues of the journal Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (years 2022-2024). Modernization and redesign of the journal’s website. Financing of the Editorial System. Copy editing and proofreading of journal issues. Counteracting scientific misinformation. Submission of electronic versions of the journal to the National Digital Library Polona and the Digital Library of Scientific Publications Academica.
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