1. The Gender-Sensitive Social Risk Factors for Internet Addiction in College Undergraduate Students
- Author
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Xiao Hong Ma, Ya Jing Meng, Mingli Li, Jing Yan Gu, Andy S. K. Cheng, Xia Lin, Tao Li, Lian Sheng Zhao, Hui Yao Wang, Wei Deng, Ting Chen, Xiao Jing Li, and Wan Jun Guo
- Subjects
Internet addiction ,Cross-sectional study ,media_common.quotation_subject ,education ,Population ,Psychological intervention ,030508 substance abuse ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Intervention (counseling) ,College students ,Risk factor ,Biological Psychiatry ,media_common ,education.field_of_study ,Infatuation ,business.industry ,Addiction ,Gender ,030227 psychiatry ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Risk factors ,Cross-sectional survey ,Original Article ,The Internet ,0305 other medical science ,Psychology ,business ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Objective The current study aims to explore precipitating and social risk factors for internet addiction (IA) in university undergraduate students, and to provide evidence for interventions and the early prevention of IA in different genders.Methods Four thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight college sophomores completed an online survey on their internet use-related behaviours and social risk factors.Results We found that more male (8.3%) than female students (5.4%) had moderate and severe IA. The main online activity in the moderate and severe IA groups was online gaming in males and online streaming in females. Roommates engaging in similar internetbased entertainment was a risk factor of IA only for males, while not being in a romantic relationship was a risk factor of IA for females only. Infatuation with the internet before college and adjustment problems for college life were shared risk factors for both genders in the mild and moderate IA groups.Conclusion IA was a common phenomenon in college students with shared and unique precipitating and social risk factors in males and females. The gender-sensitive risk factors for IA warranted earlier and individualized intervention and prevention strategies for IA in this population.
- Published
- 2021
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