EPA-0978 – Adolescents Who Use and Misuse Internet: A Research On Italian Teenagers

Abstract

Introduction:

The Internet provides adolescents the chance to experience autonomy through the collection of information and contact with peers with whom to share experiences, emotions and thoughts. A misuse of the Internet can occur if a teenager avoids real relationships and surfing the web turns into a psychological defense, in contrast with a healthy mental development.

Objectives:

and Aims The research investigates forms and motivations of misuse of the internet among a group of Italian teenagers. Objective of the work is the hypothesis of a correlation between massive use of internet and behaviours of social retreat.

Methods:

The research used a questionnaire. The areas of investigation were: school performance, hours of internet surfing, activity on the Internet (social networks, games, information research, gambling online), psychological reasons of the Internet use, behaviours of social retreat. 583 adolescents (45% males and 54% females, mean age 17 years) responded to the questionnaire.

Results:

The 6% of adolescents sample responded to always think the Internet even when not on the computer or gets irritated and reacts impulsively if someone bothers him while it is connected. The 5% prefer surfing rather then going out with friends. Hours of internet sulfing and responses of social retreat were correlated.

Conclusions:

The social retreat can be one of consequences of the Internet misuse, with difficulties in socializing and use of the Internet as a psychological defense.