Loneliness and internet addiction of adolescents

Abstract

Background: The aim of study was to assess relationships between internet addiction, loneliness and adolescents’ quality of life. Methods: The survey was conducted on a sample of 376 students, mean age 16. Questionnaire contained the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale and KIDSCREEN-10. Data were analysed using SPSS and AMOS programs. Findings: Almost 12% of adolescents were identified as internet addicted, the next 8% as at risk of addiction. 37,8% of young people were moderate lonely, 2,5% - severe lonely. Partial correlations with age and gender as controlled variables revealed statistically significant relationships between internet addiction and overall (r = 0,24) and emotional loneliness (r = 0,26), but not social loneliness. Level of loneliness (overall, emotional and social) was negatively correlated with quality of life (accordingly -0,39; -0,41; -0,14). Two different models of relationships between analysed variables were tested, but only model (where loneliness was a mediator between internet addiction and quality of life) achieved good fit parameters. Discussion: Emotional consequences of internet addiction are dangerous for adolescents’ quality of life.