ERIC Number: EJ961281
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Apr
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0140-1971
EISSN: N/A
Adolescents' Over-Use of the Cyber World--Internet Addiction or Identity Exploration?
Israelashvili, Moshe; Kim, Taejin; Bukobza, Gabriel
Journal of Adolescence, v35 n2 p417-424 Apr 2012
In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the Internet can serve as a valuable tool assisting adolescents in pursuing the developmentally-related need for self concept clarity. Participants in the study were 278 adolescents (48.5% girls; 7th-9th graders) who completed questionnaires relating to their levels of Internet use, Internet addiction, ego development, self consciousness, self-concept clarity, and personal demographic data. The study results support the general notion that adolescents' level of self-clarity is negatively related to Internet addiction and over-use. Hence, it is suggested that future studies on adolescents' Internet over-use should use qualitative rather than quantitative conceptualization and measurements in order to properly explore such a behavior and its, either positive or negative, implications. A differentiation is proposed between "over-users", "heavy users", and "addicted users". Namely, "over-users" and "heavy users" utilize the Internet for age-related and modern-life-related purposes, and hence should not be labeled as addicted. Implications for the measurement, definition, and treatment of Internet over-use are suggested. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Questionnaires, Adolescents, Internet, Addictive Behavior, Self Concept, Adolescent Attitudes, Measurement, Qualitative Research, Definitions, Therapy
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A