Prevalence of behaviors indicative of excessive internet use in three adolescent populations

Abstract

Introduction: internet use has positive and negative factors. Among the latter is the possibility of creating an addiction to it, with harmful consequences, such as sedentary lifestyle, dissociation of the family and social environment among others. Objective: the objective of the work was to determine the prevalence of indicative behaviors of excessive use of the Internet in the adolescent population of three socioeconomic zones. Metodology: the population was made up of adolescents who are in secondary education, with age range from 15 to 18 years, in schools of three socio-economic levels: high, medium and low, all located in urban areas. The EUPI-a survey was used to measure excessive internet use based on 14 questions. Option three of Likert scale was defined as excessive use. Prior informed consent to parents and consent of adolescents, the survey was applied in the presence of classroom teachers. Results: 431 adolescents entered the study, 66 % were women. Average age 16 years (SD + 0.9). Excessive internet use among the adolescents studied varied between 3,2 and 35 %, with the highest prevalence in adolescents of high socioeconomic status. (p <0,05) Most affected areas were socialization, mood swings and fulfillment of duties. Conclusion: the use of internet in adolescents can affect their relationship in the family and social spheres. Interventions are needed so that the use of this technological tool does not trigger addiction.