Internet addiction prevalence in youths and its relation with depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and bullying

Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of internet addiction (IA), the predictors of IA, and its relation with depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and peer bullying. Methods: The sample of this study were selected from high school students in the city center of Mus, Turkey, by using a multistage sampling method. Students completed the Internet Addiction Scale, Peer Bullying Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Data obtained from 1150 students were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of internet addiction was 11.7%. IA scores correlated negatively with self-esteem scores and positively with depression scores. Students involved in the bullying cycle had a statistically significantly higher mean internet addiction score than those who were not involved in the cycle. Results of binary logistic regression analysis show that students who are both bully and victim are more likely to be addicted to the internet (odds ratio=1.68) than students who are not in the bullying cycle. Every unit increase in the depression score is associated with a 3.8% increase in the odds of being addicted to the internet. For every unit increase in the self-esteem score, the odds of internet addiction decreases by 1.7%. Conclusion: Results show that involvement in bullying, depression, and low self-esteem are predictors of internet addiction. Depression and low self-esteem should be the concurrent predictors for both bullying and internet addiction. Clinical interventions for internet addiction or bullying should include depression and low self-esteem.