The Associations Between Aggressive Behaviors and Internet Addiction and Online Activities in Adolescents

Ko, Chih-Hung; Yen, Ju-Yu; Liu, Shu-Chun; Huang, Chi-Fen; Yen, Cheng-Fang

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.11.011

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Volume 44, Issue 6 , Pages 598-605, June 2009

The Associations Between Aggressive Behaviors and Internet Addiction and Online Activities in Adolescents

Chih-Hung Ko, M.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Repubic of China
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 807, Republic of China
Ju-Yu Yen, M.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Repubic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 812, Taiwan, Republic of China
Shu-Chun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
Chi-Fen Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
Cheng-Fang Yen, M.D., Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Address correspondence to: Cheng-Fang Yen, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Received 19 March 2008; accepted 12 November 2008. published online 24 February 2009.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate (a) the association between Internet addiction and aggressive behaviors, as well as the moderating effects of gender, school, and depression on this association; and (b) to evaluate the association between Internet activities and aggressive behaviors.

Methods

A total of 9405 adolescents were recruited into this study and completed the questionnaires. Their aggressive behaviors, with or without Internet addiction, Internet activities, demographic data, with or without depression, self-esteem, family function, and the watching of violent TV were assessed.

Results

The results demonstrated that after controlling for the effects of shared associated factors and watching violent TV programs, adolescents with Internet addiction were more likely to have aggressive behaviors during the previous year. The association was more significant among adolescents in junior high schools than in senior high/vocational schools. Online chatting, adult sex Web viewing, online gaming, online gambling, and Bulletin Board System were all associated with aggressive behaviors.

Conclusions

The results suggest that preventive programs for aggressive behaviors should pay attention to Internet addiction among adolescents. Also, intervention to prevent the effects of Internet addiction on aggressive behaviors should be conducted as early as possible.

Keywords: Aggressive behavior, Internet addiction, Online chatting, Adult sex Web, Online gaming