Frequency and Characteristics of Internet Use by Spanish Teenagers
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Original article Frequency and characteristics of Internet use by Spanish teenagers. A cross-sectional study Ricardo E. Reolid-Martínez, M.D.,a María Flores-Copete, M.D.,a Mónica López-García, M.D.,a Pilar Alcantud-Lozano, M.D.,a M. Candelaria Ayuso-Raya, M.D.,a and Francisco Escobar-Rabadán, M.D.a ABSTRACT communicate.1 Internet apps offer Introduction. Internet has completely changed youth new opportunities to be communication among people in today’s world, especially among young users. The objective of creative and to learn, together with this study is to establish the frequency of Internet the possibility of making exchanges use by teenagers, and most used apps. and horizontal communication.2 The Population and methods. This was a cross- advantages offered by Internet are sectional study. In November 2013, students attending two mandatory secondary schools undeniable, but it may bring a degree in Albacete were invited to complete a self- of dependence that could have an administered questionnaire with close-ended effect on daily life.3 and open questions. Questionnaires were During adolescence, a search for completed in the classroom, either “online” or “with pen and paper”. Answers were entered in a instant gratification and curiosity computer database using the SPSS 17.0 software. for new experiences converge with Statistical analysis included a comparison of a feeling of invulnerability, making proportions (χ² test) and mean/median values adolescents to be more exposed to (Student’s t test/non-parametric tests). 4 Results. Nine hundred and sixty-seven students risky behaviors. “Internet addiction” participated; their mean age was 13.8 years old has been described and consequently (range: 11-20); 53.5% were girls. Most students developed in the scientific literature (70.9%) lived in the city. Most belonged to a in relation to its impact on mental middle (51.3%) and high (34.8%) socioeconomic 5,6 status. Also most students went online on a daily health, beyond its potential basis (73.4%); only 0.9% indicated that they never commercial uses to disseminate did. The most frequently used apps included and sell different products (alcohol, WhatsApp (77.1%), social networks (70.1%) and tobacco, music, violent games, music apps (66.6%). Among girls, the most common 7 Internet use was social networks (p= 0.004), etc.). The DSM-V has now included WhatsApp (p< 0.0001), Instagram (p < 0.0001) and the so-called Internet gaming listening to music (p= 0.004). Boys most commonly disorder. Together with this well- used the Internet to browse the web (p < 0.0001), defined clinical condition, excessive Skype (p= 0.001), play (p < 0.0001) and watch movies or TV shows (p= 0.035). Internet use has also been described, Conclusions. Internet takes up a large part of the and although it is not considered time in adolescents’ lives, especially as a means a psychopathological disorder, it of communications, being WhatsApp and social has negative consequences on the networks the most commonly used apps. 8 Key words: adolescent, Internet, means of social educational or family setting. communication, computers, mobile phone. An association has been identified a. University Health Center for Region IV between Internet addiction and of Albacete. Albacete, different psychopathological Spain. disorders,9,10 which may cause psychiatric comorbidity on 13%- E-mail Address: 11 Francisco Escobar- INTRODUCTION 26% of patients with this condition, Rabadán, M.D.: jescobarr@ The widespread use of new as well as with certain personality sescam.jccm.es information and communication traits (introversion, depression, technologies (ICT) has transformed aggressiveness, substance abuse) that Funding: None. relationships among people in today’s may predispose patients to social world, especially among youth. isolation, thus making them more Conflict of interest: For most of them, web browsing, susceptible to excessive Internet use.12 None. using virtual social networks, video The main objective of this study is Received: 6-18-2015 games and mobile phones resulted to establish the frequency of Internet Accepted: 8-10-2015 in a radical change in how they use by teenagers, and most used apps. Frequency and characteristics of Internet use by Spanish teenagers. A cross-sectional study In addition, the following secondary objectives A pilot test was conducted with 11 voluntary have been proposed: students from other schools. This allowed to • To know the frequency of social network use correct hardly comprehensible or confusing by teenagers and the most commonly used terms. social networks. The students who participated in the study • To establish Internet use strategies by completed the questionnaire in their classrooms, teenagers that may imply a risk for them, their either “online” or “with pen and paper”, once families or computer equipment. their parents and teachers had provided their • To know the opinion of teenagers on parental informed consent and students had given control regarding Internet use and establish their assent. At least one of the investigators possible avoidance strategies used by them. was present during the administration of the questionnaire in order to facilitate completion and POPULATION AND METHODS clear any doubts. This was a cross-sectional study. The sample Answers were coded and entered in a size was estimated to be 865, for an expected computer database using the SPSS 17.0 software. proportion of Internet use of 90%, with a +2% Statistical analysis included a comparison of accuracy level and a 95% confidence level.We proportions (χ² test) and median values (Student’s opted to use a convenience sample: students t test) for continuous outcome measures with from two schools that were easily accessible to normal distribution, and non-parametric tests investigators and whose number of students for those with an abnormal distribution. A would fulfill the required size more than enough. logistic regression analysis was used to study the The project was approved by the authorities of relationship between the frequency of connection both schools where it was conducted. to Internet and social network use and the In November 2013, students attending two different recorded sociodemographic outcome mandatory secondary schools in Albacete measures. were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire (Annex) with close-ended and open RESULTS questions. The questionnaire was specifically Nine hundred and sixty-seven students designed based on the information found in a completed the questionnaire; no one literature review and in accordance with the study refused to participate. Table 1 describes their objectives. It also recorded data on age, sex, place sociodemographic characteristics. Their age of residence and parents’ employment, which ranged from 11 to 20 years old, and there was a were used to estimate participants’ socioeconomic slight predominance of girls, with no significant status.13 differences between both schools for these outcome • Class I: executive, professional. measures. There were no significant differences in • Class II: manager, business owner, less- terms of age between boys and girls. qualified professional. Most students went online on a daily basis • Class III: mid-level professional, office clerk, (Table 2). The two extreme options (connect government employee. occasionally/several hours a day) were the most • Class IVa: qualified manual worker. common among girls (p= 0.0002). Students from • Class IVb: semi-qualified manual worker. a least-favored socioeconomic status tended • Class V: unqualified worker. to connect either never or less than weekly • Class VI: other (unemployed, retired, housewife). (20.8%) compared to middle- and high-class Each student was assigned the code students (14.6% and 14.1%, respectively; p= 0.03). corresponding to the highest qualification of his/ Frequency of connection increased directly with her father and/or mother (for example, if his/her age, with a median of 12 years old (interquartile father was a qualified manual worker and his/ range [IQR]: 12-14) for those who never connected her mother was an office clerk, the corresponding to the Internet and 15 years old (IQR: 14-15) for code was 3). In order to facilitate the use of those who stated that they were almost always this outcome measure with a lower number of connected (p < 0.0001). No significant differences categories, codes were grouped as follows: 1 and were observed between both schools or by place 2: high and middle-high class. 3: middle class. 4-7: of residence in terms of frequency of connection middle-low and low class. to the Internet. Original article The most widely used apps were WhatsApp certain apps at an older age: movies, music, (77.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 74.4%- Instagram, WhatsApp and social networks, as 79.8%), social networks (70.1%; 95% CI: well as browsing the web (p= 0.014). In terms 67.2%-73.1%) and music apps (66.6%; 95% of socioeconomic status, significant differences CI:63.6%-69.6%). Figure 1 shows the frequency (p= 0.007) were observed only in relation to of use of the different apps in each school, while social network use: 75.5% among middle-class Figure 2 shows it by place of residence. Table 2 participants versus 68.9% among high-class details differences in app use by gender. There students and 62.0% among low-class kids. was a greater likelihood (p < 0.0001) of using Among social networks, 579 users who TABLE 1.Sociodemographic characteristics of students participating in the study. Age is described as mean years old (standard deviation), the remaining outcome measures are expressed as relativef requency (%) Universidad School Laboral (n= 559) No. 7 (n= 408) Total (n= 967) Age 13.8 (1.4) [NR: 52] 13.7 (1.4) [NR: 12] 13.8 (1.4) [NR: 64] Sex Girls 279 (54.5) 210 (52.2) 489 (53.5) Boys 233 (45.5) 192 (47.8) 425 (46.5) NR 47 6 53 Socioeconomic status High and middle-high 144 (29.4) 158 (41.7)* 302 (34.8) Middle 72 (14.7) 80 (21.1) 152 (17.5) Middle-low and low 273 (55.8) 141 (37.2)* 414 (47.7) NR 70 29 99 Place of residence Urban 290 (57.8) 396 (99.0)* 686 (76.1) Rural 212 (52.2) 4 (1.0)* 216 (23.9) NR 57 8 65 n: number of subjects.