(Kimberly. Young, The American Journal of Family Therapy, Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and Treatment Issues for Adolescents, 37:355-372, 2009 )
JOURNAL 3: internet addiction: the emergence of a new clinical disorder
This study was investigated the existence of Internet addiction and the extent of problems caused by such potential misuse. From this study, the author Kimberly S. Young (1996) did qualitative analyses suggests significant behavioral and functional usage differences between the two groups in Internet users for this study. They found that people viewed the Internet as a useful resource tool and a medium for personal and business communication; they enjoyed those aspects of the Internet which allowed them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas with new people through these highly interactive mediums. Additional probing revealed that people mainly used electronic mail to arrange "dates" to meet on-line or to keep in touch between real time interactions with new found on-line friends. On-line relationships were often seen as highly mate, confidential, and less threatening than real life friendships and reduced loneliness perceived in the their life.
They also state that excessive use of the Internet resulted in personal, family, and occupational problems that have been documented in established addictions such as pathological gambling eating and alcoholism. One interesting issue raised in this study is that, in general, the Internet itself is not addictive. This paper suggests that there exists an increased risk in the development of addictive use the more interactive the application utilized by the on-line user. It is possible that a unique reinforcement of virtual contact with on-line relationships may fulfill unmet real life social needs. Finally, this study also suggested that people were relative beginners on the Internet.
Therefore, it may be hypothesized that new comers to the Internet may be at a higher risk for developing addictive patterns of Internet use.
(Kimberly S. Young, CyberPsychology and Behavior, INTERNET ADDICTION:THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW CLINICAL DISORDER, Vol. 1 No. 3., pages 237-244 August 15, 1996)
2.2 ARTICLES
ARTICLE 1: Internet Addiction
“Many people use the Internet in order to handle unpleasant feelings such as stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.” (Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008) 3 The Internet is an easily obtained way and quickly for you to relieve stress or self-soothe, evade your problems when you have a bad day .It can temporarily make these feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air when losing yourself online. Features and symptoms of Internet addiction vary from person to person. For example, there are no set hours per day or number of messages sent that indicate Internet addiction. “There are some general warning signs that your Internet use may have become a problem: Some university students having trouble completing tasks at work or home. Some of them have segregate from family and friends, so they spend a lot of time online. Some of them have a feeling of great elation while involved in Internet activities.” (Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008)The drawbacks of Internet or computer addiction can also cause physical discomfort such as: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (pain and numbness in hands and wrists), Dry eyes or strained vision, Back aches and neck aches; severe headaches, Sleep disturbances and Pronounced weight gain or weight loss. The author Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal(2008) state the tips for dealing with Internet addiction: Decrease your Internet time to do some of these activities. Have a detailed plan before surf the Internet and stick to them. Take frequent breaks, at least 5 minutes each hour, and do some other activity. Alter your routine to break your usage patterns. If you spend evenings on the Internet, start limiting your use to mornings. Stay connected to the offline world. Visit newsstands, book and music stores, and participate in entertainment such as museums, music, and live theater. Treat the Internet as a tool. Encourage other interests and social activities. Monitor computer use and set clear limits.
(Online Addiction Joanna Saisan, MSW; Melinda Smith, M.A.; Lawrence Robinson; and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D October 2010Website: .)
ARTICLE 2: Internet Addition Guide
Some people need to use the Internet for their work or they might keep in contract with faraway family and friends via social networking sites. It is convenience for oversea students to contract with their family and friends. Some people addicted Internet that they desire to and do not want to handle problems in their lives. According to Grohol 2005, those problems may be a mental disorder like depression or a serious health problem or disability, or a relationship problems. From the author’s research, there is a Grohol’s Model of Pathological Internet Use and including three stages: enchantment disillusionment and balance. Some people get caught in enchantment and never beyond it. People might eventually go to balance by themselves. People need to realize the limitations of spend too much time online. Each person use Internet is different. It is better for students have a detailed plan before they surf the Internet and avoid spend too much time online.
(Internet Addition Guide Author: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. April 16, 2005 )
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
We are going to discuss the methodology of the research. The main objective of this research is to investigate about the factors and effects of online addiction for university students. To recognize the time and energy that students put into internet and what they are doing on the internet, data for the research will collected through questionnaires and observation.
3.2 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
This research had utilized both quantitative and qualitative research methodology. . We used primary method which we have questionnaires and also the secondary method, we get journals and articles from the Internet, to find the information about the factors and effects of online addiction.
3.3 PRIMARY RESEARCH
Primary research is the research that getting original data which we do direct by ourselves. The data get from primary research is more accurate than the secondary research data but it always take a lot of time to get the new information, such as do the interview or surveys from other individuals or groups (Secondary vs. Primary Market Research, nd). In our primary research, we consists of survey, group discussion and our group main research is survey. We have prepare a set of questionnaire contain which in multiple and yes-no choices. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions to research the factors and effects of online addiction for students. We do survey for 30 respondents consist of male and female, Chinese, Malaysian and others, age from 16 to 25.
3.4 SECONDARY RESEARCH
Secondary research result is a type of information that is readily provided by the public and media. Thus, qualitative type will be research that comes from secondary data such as internet, books, magazine and newspapers. (Secondary Market Research, 2011) In secondary research, we can only get some old data, so sometimes we do this secondary research as a reference.
In my group, we search the internet and read the books to get our secondary research. This secondary research is used to support the information that we get from the primary research and show the reliability of the information.
3.5 DATA ANALYSIS
To analyze the data, 10 questions which had completed were taken as data collection with a problem statement of the factors and effects of online addiction. Data was entered into the computer so that more convenient for analyzing by using Microsoft word 2007 software. Results occur through statistics and descriptions. The data that had been collected will be showed in supplement as a proof of the research about the factors and effects of online addiction for university students.
4.0) ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS
We are going to discuss about Findings and Analysis. Here we discussed the answers we from the respondents who are the students in International University concern about online addition.
QUESTIONNAIRES
This report is based on a sample of 30 questionnaires which were distributed to University students. The respondents were asked to respond to 10 questions which are related to the online addition among university students.
Among all these 10 questions, there are only one ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ selection questions which can be chosen whether students have after-images of the content you saw online when they are study. At the same time respondents need to state their reasons for this simple selection questions. The first and fifth question is ask respondents what is the choice they spend much time and what they usually do via Internet. It is require rate letter in the box. Question 2 to question 5 are related to how much time surf Internet per day, when do spend time online, the reason and factors result in respondents to search Internet. Question 6 to question 10 are refer to have a detail plan and set time before surf the Internet., whether have after-images of content they saw online when they study and whether spend much time online affect study, whether they feel boring and empty when they offline.
The findings of this questionnaire are subjected to tables, pie charts and the results are then converted to percentage. The majority of the respondents belong to the 19-21 years old group, and most of them are Chinese. And also, there are 60% of respondents are the male.
Table 1: Demographic Data of the Sample
4.1
Figure 1
Nowadays, more students have a lot of free time to do what they like. According to do a survey, a big amount of students would like to surf on the internet use more time. For 30 responders, there are 16 of them put surf on the internet to the first. Students also do a lot of sports to spend their time. A few of responders will go shopping, do part-time job, travel and join club to spend their free time. For students, they have a lot of activities. Those who rely on the internet may have addiction to internet. Because the convenience of internet, more and more students will spend more time on go online. It is easy to get information, to communicate with others. It is help them to far away from loneliness.
According to the secondary data, the Internet is an easily obtained way and quickly for you to relieve stress or self-soothe, evade your problems when you have a bad day .It can temporarily make these feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air when losing yourself online.( Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008). Students would like to choose to go online instead of attend real activities.
4.2
Figure2
Table 2
All above this question, we found that half of student surf the Internet for 5-8 hours. Even there is 20% person use 9-12 hours online. 10% people only use less than 4 hours. We all know the day-time only have 12 hours but half of respondent get online for 5-8 hours means may be more than half of day time they used to online.
According to Joanna Saisan(2010), she notice that being online with a long time which can cause physical discomfort such as: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (pain and numbness in hands and wrists), Dry eyes or strained vision, Back aches and neck aches; severe headaches, Sleep disturbances and Pronounced weight gain or weight loss.
So from this case, we must wake up for prevent these things happened, in our university life Internet may be attractive, but we must have a good habit in using Internet, getting more fun by other ways, making our university life more interesting. By the way, this question could be related with question 3 to discuss.
4.3
Figure 3
Table3
From the research result of this question, the most student use the free time to be on-line. But there still have three people in sleeping time and one person in class time getting on-line which clearly is the wrong time for university student. If many students getting on-line at the wrong time, it may led to some bad effects in their university life.
According to Mustafa KOC(2011), he state that university students will lead more internet use because of many factors such as difficulty adapting to life away from home and underlying psychological problems. These includes free Internet access, huge blocks of unstructured time, newly experienced freedom from parental intervention, no monitoring of what they express online, full encouragement from faculty members for Internet usage.
So in my opinion, from both of question 2 and question 3 we university students, first away from high school, parents and home, it seem have more free time, we must make full use of these time, not just always being online
4.4
Figure 4
Table 4
16 of the 30 responders to search internet are to spend time. To search the internet, they will chatting, play games and read news also. 8 responders is to go online because they have to search some materials from online to do homework or study. There also have 3 responders attracted by the internet. They are curious about internet. Few students to go online are affected by friends or classmate. Nowadays, almost students have experiences for go online. Many students addicted to internet. They cannot control themselves to go internet. Students have a lot of free time. They can do anything they want. Because of the convenience of internet, most students like to spend time with internet.
According to the secondary data, when students spend more time on internet, they will find a lot of interesting things, they may be attracted by games or other things. Then they will spend the time on internet more than before. Then they will addicted to internet. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that new comers to the Internet may be at a higher risk for developing addictive patterns of Internet use. (Young, 2010) The Internet is an easily obtained way and quickly for you to relieve stress or self-soothe, evade your problems when you have a bad day .It can temporarily make these feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air when losing yourself online. ( Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008) Internet also can prevent students feel lonely and can reduce their stress.
4.5
Figure 5
According to the 30 responders rated the choices, for university students to go online to spend more time is chatting. They chat with their friends far away. They use chatting tools to communicate with their friends. To rate at the second is play games. Most students like to play game online. And they will play games all the whole day without study and attend class. When students should to do assignment, they will use internet to collect information for their study or writing. Few students use the e-commerce and e-business to operation online.
Based on the secondary data, They found that people viewed the Internet as a useful resource tool and a medium for personal and business communication, they enjoyed those aspects of the Internet which allowed them to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas with new people through these highly interactive mediums. Additional probing revealed that people mainly used electronic mail to arrange "dates" to meet on-line or to keep in touch between real time interactions with new found on-line friends. On-line relationships were often seen as highly mate, confidential, and less threatening than real life friendships and reduced loneliness perceived in the their life.(Young, 2010). And Grohol said that Some people need to use the Internet for their work or they might keep in contract with faraway family and friends via social networking sites. It is convenience for oversea students to contract with their family and friends.( Grohol, 2005). And The gamers also loss of interest in other activities, as the addiction progress grow, gamers become less interested in hobbies or activities that they used to enjoy and become more fascinated with living inside the game.(Young, 2009). For gamers, they want to have high level, so they addicted themselves on online gaming.
For this question is related to question 4. For those always spend time online have the problem to addicted online. Once they fund the interesting of online world, they will cannot control themselves.
4.6
Figure 6
Table 6
In this question, we found that the most students would have a plan in surfing Internet, we can see 30% often have plans, 20% of them have plans frequently, 43% may be not often but still have. However there no one choose always, means they also still have boring time which used being on-line without a detail plan.
Tips for dealing with Internet addiction: Decrease your Internet time to do some of these activities. Have a detailed plan before surf the Internet and stick to them. Take frequent breaks, at least 5 minutes each hour, and do some other activity. Alter your routine to break your usage patterns. If you spend evenings on the Internet, start limiting your use to mornings. Stay connected to the offline world. Visit newsstands, book and music stores, and participate in entertainment such as museums, music, and live theater. Treat the Internet as a tool.( Saisan,2010)
Saisan (2010) is trying to tell us have good habits is so important when surfing on the Internet, in this case, I believe there is something related with question7, so many students often have a detail plan before being on-line which is the one of good habits, we must have more and more habits like what Saisan(2010) said, only this way we can prevent Internet addiction happened effectively.
4.7
Figure 7
Table 7
Based on question 7, 97% students who once surfing on the Internet then hard to quit it, and always want to continue being on-line. More than half of students often come out this situation. There have 10% people may always have situation like this. From this result, there is no doubt it may cause more online addiction happened.
In general, the Internet itself is not addictive. Kimberly S. Young (1996), suggests that there exists an increased risk in the development of addictive use the more interactive the application utilized by the on-line user. It is possible that a unique reinforcement of virtual contact with on-line relationships may fulfill unmet real life social needs. He also notice that people were relative beginners on the Internet.Therefore, it may be hypothesized that new comers to the Internet may be at a higher risk for developing addictive patterns of Internet use.
In my point, both of question 6 and question 7 notice us, people come out always want to go on being on-line, not only the Internet itself caused like Kimberly S. Young (1996) said, use more interactive the application utilized by the online user like facebook or some other software to led this situation happened frequently.
4.8
Figure 8
Table 8
From the survey research question 8, we found that 30% student of sample choose often suffer because of the amount of time you spend online. 23% student frequently and often spent much time online affect the study. 14% student occasionally spent time online affect the study. Only 7% student always spent much time online.
From the secondary research gathered, they found that the gamers lying or hiding gaming use for example, some gamers spend days and nights online. They do not eat, sleep or take a shower because of the game. They lie to family and friends about what they are really doing on the computer.(Kimberly,2009)
In our research, there are above half respendents often spend much time online so that influence their home work or grades. This question can related to question 9, half respondents have after images of the content they saw online when they study. It impact university student to focus on study. Question 8 also can related to question 10 , some of students feel boring empty and joyless when they off-line. The gamers also loss of interest in other activities and become more fascinated with living inside the game.
4.9
Figure 9
Table 9
From the survey research question 9, There are 17 respondents choose yes and we can conclude that most students have after-images of the content they saw online when they study. The factors influence respondents have after-images including they used to enjoy and become more fascinated with living inside the game, no set hours per day to view Internet and have less focus on study. 43% respondents without have after-images of the content they saw online when they study. The reason without have after-images including respondents want to have a good grade, view the Internet as a useful resource tool but do not have online addition. Some of them are aware of cannot focus on the work or activities.
According to Kimberly,(2009), gamers become less interested in hobbies or activities that they used to enjoy and become more fascinated with living inside the game. They often want to be the best at the game, in order to grow in game, they will continue use despite its consequence. The author shows us some good and effective way to defense the gaming addiction like set time on playing time, push for educational type game instead and so on.
Based on the research, this question can related to question 8 and 9. Some students spend much time online or have after-image of the content they saw online so that affect their study. Students spend too much time online like play games, watch movies and chat with family, friends. This cause some of them feel boring and empty when they are offline. The phenomenon especially for overseas student who in a place far away from home, do not have friends and everything need to depend on theirselves.
4.10
Figure 10
Table 10
According to the table and bar chart above, nearly half of the respondents feel boring, empty and joyless when they are off-line. And 27% of the respondents are occasionally and 10% of the respondents are rarely feel boring when offline.
From the secondary research, Internet use with an increase in psychological difficulties such as depression and loneliness. Addicted users were more likely than no addicted Internet users to be depressed. (Mustafa, 2011) “Many people use the Internet in order to handle unpleasant feelings such as stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety.” The Internet is an easily obtained way and quickly for you to relieve stress or self-soothe, evade your problems when you have a bad day .It can temporarily make these feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air when losing yourself online. (Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008)
In our research, there are many students feel empty, boring and joyless when they offline. As mentioned above, Internet become the easily and quickly way for students to express stress avoid problems when they have a bad day. This question can related to question 8 and question 9. Students spend much time online and do not have enough time and energy to focus on study.
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 OVERALL SUMMARIZATION OF THE RESEARCH
As our mentioned in the introduction, online addiction become to influence the students’ life and learning. This research is about the factors and effects of online addiction for students.
From 3 journals and 2 articles, we found that there are many factors, like to handle unpleasant feelings such as stress (Young, 2009),provide a special place for students to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas with new people (Kimberly S. Young, 1996) and so on. Also there have many effects such as cause physical discomfort (Mustafa KOÇ, 2011), cause family and occupational problems, and even personal psychological problems. At the same time, we get some solutions for online addiction.
Primary data were successfully collected by randomly distributing the questionnaire which has 10 questions that had been prepared by 30 students in university include Malaysian, Chinese and students from other countries.
From the findings, we can conclude that there are many factors and effects of online addiction for students. A big amount of students like to use more time surf on the internet than sports, travel and others. Most students spend 5-8 hours online. This include free time, sleeping time, reduce entertainment time and even class time. They use the internet to spend time, get information and communicate with others. This could help them get far away from loneliness and they cannot control themselves to leave the internet. We are so happy to see that the most students have a plan in surfing the internet even though not in detail. But unfortunately, some students spend days and nights online. These students also loss of interest in other activities and become more fascinated with living inside the game. Most students have after-images of the content they saw online when they study. Students feel empty, boring and joyless when they are offline. The Internet is not bad and it has a lot of information available. Every day the Internet is accessed by people gathering information, checking E-mail and chatting with people all over the world. It is in both businesses and homes. In fact, we are use the Internet when we doing this research. However, it can also contribute to problems mentioned earlier: this is a factor that take a long time for us to search the Internet.
5.2 IMPLICATION AND LIMITATION
This survey provide valuable information that can be use to guide its success. The development of internet worldwide is unstoppable. Online addiction become to be a popular problem, especially for student. This topic is a hot topic. However, implement a survey, both positive and negative results could happened and we must prepare to respond. The result of this study shows that there are too many factors and effects of online addiction of students. In fact, this research are only the information that we get from students which study in International University and it is not related with other university students or other parts in society since they didn’t join this program.
When we conducting of this research, we also face some limitations. First, we had difficulty in finding our main journal and article cause there are a variety of articles and journals and hard to find the best one. Secondly, we had encountered problems during our questionnaire session where the respondent did not give back on time. Another problem in survey is the respondents limit in Malaysian and Chinese, lack of other foreigners such as European. Besides, because of our group members all have different time table, thus we are hard to find a suitable time to do the discussion as we all not live together and facing some trouble during doing this report.
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
Based on the findings and conclusions of the study, there are several recommendations can be considered:
- People need to realize the limitations of spend too much time online. It is better for students have a detailed plan before they surf the Internet and avoid spend too much time online. (Grohol, 2005)
- Take frequent breaks, at least 5 minutes each hour, and do some other activity such as do the sports. Stay connected to the offline world. Visit newsstands, book and music stores, and participate in entertainment such as museums, music, and live theater. (Saisan, Smith, Robinson, and Segal, 2008)
- Surfing couldn’t regard as a tool of escape from real-life problems. Because when you off-line, you will find the problems still be there.
- Ask for help from friends and parents. When you are playing on the internet, they can talk to you or ask you to do exercise. It better than surfing the internet.
REFERENCES
Internet Addiction, Childnet International 2006. [Online] Available: February 2011]
Internet Addition Guide Author: John M. Grohol, Psy.D. April 16, 2005
Kimberly. Young, The American Journal of Family Therapy, Understanding Online Gaming Addiction and Treatment Issues for Adolescents, 37:355-372, 2009
Kimberly S. Young, CyberPsychology and Behavior, INTERNET ADDICTION:THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW CLINICAL DISORDER, Vol. 1 No. 3., pages 237-244 August 15, 1996
Mustafa KOÇ, The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, INTERNET ADDICTION AND PSYCHOPATOLOGY , volume 10 Issue 1 page143-148, January 2011,
Online Addiction Joanna Saisan, MSW; Melinda Smith, M.A.; Lawrence Robinson; and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D October 2010 Website: .
Secondary vs. Primary Market Research, [Online], Available: Feb 2011]
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Young, K.Y.S.(2007). Cognitive Behavior Therapy with internet addicts: Treatment Outcomes and implications, Cyber psychology & Behavior Volume 10, Number 5, 671-679.
Young K, Rodgers R. (1998). The relationship between depression and Internet addiction. Cyber Psychology & Behavior; 1: 25-8.