Prevalence and Risk Factors of Internet Addiction Among Employed Adults in Japan

Journal of Epidemiology

Satoshi Tsuboi¹  Hideyuki Kanda²  Hideki Tsumura²  Nagisa Sugaya³  Kenzo Takahashi⁴ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan;Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Shimane, Japan;Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yokohama, Japan;Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan;

关键词: Internet addiction;    online gaming;    prevalence;    risk factors;    school personnel;   

DOI  :  10.2188/jea.JE20160185

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: The prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among employed adults has not been reported using a large sample. To clarify the actual status of addictive Internet use among employed adults, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors of IA and at-risk IA among employed adults in Japan. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed all junior and senior high school personnel in Shimane Prefecture, a rural area in Japan. Eligible participants included 3,211 junior and senior high school personnel (1,259 men and 1,952 women). Participants completed a questionnaire on their activities and factors related to Internet use. Results: The prevalence of IA and at-risk IA was 0.03% and 4.82%, respectively. Furthermore, game playing was shown to be the Internet activity most closely associated with at-risk IA. Conclusions: This study showed that around 5% of school personnel in a rural area in Japan are at risk for developing addiction to the Internet and that using the Internet for game playing is related to at-risk IA. Our results suggest that employed adults should be instructed to use the Internet properly.

【 授权许可】

Unknown