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Factor Structure of the Internet Addiction Scale and Its Associations with Psychiatric Symptoms for Korean Adolescents

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Abstract

In this paper, we explore underlying factors of Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) and examine how the dimensions of the IAS relate to psychiatric symptoms in Korean adolescents. Exploratory factor analysis with a sample of N = 1,722 consisted of 13–15 year old Korean adolescents identified three distinctive factors of IAS and they were labeled ‘time management’, ‘withdrawal behaviors’ and ‘neglect work’. Then, multiple regression models were applied to assess the association between each factor and eight psychological problems, which were evaluated by Youth Self Report. The overall IAS was significantly associated with Somatic, Immature, Thought, Attention, Delinquent and Aggressive behaviors. However, three factor scores showed different association patterns and indicated multidimensional aspects of problematic Internet use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Ajou University, San 5 Woncheon-Dong Yeongtong-Gu, Suwon, Kyunggi-Do, 443-749, Korea

    Minje Sung

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea

    Yun-Mi Shin & Sun-Mi Cho

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  1. Minje Sung
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  2. Yun-Mi Shin
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  3. Sun-Mi Cho
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Correspondence to Minje Sung.

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Sung, M., Shin, YM. & Cho, SM. Factor Structure of the Internet Addiction Scale and Its Associations with Psychiatric Symptoms for Korean Adolescents. Community Ment Health J 50, 612–618 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9689-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9689-0

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