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Can Internet Usage Positively or Negatively Affect Interpersonal Relationship?

  • Conference paper
Advances in Intelligent Systems and Applications - Volume 1

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 20))

Abstract

Many past studies showed that Internet addiction negatively affected the interpersonal relationship. However, new functions on the Internet provide more online interactions, especially some social websites such as Facebook which enables individuals to establish new relationships with acquaintances, as well as maintain close relationships with friends. This drives us to the questions whether the Internet is detrimental to one’s interpersonal relationship or whether, instead, it might enhance one’s interpersonal relationship. This study examined the association among Internet addiction, various Internet usage, and interpersonal relationships. In total, 444 valid copies of questionnaires were collected from a university. The results indicated that the Internet functions on social interaction, video watching, and information seeking can enhance interpersonal relationship while porn-website surfing and game playing cannot directly affect interpersonal relationship. On the other hand, the social interaction, porn-website surfing, and video watching led to poor interpersonal relationship mediated by Internet addiction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan

    Chih-Hung Lai & Hwei-Ling Gwung

  2. Department of Early Childhood Education, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan

    Chunn-Ying Lin

  3. Department of Educational Administration and Mangement, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien, Taiwan

    Cheng-Hung Chen

  4. Department of Curriculum Design and Human Potentials Development, National Dong Hwa University, 1, Sec. 2, Da Hsueh Rd., Shou-Feng, Hualien, 974, Taiwan, R.O.C.

    Chia-Hao Li

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  1. Chih-Hung Lai
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  2. Chunn-Ying Lin
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  3. Cheng-Hung Chen
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  4. Hwei-Ling Gwung
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  5. Chia-Hao Li
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Correspondence to Chih-Hung Lai .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Computer Science and, National Dong Hwa University, #1, Sec. 2, Da Hsueh Rd., Hualien, Taiwan R.O.C.

    Ruay-Shiung Chang

  2. , Adjunct Professor, University of Canberra, Kirinari St. Mail Room, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

  3. , Department of Computer Science and, National Dong Hwa University, #1, Sec. 2, Da Hsueh Rd., Hualien, Taiwan R.O.C.

    Sheng-Lung Peng

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Lai, CH., Lin, CY., Chen, CH., Gwung, HL., Li, CH. (2013). Can Internet Usage Positively or Negatively Affect Interpersonal Relationship?. In: Chang, RS., Jain, L., Peng, SL. (eds) Advances in Intelligent Systems and Applications - Volume 1. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 20. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35452-6_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35452-6_38

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-35451-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35452-6

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