The effects of Internet addiction on the lifestyle and dietary behavior of Korean adolescents

Yeonsoo Kim, Jin Young Park, Sung Byuk Kim, In-Kyung Jung, Yun Sook Lim, Jung-Hyun Kim, Yeonsoo Kim, Jin Young Park, Sung Byuk Kim, In-Kyung Jung, Yun Sook Lim, Jung-Hyun Kim

Abstract

We performed this study to examine lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior based on the level of Internet addiction of Korean adolescents. Data were collected from 853 Korean junior high school students. The level of Internet addiction was determined based on the Korean Internet addiction self-scale short form for youth, and students were classified as high-risk Internet users, potential-risk Internet users, and no risk Internet users. The associations between the students' levels of Internet addiction and lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior were analyzed using a chi-square test. Irregular bedtimes and the use of alcohol and tobacco were higher in high-risk Internet users than no risk Internet users. Moreover, in high-risk Internet users, irregular dietary behavior due to the loss of appetite, a high frequency of skipping meals, and snacking might cause imbalances in nutritional intake. Diet quality in high-risk Internet users was also worse than in potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users. We demonstrated in this study that high-risk Internet users have inappropriate dietary behavior and poor diet quality, which could result in stunted growth and development. Therefore, nutrition education targeting high-risk Internet users should be conducted to ensure proper growth and development.

Keywords: Internet addiction; adolescents; diet quality; dietary behavior.

References

    1. Tsitsika A, Critselis E, Kormas G, Filippopoulou A, Tounissidou, Freskou A, Spiliopoulou T, Louizou A, Konstantoulaki E, Kafetzis D. Internet use and misuse: a multivariate regression analysis of the predictive factors of Internet use among Greek adolescents. Eur J Pediatr. 2009;168:655–665.
    1. Lam LT, Peng ZW, Mai JC, Jing J. Factors associated with Internet addiction among adolescents. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2009;12:1–5.
    1. Ko CH, Yen JY, Liu SC, Huang CF, Yen CF. The associations between aggressive behaviors and Internet addiction and online activities in adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2009;44:598–605.
    1. Seo M, Kang HS, Yom YH. Internet addiction and interpersonal problems in Korean adolescents. Comput Inform Nurs. 2009;27:226–233.
    1. Siomos KE, Dafouli ED, Braimiotis DA, Mouzas OD, Angelopoulos NV. Internet addiction among Greek adolescent students. Cyberpsychol Behav. 2008;11:653–657.
    1. Ha JH, Kim SY, Bae SC, Bae S, Kim H, Sim M, Lyoo IK, Cho SC. Depression and Internet addiction in adolescents. Psychopathology. 2007;40:424–430.
    1. Kim JS, Chun BC. Association of Internet addiction with health promotion lifestyle profile and perceived health status in adolescents. J Prev Med Public Health. 2005;38:53–60.
    1. Choi K, Son H, Park M, Han J, Kim K, Lee B, Gwak H. Internet overuse and excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009;63:455–462.
    1. Gunnell DJ, Smith GD, Frankel SJ, Kemp M, Peters TJ. Socioeconomic and dietary influences on leg length and trunk length in childhood: a reanalysis of the Carnegie survey of diet and health in prewar Britain (1937-1939) Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 1998;12:96–113.
    1. Sachar RK, Singh H, Soni RK, Singh WP, Bhatia RC, Raizada N, Singh B. A cross-sectional study of growth parameters of rural adolescent girls of Punjab. Indian J Matern Child Health. 1997;8:21–25.
    1. Vadiveloo M, Zhu L, Quatromoni PA. Diet and physical activity patterns of school-aged children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:145–151.
    1. Kim DI, Chung YJ, Lee EA, Kim DM, Cho YM. Development of Internet addiction proneness scale-short form (KS scale) The Korean Jounal of Counseling. 2008;9:1703–1722.
    1. The Korean Nutrition Society. Dietary reference intakes for Koreans. Seoul: KokJin Co.; 2005.
    1. Kim WY, Cho MS, Lee HS. Development and validation of mini dietary assessment index for Koreans. The Korean Journal of Nutrition. 2003;36:83–92.
    1. Savige G, Macfarlane A, Ball K, Worsley A, Crawford D. Snacking behaviors of adolescents and their association with skipping meals. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2007;4:36.
    1. Petrie HJ, Stover EA, Horswill CA. Nutritional concerns for the child and adolescent competitior. Nutrition. 2004;20:620–631.
    1. Wardlaw GM, Hampl JS. Perspectives in Nutrition. New York: McGraw-Hill International Co.; 2007. pp. 295–463.
    1. Omenn GS. Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) as cancer-preventive agents. IARC Sci Publ. 1996;139:33–45.
    1. Davis EM, Cullen KW, Watson KB, Konarik M, Radcliffe J. A fresh fruit and vegetable program improves high school students' consumption of fresh produce. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:1227–1231.
    1. Lorson BA, Melgar-Quinonez HR, Taylor CA. Correlates of fruit and vegetable intakes in US children. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:474–478.
    1. Miriran P, Noori N, Zavareh MB, Azizi F. Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Metabolism. 2009;58:460–468.
    1. Berenson GS, Srinivasan SR, Bao W, Newman WP, Tracy RE, Wattigney WA. Association between multiple cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in children and young adults. The Bogalusa Heart Study. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1650–1656.
    1. Freedman DS, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics. 1999;103:1175–1182.
    1. Kim HM, Park J, Kim HS, Kim DH, Park SH. Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in Korean children and adolescents aged 10-18 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1998 and 2001. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:787–793.
    1. Levy JA, Strombeck R. Health benefits and risks of the Internet. Journal of Medical Systems. 2002;6:495–510.
    1. Strine TW, Okoro CA, Chapman DP, Balluz LS, Ford ES, Ajani UA, Mokdad AH. Health-related quality of life and health risk behaviors among smokers. Am J Prev Med. 2005;28:182–187.
    1. Teufel NI. Alcohol consumption and its effect on the dietary patterns of Hualapai Indian women. Med Anthropol. 1994;16:79–97.
    1. Roane BM, Taylor DJ. Adolescent insomnia as a risk factor for early adult depression and substance abuse. Sleep. 2008;31:1351–1356.
    1. Yen JY, Ko CH, Yen CF, Wu HY, Yang MJ. The comorbid psychiatric symptoms of Internet addiction: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social phobia, and hostility. J Adolesc Health. 2007;41:93–98.
    1. Yen CF, Ko CH, Yen JY, Chang YP, Cheng CP. Multidimensional discriminative factors for Internet addiction among adolescents regarding gender and age. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009;63:357–364.

Source: PubMed

3
S'abonner