Effects of School Adjustment on Higher Grade Elementary School Students' Internet Game Addiction: Focused on Gender Difference / 정신간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors predicting internet game addiction in higher grade elementary schoolers by gender in a city. METHODS: The participants were 356 elementary school students who were in the 5th or 6th grade. Data were collected by structured questionnaires from March 15 to May 10 2011, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: Prevalence rate of internet game addiction for elementary school students was 10.1% (boys 17.2%, girls 2.4%). School adjustment showed a negative correlation with internet game addiction by gender (boys r=-.36, p<.001, girls r=-.21, p=.005). In boys, variables that predicted internet game addiction were academic activity, amount of time for internet gaming per week, conforming to school norms, and parents' child-rearing attitudes (54.0%). In girls, variables that predicted internet game addiction were academic activity and amount of time for internet gaming per day (33.0%). CONCLUSION: The findings from this study indicate the need to develope school adjustment enhance programs, particularly for boys, to prevent internet game addiction in higher grade elementary school students.