Association between attitudes towards Internet usage and health practices in high-school students in 2 schools in Turkey: a cross-sectional study.

Excessive usage of the Internet can negatively affect health and health practices especially among youth. To examine the issue among Turkish students, this study determined the association between high-school students' attitudes towards Internet usage and their health behaviour. The sample (n = 2043) was randomly drawn from all students at two high schools in Turkey: one in Anatolia and one (a vocational school) in Istanbul. Data were collected using the Structured Questionnaire, Attitude Scale towards Internet Usage (ASTIU) and Adolescent Lifestyle Profile (ALP). The mean age of the students was 16.3 years, 77.7% were male and 96.9% used the Internet; mean duration of Internet use was 18.8 h/week. Female students had more positive attitudes towards Internet usage. Mean scores for ASTIU and ALP were 72.58 (SD 17.64) and 111.34 (SD 16.61) respectively, which were average levels. There was a statistically significant but weak overall negative correlation between adolescents' attitudes towards Internet usage and their health behaviour. Our results concur with studies in different cultures which suggest some negative effects, of heavy Internet use.

Association between attitudes towards Internet usage and health practices in high-school students in 2 schools in Turkey: a cross-sectional study

Excessive usage of the Internet can negatively affect health and health practices especially among youth. To examine the issue among Turkish students, this study determined the association between high-school students' attitudes towards Internet usage and their health behaviour. The sample [n = 2043] was randomly drawn from all students at two high schools in Turkey: one in Anatolia and one [a vocational school] in Istanbul. Data were collected using the Structured Questionnaire, Attitude Scale towards Internet Usage [ASTIU] and Adolescent Lifestyle Profile [ALP]. The mean age of the students was 16.3 years, 77.7% were male and 96.9% used the Internet; mean duration of Internet use was 18.8 h/week. Female students had more positive attitudes towards Internet usage. Mean scores for ASTIU and ALP were 72.58 [SD 17.64] and 111.34 [SD 16.61] respectively, which were average levels. There was a statistically significant but weak overall negative correlation between adolescents' attitudes towards Internet usage and their health behaviour. Our results concur with studies in different cultures which suggest some negative effects, of heavy Internet use

Une utilisation excessive d'Internet peut nuire à la santé et aux pratiques sanitaires, notamment chez les jeunes. Afin d'étudier la question parmi les élèves turcs, la présente étude a déterminé l'association entre les attitudes des élèves du secondaire à l'égard d'Internet et leurs comportements en matière de santé. L'échantillon [n = 2043] a été constitué de façon aléatoire à partir de l'ensemble des élèves de deux établissements d'enseignement secondaire en Turquie: l'un en Anatolie et l'autre dans une école de formation professionnelle à Istanbul. Les données ont été collectées à partir d'un questionnaire structuré, de l'ASTIU [échelle d'attitude à l'égard de l'utilisation d'Internet] et de l'ALP [profil de mode de vie des adolescents]. L'âge moyen des élèves était 16,3 ans, 77% étaient des garçons et 96,9% utilisaient Internet, avec une durée moyenne totale d'utilisation de 18,8 heures par semaine. Les élèves de sexe féminin avaient des comportements plus positifs à l'égard de l'utilisation d'Internet. Les scores moyens pour l'ASTIU et l'ALP étaient de 72,58 [ET 17,64] et 111,34 [ET 16,61] respectivement, qui correspondaient aux scores moyens. Il existait une corrélation négative statistiquement significative, mais assez faible d'un point de vue global, entre les attitudes des adolescents à l'égard de l'utilisation d'Internet et leurs comportements en matière de santé. Nos résultats recoupent ceux d'études réalisées dans différentes cultures et qui suggèrent l'existence de certains effets négatifs liés à une utilisation excessive d'Internet