ABSTRACT
This paper described an indigenous multi-level counseling program designed for young people with Internet addiction problems based on the responses of 59 clients. Regarding objective outcome evaluation, pretest and posttest data generally showed that the Internet addiction problems of the participants decreased after joining the program and there were some slight positive changes in the parenting attributes. For the subjective outcome evaluation findings, participants generally perceived that the program was helpful. Findings based on these two evaluation strategies suggest this multi-level indigenous counseling program has promise for helping young people with Internet addiction problems.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive/rehabilitation , Counseling/methods , Internet , Adolescent , Asian People/psychology , Behavior, Addictive/ethnology , Behavior, Addictive/psychology , Child , Family Therapy , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Male , Models, Psychological , Motivation , Self-Help Groups , Social WorkABSTRACT
Internet addiction behavior was examined in 6,121 Chinese primary and secondary school students in Hong Kong based on the assessment frameworks of Ivan Goldberg and Kimberly Young. Results showed that scales derived from both frameworks (CIA-Goldberg Scale and CIA-Young Scale) were internally consistent and evidence supporting their validity was found. Descriptive statistical analyses revealed that roughly one-fifth of the respondents could be classified as Internet addicted based on either scale. Further analyses showed that Internet-addicted and -nonaddicted respondents differed in their Internet use and related behavior. Logistic regression analyses showed that engagement in certain on-line activities (such as playing on-line games and downloading software) and replacement of pastimes activities (such as watching TV and going out with friends) with Internet activities predicted a higher probability of Internet addiction.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive , Internet , Psychology , Adolescent , Child , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Psychometrics , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Using a qualitative approach, this paper examines how Chinese adolescents from low-income families cope with economic disadvantage. Thirty-five in-depth one-to-one interviews with twelve adolescents from economically disadvantaged families were conducted. The findings of the study revealed that, although the participants were growing up poor, they do not have a strong sense of poverty, or have a negative perception on poverty. Some of them even attached a positive meaning to their experience of poverty. The accounts of the adolescents revealed that there were personal (low sense of poverty), familial (support from parents and siblings), cultural (cultural interpretation on poverty) and contextual (unclear poor neighborhood boundary, weak poverty subculture) protective factors that promoted adolescent developmental resilience. The study results highlighted the distinct Chinese pattern of socialization and the impacts of Chinese cultural beliefs on poor families. The findings also illustrate the prominent role of family in helping adolescents cope with economic disadvantage.
