Abstract
We present results from a cross-sectional study of the entire adolescent student population aged 12–18 of the island of Kos
and their parents, on Internet abuse, parental bonding and parental online security practices. We also compared the level
of over involvement with personal computers of the adolescents to the respective estimates of their parents. Our results indicate
that Internet addiction is increased in this population where no preventive attempts were made to combat the phenomenon from
the initial survey, 2 years ago. This increase is parallel to an increase in Internet availability. The best predictor variables
for Internet and computer addiction were parental bonding variables and not parental security practices. Parents tend to underestimate
the level of computer involvement when compared to their own children estimates. Parental safety measures on Internet browsing
have only a small preventive role and cannot protect adolescents from Internet addiction. The three online activities most
associated with Internet addiction were watching online pornography, online gambling and online gaming.
and their parents, on Internet abuse, parental bonding and parental online security practices. We also compared the level
of over involvement with personal computers of the adolescents to the respective estimates of their parents. Our results indicate
that Internet addiction is increased in this population where no preventive attempts were made to combat the phenomenon from
the initial survey, 2 years ago. This increase is parallel to an increase in Internet availability. The best predictor variables
for Internet and computer addiction were parental bonding variables and not parental security practices. Parents tend to underestimate
the level of computer involvement when compared to their own children estimates. Parental safety measures on Internet browsing
have only a small preventive role and cannot protect adolescents from Internet addiction. The three online activities most
associated with Internet addiction were watching online pornography, online gambling and online gaming.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Contribution
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s00787-012-0254-0
- Authors
- Konstantinos Siomos, Hellenic Association for the Study of Internet Addiction Disorder, Larissa, Greece
- Georgios Floros, 2nd Department of Psychiatry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 196 Langada str., 564 29 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Virginia Fisoun, Department of Psychiatry, ‘Evaggelismos’ General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Dafouli Evaggelia, High-school educator, Larissa, Greece
- Nikiforos Farkonas, ‘Hippocrates’ Center for Drug abuse prevention, Kos, Greece
- Elena Sergentani, ‘Hippocrates’ Center for Drug abuse prevention, Kos, Greece
- Maria Lamprou, ‘Hippocrates’ Center for Drug abuse prevention, Kos, Greece
- Dimitrios Geroukalis, ‘Hippocrates’ Center for Drug abuse prevention, Kos, Greece
- Journal European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Online ISSN 1435-165X
- Print ISSN 1018-8827