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🇰🇷 South Korea /Technology

Elementary Students' Internet Addiction Linked to Emotional, Behavioral Issues: Study

From Hankyoreh · (5m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A study found that elementary school students with higher internet addiction tendencies exhibit more emotional and behavioral problems, including depression and anxiety.
  • High-risk groups for internet addiction showed distinct withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, when unable to access the internet.
  • Researchers suggest tailored interventions based on addiction risk levels, ranging from educational programs for low-risk to intensive professional treatment for high-risk individuals.

The Hankyoreh reports on a concerning trend among South Korean elementary school students: a growing reliance on digital devices and the internet is linked to significant emotional and behavioral challenges. This study, published in 'Health and Social Science,' highlights that students exhibiting higher levels of internet addiction are more prone to depression, anxiety, attention deficits, and social withdrawal.

The high-risk group for internet addiction showed distinct withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, when unable to access the internet.

— Study FindingsContextualizing the severity of internet addiction among young students.

What's particularly alarming is the emergence of withdrawal symptoms, like irritability and restlessness, among high-risk users when they are disconnected. This underscores the severity of the addiction, moving beyond mere excessive use to a state where digital access becomes a psychological necessity. The research, based on a survey of 316 fourth to sixth graders, categorizes addiction levels into low, medium, and high risk, with the high-risk group showing markedly higher scores across all negative indicators.

Elementary school students' internet addiction is classified into low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups based on daily life impairment, withdrawal, and tolerance.

— Study MethodologyExplaining the classification system used in the research.

The study's author, Professor Yoon Mi-young, emphasizes that this is a critical developmental period for self-concept and self-regulation. The emotional and behavioral issues manifesting now could have long-term consequences for social adaptation and emotional stability. Therefore, the Hankyoreh supports the call for personalized interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. This includes preventative education for low-risk users, emotional support and counseling for the medium-risk group, and specialized treatment for those severely addicted, focusing on alleviating withdrawal symptoms.

The elementary school years, particularly the upper grades, are a crucial period for the development of self-concept and self-regulation.

— Professor Yoon Mi-youngHighlighting the developmental significance of the age group studied.
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Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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