Examining the relationship between leisure time management, perception of boredom in leisure time and internet addiction in adolescents

The study was designed with a relational survey model to reveal the mediating role of the perception of boredom in leisure time in the relationship between leisure time management and internet addiction levels of high school students studying in Muratpaşa and Konyaaltı districts of Antalya province in the 2022-2023 academic year. The population of the study consisted of 103,541 students (53,803 girls and 49,738 boys) studying in 246 high schools in Antalya province in the 2022-2023 academic year, while the sample consisted of 778 (mean age=15.37±0.77) students (391 girls and 387 boys) from 9th-10th-11th grades studying in 4 high schools selected by stratified sampling method. The population of the study consisted of 103,541 students (53,803 girls and 49,738 boys) studying in 246 high schools in Antalya province in the 2022-2023 academic year, and the sample consisted of 778 students (391 girls and 387 boys) (mean age=15.37±0.77) studying in grades 9-10-11 in 4 high schools selected by stratified sampling method. Frequency (%), arithmetic mean ( ) and standard deviation (SD) were used to analyze the data. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used for validity studies and Cronbach's alpha values were analyzed for reliability studies of Leisure Time Management, Perception of Boredom in Leisure Time and Internet Addiction Scales. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship. The results were evaluated at 0.05 and 0.01 significance levels. In examining the hypothesis model between the variables of the study with regressive approach, path analysis was performed with structural equation model to reveal the mediating role of perception of boredom in leisure time in the relationship between leisure time management and internet addiction. As a result of the study, a significant relationship was found between leisure time management, perception of boredom in leisure time and internet addiction. It was concluded that there is a negative and significant relationship between leisure time management and perception of boredom in leisure time; there is a negative and significant relationship between leisure time management and internet addiction; and there is a positive and significant relationship between perception of boredom in leisure time and internet addiction.