The relationship between perceived social support and stress level in adolescents with internet addiction

As Internet use increases, useful internet usage and problematic internet usage also increase. Adolescence is a risky period for the development of internet addiction. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of internet addiction among adolescents, to determine the predictive effect of various socio-demographic variables on internet addiction, and to examine the relationship between perceived social support and stress level and internet addiction. The sample of the study consists of adolescents studying at Private Biltek High School and Private Asfa High School. 281 adolescents aged between 14-18 participated in the study. Internet Addiction Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and socio-demographic information form which includes questions about internet use was applied to the participants. According to the results of the study, the frequency of internet addiction in adolescents was found 0.7%. The relationship of adolescents' ages, genders and income levels with internet addiction has not significant correlation. As a result of the correlation analysis; A significant negative relationship was found between perceived social support and perceived stress levels of adolescents. A negative correlation was found between perceived social support levels and internet addiction. The high level of social support perceived by adolescents was found to be a protective factor for the risk of developing internet addiction. A strong positive relationship was detected between perceived stress and internet addiction. Stress has been identified as a risk factor for developing addiction. According to the results of the hierarchical regression analysis, age, gender and income level were not related to internet addiction. Internet usage time and the perceived social support significantly changed the model. The perceived stress changed the model in a meaningful way and the perceived social support level lost its significance after the perceived stress was added to the model. After the hierarchical regression analysis the mediation analysis applied, it was determined that the perceived stress has a full mediation role in the relationship between perceived social support level and internet addiction. Also, In the relationship between perceived stress and internet addiction, internet usage time and internet use for entertainment were determined to have a partial mediating role.