Investigation of the relationship between problem internet use and self-respect in adolescents

The study was conducted to examine the relationship between problematic internet use and self-esteem in adolescents. The information collected with the help of scales in the study was analyzed by quantitative data analysis method. The research was carried out with 459 participants selected among 613 high school students studying in Istanbul Uğur Schools Güngören Campus. When the findings of the study were evaluated, it was observed that the self-esteem of boys (n = 129) was higher than that of female adolescents (n = 330) (p = 0.001). Another result is that the self-esteem of adolescents whose parents are together (n = 411) is higher than those whose parents are divorced or living separately (n = 48) (p = 0.046). On the other hand, it was observed that adolescents with high socio-economic opportunities (n = 40) have high self-esteem, and those with low income (n = 33) have low self-esteem (p <0.001). Problematic internet use was examined according to different variables and it was found that problematic internet use was most common in the 17-18 age group (n = 170, p <0.001) and in the 4th grade of high school (n = 146, p <0.001). Another result of the study is that those with moderate economic status have more problematic internet use (n = 40, p = 0.007). A positive relationship was observed between self-esteem and problematic internet use, and it was concluded that problematic internet use increased as self-esteem increased. When our study findings are evaluated as a whole, it is possible to say that economic situation and parental togetherness affect self-esteem, and those in the 17-18 age group and those with middle income are at risk in terms of problematic internet use.