The effect of problematic internet usage levels of personnel working in Provincial Directorates of Youth and Sports on problem solving skills (Manisa case)

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the problem solving skills and problematic internet usage situations of the personnel working in the Provincial Directorates of Youth and Sports. In the study, "descriptive and relational survey model", one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The research was carried out with the participation of 157 personnel (53 women, 104 men) working in the Provincial Directorates of Youth and Sports in Manisa. "Internet Cognitive Status Scale" and "Problem Solving Inventory" were used as data collection tools, along with the "demographic information form" prepared by the researcher. The reliability of the scales used in the study was measured with Cronbach's Alpha. Normality distribution was made according to Skewness and Kurtosis values. Mann Whitney-U Test, which is one of the nonparametric tests, was used in cases where two independent groups were compared, and the Kruskal Wallis-H Test was used in cases where more than two independent groups were compared. According to the findings; It has been found that the internet usage of the personnel working in the Provincial Directorates of Youth and Sports is problematic. It has been determined that they do not consider themselves fully sufficient in problem solving skills. It was determined that there was a positive relationship between problematic internet use and problem solving skills, and as the level of problematic internet use increased, the participants saw themselves as inadequate in problem solving skills. It was determined that problem solving skills affected the problematic internet use of the participants. According to the results of the data analysis, there is a statistically significant difference between the avoidant approach, which is the sub-dimension of problem solving skills, and the gender variable. There is a statistically significant difference between problematic internet use and reduced impulse control, which is its sub-dimension, and age. There is a statistically significant difference between reduced impulse control, which is one of the sub-dimensions of problematic internet use, and educational status. There is a statistically significant difference between problem solving skills and sub-dimensions of thinking-evaluator-planned approach, self-confident approach and avoidant approach and income variable. In addition, when the relationship between problematic internet use and its sub-dimensions and problem-solving skills and sub-dimensions is examined, there is a moderately positive relationship between them. It has been determined that loneliness-depression-distraction, one of the sub-dimensions of problematic internet use, affects problem solving skills.