An investigation of internet addiction of the elementary school students

The purpose of this study is to examine internet addiction of primary school students. This study has the characteristics of a predictive study with descriptive and relational screening model. The sample of the research is consisted of 476 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who are studying at state primary schools in Buca district of Izmir during educational year of 2012-2013. Data was collected by Scale of Internet Addiction, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Depression Rating Scale for Children, Self-efficacy Scale and Form of Personal Properties. The collecting data?s frequency distribution was analyzed by using SPSS 18.0 programme with Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, t-test, One-way Analysis of Varience (ANOVA) and Kruskal Walis H Test. Results: According to results, it was found that %91 of sample is asymptomatic, %8 of sample has got limited symptom (dependent or those who are likely to be at risk) and %1 of sample is internet addicted. When examined the purposes of the internet usage, 418 of students for doing homework, 285 of students for watching film and fun, 240 of students for chatting, 300 of students for playing a game, 268 of students for getting knowledge, 209 of students as free time activities had indicated their purposes of internet usage. Most of the students indicated that they use the internet for one more purposes. The depression, gender and economic situation predict the internet addiction of primary school students statistically in a positive and significant way. However, it was determined that self-efficacy, loneliness and academic success do not predict the internet addiction in a significant way. It was seen that the most important predictor of internet addiction is depression and that is followed by gender and economic situation. It was found that statistically there is a significant difference between primary students? internet addiction points according to their gender, academic success, class level, economic situation of family and having internet connection at home or not. Key words: internet addiction, primary school students, depression, loneliness, self-efficacy