Examining the relationship between internet activities and internet addiction and cognitive distortions in HİGH school students

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between internet activities and internet addiction and cognitive distortions in high school students. Method: This relational study was conducted between February 2019 and June 2019 at Akdeniz Anatolian High School and Konyaaltı Mehmet Zeki Balcı Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School affiliated to Antalya-Konyaaltı District National Education Directorate. In the study, the sample universe was determined by the known sampling method and a total of 638 adolescents were included in the study. The data were collected using "Personal Information Form", "Internet Addiction Scale and" Children's Negative Cognitive Errors Questionnaire ". Results: The internet addiction level of the students was determined as 16.9%. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between students' internet addiction score averages and playing online games, visiting pornographic sites, using social media / chatting, preparing homework / studying and aimless surfing internet activities (p <.05). Catastrophizing, personalization and selective abstraction predict students' internet addiction levels significantly (p <.05). In addition it was found that selective abstraction significantly predicted online gaming (OR = 1.05) and aimless browsing (OR = 1.05), personalization visiting pornographic sites (OR = 1.05), and catastrophizing to prepare homework on the internet (OR = 1.05) (p <.05). Conclusion: The results of this study show that there is a relationship between internet addiction and cognitive distortions. It has also been found that internet activities such as visiting pornographic sites, playing online games, doing homework and navigating the purpose are related to cognitive distortions. Accordingly, nurses can use cognitive-based interventions while caring for individuals with excessive internet use problems.