Effects of Psychoeducational Program for Reducing Psychological Symptoms on Internet Addiction among Adolescents

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effects of the psychoeducational program prepared by the researcher for reducing psychological symptoms on Internet addiction among adolescents. The research was conducted with 509 ninth-, tenth- and eleventh-grade students attending an Anatolian High School in Üsküdar district of İstanbul province in the academic year of 2014-2015. The Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used to choose the study group. Lots were drawn among 33 students who scored above the average in both scales to form the 24-participant research group. The participants were randomly assigned to the research groups (experimental, n= 12; control, n= 12). While the psychoeducational program prepared by the researcher was performed to the experimental group, no program was applied the control group. 2x3 (experimental/control groups X pretest/posttest/follow-up test) split plot design was used in the study. Two-factor variance analysis technique was utilized for repeated measures on one factor to determine whether there was a difference between measures and groups in the data analysis. Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to find the source of intergroup difference. According to the research findings, it was seen that effect of intervention x time was significant for all dependent variables of psychological symptoms and Internet addiction (p<.05). Results of Bonferroni post-hoc test and variance analysis showed that the psychoeducational program was effective in reducing psychological symptoms and Internet addiction, and this effect was retentive at the end of 45-day follow-up. The findings were discussed in line with the literature, and recommendations were made for future research.