[Internet and psychopathology: an analysis of the use of the Web by 1075 students at secondary school].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this research is to make a contribution to analysing the complex issue of the relationship between Internet use and psychological disorders, and proposes a survey of the typical features and effects of such use among a sample of secondary school students. PATTERN: The research was carried out on a sample of 1075 students aged 14-21 from two secondary schools, where students are prevalently male in one and female in the other; computer science is part of the teaching programme in both institutes. INSTRUMENTS USED: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Goldberg's 28-item version, together with a form to collect individual and social data and information about the actual use of Internet, such as number of years, number of hours a day/a week, subjective experience, quantitative-qualitative perception of the connection.


RESULTS
There is a clear and significant correlation between weekly hours of use and GHQ scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of our sample confirms certain statements found in the relevant literature concerning a possible relationship between the use of Internet and psychological disorders.


BACKGROUND
none.
Favaretto
Gerardo
G
Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Unità Locale Socio Sanitarian 17, Pieve di Soligo, Trevliso. gfavaretto@ulss7.it
Morandin
Idana
I
Gava
Michele
M
Binotto
Fabio
F
D000328:Adult; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires