title: Internet addiction among Norwegian adults: a stratified probability sample study.
abstract: Most Norwegians are Internet users. We conducted a stratified probability sample study (Norway, 2007, age-group 16-74 years, N= 3,399, response rate 35.3%, 87.1% Internet users) to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction and at-risk Internet use by the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire (YDQ). The prevalence of Internet addiction (YDQ score 5-8) was 1.0% and an additional 5.2% were at-risk Internet users (YDQ score 3-4). Internet addiction and at-risk Internet use was strongly dependent on gender and age with highest prevalences among young males (16-29 years 4.1% and 19.0%, 30-39 years 3.3% and 10.7%). Logistic regression showed that male gender, young age, university level education, and an unsatisfactory financial situation were factors positively associated with "problematic Internet use" (at-risk and addicted use combined). Time spent on the Internet and prevalence of self-reported sleeping disorders, depression, and other psychological impairments increased linearly with YDQ score. Problematic Internet use clearly affects the lives of many people.
authors.affiliation: SINTEF Health Research, Department of Epidemiology, Abels gate 5 Trondheim 7465, Norway. inger.bakken@sintef.no
authors.forename: Inger Johanne
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Bakken
authors.forename: Hanne Gro
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: K Gunnar
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Götestam
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012942:Social Sciences / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult