title: The prevalence of computer and Internet addiction among pupils.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Media have an influence on the human psyche similar to the addictive actions of psychoactive substances or gambling. Computer overuse is claimed to be a cause of psychiatric disturbances such as computer and Internet addiction. It has not yet been recognized as a disease, but it evokes increasing controversy and results in mental disorders commonly defined as computer and Internet addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on a diagnostic survey in which 120 subjects participated. The participants were pupils of three kinds of schools: primary, middle, and secondary school (high school). Information for this study was obtained from a questionnaire prepared by the authors as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Psychological Inventory of Aggression Syndrome (IPSA-II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  he results confirmed that every fourth pupil was addicted to the Internet. Internet addiction was very common among the youngest users of computers and the Internet, especially those who had no brothers and sisters or came from families with some kind of problems. Moreover, more frequent use of the computer and the Internet was connected with higher levels of aggression and anxiety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because computer and Internet addiction already constitute a real danger, it is worth considering preventive activities to treat this phenomenon. It is also necessary to make the youth and their parents aware of the dangers of uncontrolled Internet use and pay attention to behavior connected with Internet addiction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zboralski
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orzechowska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talarowska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darmosz
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Janiak
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janiak
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Florkowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gałecki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires