title: Epidemiology of internet behaviors and addiction among adolescents in six Asian countries.
abstract: Internet addiction has become a serious behavioral health problem in Asia. However, there are no up-to-date country comparisons. The Asian Adolescent Risk Behavior Survey (AARBS) screens and compares the prevalence of Internet behaviors and addiction in adolescents in six Asian countries. A total of 5,366 adolescents aged 12-18 years were recruited from six Asian countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on their Internet use in the 2012-2013 school year. Internet addiction was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R). The variations in Internet behaviors and addiction across countries were examined. The overall prevalence of smartphone ownership is 62%, ranging from 41% in China to 84% in South Korea. Moreover, participation in online gaming ranges from 11% in China to 39% in Japan. Hong Kong has the highest number of adolescents reporting daily or above Internet use (68%). Internet addiction is highest in the Philippines, according to both the IAT (5%) and the CIAS-R (21%). Internet addictive behavior is common among adolescents in Asian countries. Problematic Internet use is prevalent and characterized by risky cyberbehaviors.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong .
authors.forename: Kwok-Kei
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Ching-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Norharlina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: Milen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Kimberly S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Roger C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Na-Rae
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Aum
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001208:Asia; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools; D060756:Social Networking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires