title: The association between alcohol use and problematic internet use: A large-scale nationwide cross-sectional study of adolescents in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to clarify the associations between the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption and problematic Internet use, such as Internet addiction and excessive Internet use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to students enrolled in randomly selected junior and senior high schools throughout Japan, and responses from 100,050 students (51,587 males and 48,463 females) were obtained. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed in order to examine the associations between alcohol use and problematic Internet, use such as Internet addiction (Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction ≥5) and excessive Internet use (≥5 h/day).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the adjusted odds ratios for Internet addiction (YDQ ≥5) and excessive Internet use (≥5 h/day) became higher as the number of days in which alcohol had been consumed during the previous 30 days increased. In addition, the adjusted odds ratio for excessive Internet use (≥5 h/day) indicated a dose-dependent association with the amount of alcohol consumed per session.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that adolescents showing problematic Internet use consumed alcohol more frequently and consumed a greater amount of alcohol than those without problematic Internet use. These findings suggest a close association between drinking and problematic Internet use among Japanese adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan. Electronic address: itaniosamu@oita-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Itani
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoneatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osaki
authors.affiliation: National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jike
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneita
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakagome
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adolescent; Alcohol drinking; Cross-sectional; Internet addiction; Japan