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Publication
A dependência à internet: Fundamentação empírica, teórica e clínica - Da psicologia e psicometria à ciber-psicologia
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A dependência à Internet constitui-se como um tema de investigação proeminente nos países
anglo-saxónicos desde a década de noventa. Apesar das suas várias definições e crescente
interesse de investigação, em Portugal até ao momento, esta área de investigação em Psicologia
mantém-se pouco desenvolvida.
O presente estudo procurou 1) realizar o estudo das qualidades psicométricas e de adaptação do
Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) à população portuguesa do ensino secundário e superior;
2) testar a existência de associações entre a dependência à Internet e a sintomatologia depressiva
e; 3) avaliar relações entre a dependência à Internet em relação aos dados sócio-demográficos
recolhidos.
Participaram neste estudo um total de 545 estudantes portugueses do ensino secundário e
universitário (161 masculino e 383 feminino), com idades compreendidas entre os 15 e os 39
anos (X̅
= 19.52), onde foi preenchida a versão portuguesa do Internet Addiction Test (Young,
1998); Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996); e o questionário sócio-demográfico
(Pontes & Patrão, 2013).
Os resultados revelaram que a dependência à Internet encontrava-se associada positivamente
não só aos sintomas depressivos (Rs = 0.222; p-value = 0.000), mas também a factores sóciodemográficos
como o sexo do participante, estado civil, idade e ano académico em graus
diferentes. Além disso, a versão adaptada do Internet Addiction Test apresentou propriedades
psicométricas bastante satisfatórias.
Com base nos resultados obtidos, discutiu-se a importância da prevenção e intervenção da
dependência à Internet na população jovem, bem como a necessidade de alargar o sentido de
consciência e literacia digital dos técnicos de saúde, educadores e pais para a problemática da
dependência à Internet.
Internet Addiction is a prominent research field in the Anglo-Saxon countries since midnineties. Despite its various definitions and increasing research interest internationally, so far in Portugal, this new research area remains to be further investigated. The present study attempted to: 1) study the psychometric properties and to adapt the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) to the Portuguese young adult population; 2) to test whether there was any association between Internet Addiction and depressive symptoms in current sample; 3) to assess Internet Addiction simultaneously with relevant socio-demographic data collected. A total of 545 Portuguese students, from secondary schools and universities (161 males and 383 females), participated in this study. Ages ranged from 15 to 39 years (X̅ = 19.52). All participants filled in the Portuguese version of the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998); Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996); and the socio-demographic questionnaire (Pontes & Patrão) The results showed a statistically significant association between the measures of Internet Addiction and the incidence of the depressive symptoms (Rs = 0.222; p-value = 0.000). Additionally, Internet Addiction scores differed significantly according to sex, relationship status, age and academic year. The results obtained allowed us to adapt a short version (12- items) of the Internet Addiction Test with good psychometric properties and reliability. The impact of these results along with the importance of prevention and intervention within the Portuguese young population were further discussed in the study. The authors also reflected on the importance to extend the sense of awareness and also the importance of digital literacy among health practitioners, educators and parents in order to better understand Internet Addiction.
Internet Addiction is a prominent research field in the Anglo-Saxon countries since midnineties. Despite its various definitions and increasing research interest internationally, so far in Portugal, this new research area remains to be further investigated. The present study attempted to: 1) study the psychometric properties and to adapt the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) to the Portuguese young adult population; 2) to test whether there was any association between Internet Addiction and depressive symptoms in current sample; 3) to assess Internet Addiction simultaneously with relevant socio-demographic data collected. A total of 545 Portuguese students, from secondary schools and universities (161 males and 383 females), participated in this study. Ages ranged from 15 to 39 years (X̅ = 19.52). All participants filled in the Portuguese version of the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998); Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996); and the socio-demographic questionnaire (Pontes & Patrão) The results showed a statistically significant association between the measures of Internet Addiction and the incidence of the depressive symptoms (Rs = 0.222; p-value = 0.000). Additionally, Internet Addiction scores differed significantly according to sex, relationship status, age and academic year. The results obtained allowed us to adapt a short version (12- items) of the Internet Addiction Test with good psychometric properties and reliability. The impact of these results along with the importance of prevention and intervention within the Portuguese young population were further discussed in the study. The authors also reflected on the importance to extend the sense of awareness and also the importance of digital literacy among health practitioners, educators and parents in order to better understand Internet Addiction.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado em Psicologia Clínica, apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário
Keywords
Dependência à internet Internet addiction test Sintomatologia depressiva Internet addiction Internet addiction test Depressive symptoms