Cross-Sectional Associations between Physical Activity and Internet Addiction among Undergraduate Students in Taiwan.
The internet usage rate has increased rapidly worldwide, and internet use has become an integral component of leisure time. In 2005, the number of internet users was one billion around the
world, and in 2019, the number of internet users reached four billion. Because of technological advancements, people use the internet to enjoy leisure time, strengthen interpersonal relationships,
and learn new information efficiently. However, excessive and out of-control internet use may lead to undesirable outcomes, such as educational or health problems.
Internet addiction, a type of behavioral addiction, also defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders with respect to the following factors: tolerance, withdrawal, larger amounts, impaired control, time spent, neglect of activities, and continued use despite problems. Considering the popularity of the internet, the risk of internet addiction may become a major public health concern, but the literature on the efforts on prevention of internet addiction is limited.10 To develop interventions targeting on internet addiction prevention, the exploration of modifiable behavioral factors associated with internet addiction is necessary.
A possible explanation for this negative association is self-control. It was previously observed that higher levels of self control and self-management skills can reduce the risk for internet addiction. If individuals enhance their self-control and self-management skills, their risk for internet addiction may consequently be reduced. A study of Korean adolescents suggested the effect of sports participation on internet addiction mediated by self-control. Future study may investigate the mediation effects of life skills, such as self-control, time management, goal setting, or decision making, on the associations between physical activity levels and internet addiction.
Obes Res Open J. 2020; 7(1): 14-18. doi: 10.17140/OROJ-7-142
