Internet Addiction in Nursing Students: An Evaluation in Terms of Feelings of Inadequacy and Psychological Resilience Predictors

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction, psychological resilience, and inadequacy feelings in nursing students. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a correlational and cross-sectional study. The sample of the study consisted of 536 students studying at the health sciences faculty of a university in the west of Turkey. The personal information form, the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS), and the Inadequacy Feeling Scale (IFS) were used for data collection between February and April 2018. Results: It was determined that meeting the participants' expectations, being a controlling father, and doing the homework on the internet had a decreasing effect on the IAS score averages. On the other hand, aimless surfing on the internet, daily internet connection time, and playing games were found to have an increasing effect on IAS score averages. It was found that the increase in PRS dedication and control subscale scores reduced the symptomatic status of internet addiction. In addition, it was found that the increase in the IFS discouragement, denial of self-worth, and superiority useless effort subscale scores had an increasing effect on the symptomatic status of internet addiction. Conclusion: It is determined that feelings of inadequacy and psychological resilience are important factors in students' internet addiction. Training programs on problem solving, coping with stress, and effective internet use can be planned for youth, who are the future of society.