A development of the cyberpsychology model for adolescent

Abstract

The adolescent period is considered as a difficult and critical phase because these youngsters suffer from identity crisis, eager to explore and addiction to the internet. Their inability to manage the internet usage causes functional impairment and creates psychological difficulties. Thus, investigating and understanding the behavior underlying the cyberpsychology factors among these adolescents is an important task. This research examined cyberpsychology factors associated with internet addiction among adolescents and developed an integrative model. This study applied a quantitative approach using a survey conducted on 265 adolescents whose age range from 13-17 years, and were purposively selected from three schools in Johor. In the questionnaire, cyber psychology factors were assessed using The Behavior Scale that measure four facets, namely The Impulsivity Scale, The Passion Scale, Social Provisions Scale and Self-rating depression scale. Partial Least Square (PLS) method based on Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied in the analysis process using SmartPLS 3.0 software. The findings showed that, reassurance of worth, opportunity of nurturance, sensation seeking, depression, urgency, obsessive passions, harmonious passions, time spent on internet and lack of perseverance were relevant factors of internet addiction among the adolescents. Next, these findings were used to develop an integrative model. The model was analysed further using path analysis and the results revealed a positive relation between Internet addiction and specific impulsivity components (lack of perseverance and urgency); depression; and obsessive passion. Besides, these positive relations were observed between obsessive passion and opportunity for nurturance, reassurance of worth, sensation seeking and harmonious passion. These results have shown that, Internet addiction and obsessive passion are important and complementary facets of problematic Internet use. As a conclusion, this study has contributed to a better understanding of cyberpsychology factors of internet addiction among adolescents.