Citation

Lee JY, Kim SW, Kang HJ, Kim SY, Bae KY, Kim JM, Shin IS, Yoon JS. Psychiatry Investig. 2017; 14(6): 871-875.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Korean Neuropsychiatric Association)

DOI

10.4306/pi.2017.14.6.871

PMID

29209393

PMCID

PMC5714731

Abstract

We investigated the association between problematic internet use (PIU) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children and adolescents in South Korea. A cross-sectional survey was administered to community students who attended primary, secondary, and high schools in the Jindo area 1-2.5 months after the Sewol ferry disaster. Of the 1,744 respondents, 392 students who were exposed to the disaster, witnessing the rescue work directly, were evaluated. PTSD symptoms were measured using the University of California Los Angeles Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (UCLA PTSD-RI). The severity of impairment caused by excessive internet use was evaluated using Young's Internet Addiction Test. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and State Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAIC) were also used. Logistic regression analysis revealed that PIU was significantly and independently associated with a high level of PTSD symptoms. Our findings suggest that children and adolescents with PIU require intensive follow-up and special care to prevent the development of PTSD symptoms following a disaster.

Language: en

Keywords

Disaster; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Problematic internet use; Student