作者：錢鋒博士 Dr. Chin Fung
(美國婚姻及家庭治療協會臨床院士及督導、英國心理學會特許輔導心理學家、澳洲輔導協會4級認證輔導員、香港專業輔導協會會員，認證輔導師及督導)
疫情下本港青少年「網絡沉溺」現象日益嚴重，本研究運用路徑分析理論來探討香港青少年的「網絡沉溺」，並隨機抽樣出6 間中學，進行問卷調查，學生人數為479 人， 年齡介乎11-19 歲，當中包括40.3% 男性及59.7% 女性，學生需填寫C-IAT, C-MLQ, C-IPPA 及DASS21 的問卷。結果調查顯示，父親依附關係是最有效預測到「網絡沉溺」，及還有其他成因，包括青少年在週末時，使用互聯網的時間長短、青少年的教育程度，年級越高，網絡沉溺就比較高，及如患有抑鬱、壓力指數高，甚至對人生沒有意義的青少年都是構成網絡沉溺的因素。
研究結果顯示對預防及治療網絡沉溺。治療師可考慮運用評估家庭療，幫助網絡沉溺的青少年比較有效。亦建議要減低網絡沉溺，必需要改變青少年的行為問題，治療師亦可考慮幫助青少年建立自信，滿足感及目標。是次研究對理解網絡沉溺的個別及系統因素亦邁向了重大一步。
A random selection of 479 students from six secondary schools in Hong Kong, aged between 11 and 19 years old (40.3% male and 59.7% female) completed questionnaires (C-IAT, C-MLQ, C-IPPA, DASS21) in their classrooms. Path analysis showed that adolescent-father attachment was the strongest predictor of Problematic Internet use, with presence of meaning, time using the Internet on weekends, education level, depression and stress level also contributing significant variance.
According to the final trimmed model showed that father-adolescent attachment and meaning in life predicted Problematic Internet use, and these associations were mediated by time spent online on weekends. Adolescent depression, stress, and grade were direct predictors of Problematic Internet use.
The results have implications for the prevention and treatment of PIU. Therapist might consider assessing the effectiveness of family therapy to help adolescents engaged in Problematic Internet use. The results also suggest that if we want to reduce the level of adolescent Problematic Internet use, instead of simply seeking to change adolescents’ immediate behavior, a therapist may also need to consider helping youth develop a strong sense of meaning in life, including a sense of well-being, identity, and purpose. This study is a major step towards understanding the individual and systemic variables that may play a role in the development of Problematic Internet use.