PREVALENCE OF INTERNET-RELATED ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS AMONG RUSSIAN ADOLESCENTS AGED 15-18 YEARS
A survey of 1119 15-18 year olds, students of secondary schools in the city of Kopeisk, Chelyabinsk Region, Ural Federal District, was conducted to identify the prevalence of Internet addiction symptoms. The severity of Internet-related addictive behaviors was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS). Moderate Internet addiction symptoms were found in 58.4% of the respondents and pronounced Internet addiction symptoms/high risk of Internet addiction in 10.4% of the respondents. The study showed significant gender differences for the most of Internet addiction symptoms; in general, girls had a higher severity of Internet addiction symptoms as compared to boys. These findings supplement the data on the prevalence of Internet-related addictive behaviors among Russian high school students.