A Comparative Study on the Health Promoting Behavior between Average Internet Users and Excessive Internet Users in Middle School Students

일부 중학생의 인터넷 사용 수준에 따른 건강증진행위 비교 연구

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the difference of the health promoting behaviors between average Internet users and excessive Internet users. Method: Data were collected from a convenient sample of 465 middle school students from June 7th to 17th, 2002, based on a self reported questionnaire. The instruments included were the Health Promotion Behaviors reconstructed by the author based on the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (Walker, Sechrist & Pender, 1987) and Internet addiction test translated by Center for Internet Addiction Prevention and Counseling based on Young's test. Data were analyzed with N, %, x2 test, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Result : 1. There were no significant differences in general characteristics between average Internet users and excessive Internet users. 2. There were significant differences between two groups in diet behavior(p=.030), even though there were no differences in general health promoting behaviors(p=.109). 3. There were significant negative correlations between Internet use and diet behavior (r=-.193, p=.000). Therefore, average Internet users had more desirable diet behavior than excessive Internet users. Conclusion: Internet addiction prevention program should be conducted as part of a comprehensive school health promotion program. In addition, the results of this study should be considered in developing the school health education curriculum to rear students' responsibility on their health behaviors.