Internet-riippuvuus teini-ikäisillä : Mitä se on ja miten sitä voi mitata

The purpose of this dissertation is to increase understanding of the nature of Internet Addiction (IA) among adolescents (aged 12 to 18 years), focusing on what IA is and how it is measured. Particular emphasis is given to the measurement of IA, and different variables are considered in order to deepen understanding of its various aspects. Accordingly, five studies have been conducted. Study I examines various Internet uses and gratifications (U&G) among adolescent Internet users by developing a valid and reliable 27-item Internet gratification scale (N = 1,914); Study II investigates the role of adolescents’ demographic, technology accessibility, unwillingness to communicate attributes, and sought Internet U&Gs in predicting their tendency to experience IA (N = 1,914); Study III examines the effect of adolescent Internet users’ background characteristics (e.g., demographics, technology accessibility, unwillingness to communicate attributes) on predicting different Internet U&Gs and heavy Internet use among adolescents (N = 1,914); Study IV investigates the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), and the relationship between the CIUS and adolescent Internet users’ background characteristics (e.g., demographics, ICT accessibility and Problematic ICT use) (N = 2,369); and Study V focuses on the development and validation of WhatsApp (WA) addiction scales for adolescents (N = 405). Cross-sectional research and psychometric theory based analysis reveal the following findings. First, a valid and reliable Internet U&G instrument (27- item) addresses six dimensions of Internet U&G, namely information seeking, exposure, connecting, coordination, social influence, and entertainment (Study I). Second, the following are risk factors for adolescent IA: being male, lower academic performance, high daily time spent on Internet use, strict Internet parenting at home, higher approach avoidance and reward seeking, looking for more connecting, coordination and social influence seeking, and pursuing lower information seeking and exposure gratifications (Study II). Third, older females, adolescents with higher academic performance, higher reward seeking and lower daily Internet use content gratifications such as information seeking & exposure; male, adolescents seeking higher approach avoidance and reward seeking tend to seek higher social gratifications such as connecting & coordination; and higher approach avoidance and reward seeking tendencies predicted process gratifications such as social influence & entertainment (Study III). Fourth, the CIUS possesses good psychometric properties with fairly high reliability, homogeneity and validity. Male, older adolescents, those with lower academic performance, lower life satisfaction, active Internet use (including daily Internet use, excessive Internet use and overall Internet activity) and problematic Internet use significantly predicted compulsive Internet use among adolescents. The study confirmed the findings of Study II (Study IV). Fifth, three original IA scales were adjusted to access WhatsApp (WA) addiction among adolescents. The data showed that they were valid and reliable self-reporting instruments. In addition, a shorter version of each of the three adapted instruments and a 16-item unified scale were also developed and validated. All five studies (Studies I, II, III, IV, V) examined various perspectives on the conceptualization of IA with a strong focus on the measurement and development of valid and reliable instruments to measure IA To conclude, the results indicate that not all adolescents equally experience IA; rather, some are more vulnerable than others. The studies have clarified situations, attributes or behaviors that lead to IA among adolescents. Moreover, new Internet U&Gs have been identified to help to conceptualize IA. In addition, the developed and validated instruments (27-item Internet U&G, 14-item CIUS, 14-item WA addiction test, 8-item and 10-item compulsive WA use) will serve as handy tools for teachers, educational psychologists, and counsellors. By utilizing these instruments, one can easily screen compulsive Internet users from a normal population and provide vulnerable students with timely help and support. The present study confirms the findings of earlier IA literature available in the context of Internet users from a wider age group, and different cultural and demographic settings. The current studies are important, especially because the target user group is adolescent Internet users (aged 12 to 18 years) who have been overlooked in IA and Internet U&G literature. These findings also emphasize the importance of recognizing IA as a problem among adolescents, which many adolescents unknowingly are or become vulnerable to be in daily life settings. The findings are valuable in terms of education and research.Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli lisätä ymmärrystä siitä, mitä on Internet-riippuvuus (Internet Addiction, IA) 12 -18 -vuotiailla nuorilla. Keskiösssä oli käsitteen määrittely sekä IA-ilmiön mittaaminen. Erilaisia kriteerimuuttujia käytettiin myös, jotta ilmiötä voitaisiin ymmärtää erilaisista näkökulmista. Osatutkimuksessa I tarkasteltiin teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttöä ja siihen liittyvää mielihyvää (U&G) kehittämällä validi ja luotettava 27 kysymyksen ´Internet gratification scale' (N = 1 914). Osatutkimuksessa II tutkittiin nuorten demografisten tietojen, teknologian saatavuuden, kommunikaatiohalukkuuden sekä käytön ja siihen liittyvän mielihyvän ennustearvoa Internet-riippuvuuden kokemisen suhteen (N = 1914). Osatutkimuksessa III tutkittiin teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttäjien taustamuuttujien ennustearvoa (mm. demografiset tiedot, teknologian saatavuus, haluttomuus kommunikoida) suhteessa käyttöön, mielihyvään (U&G) and intensiiviseen Internetin käyttöön teini-ikäisillä (N = 1914). Osatutkimuksessa IV tarkasteltiin mittarin 'Compulsive Internet Use Scale' (CIUS) psykometrisiä ominaisuuksia sekä CIUSin yhteyttä teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttäjien taustamuuttujiin, teknologian saatavuuteen ja ongelmalliseen teknologian käyttöön (N = 2369). Osatutkimus V keskittyi 'WhatsApp (WA) addiction scales for adolescents' -mittarin kehittämiseen ja validointiin (N = 405). Analyysit perustuivat poikkileikkausasetelmaan ja psykometriseen teoriaan. Tulokset olivat seuraavat: Ensinnäkin havaittiin, että validi and reliaabeli Internet U&G instrument käsitti kuusi Internetin käytön ja mielihyvän ulottuuvuutta: informaation hakeminen, altistuminen, yhteydenpito, koordinointi, sosiaalinen vaikuttaminen ja viihde (Osatutkimus I). Toiseksi nuorten Internet-riippuvuutta ennustivat merkitsevästi seuraavat muuttujat: sukupuoli (pojat), heikompi akateeminen suoriutuminen Internetissä käytetyn ajan määrä, tiukka Internetin valvonta koton, korkea välttämiskäyttäytyminen, alhainen palkitsemishakuisuus, runsas yhteyden hakeminen muihin, koordinoivan toiminnan ja sosiaalisen vaikuttamisen tarve, vähäisempi informaation hakeminen sekä altistuminen Internetin tuottamalle mielihyvälle (Osatutkimus II). Kolmanneksi ikä, sukupuoli (tytöt), koulussa hyvin menestyminen, korkea palkitsemishakuisuus sekä vähäisempi Internetin päivittäinen käyttö ennustivat sisällöllistä mielihyvää kuten tiedon hakua ja tiedolle altistumista. Sen sijaan sukupuoli (pojat), korkeampi välttämiskäyttäytyminen ja alhaisempi palkitsemishakuisuus olivat yhteydessä sosiaalisen mielihyvän hakuun (kuten yhteydenpito ja koordinointi). Korkeampi välttämiskäyttäytyminen ja palkitsemishakuisuus ennustivat prosessiin kohdistuvaa mielihyvää kuten sosiaalista vaikuttamista ja viihdekäyttöä (Osatutkimus III). Neljänneksi CIUSin psykometriset ominaisuudet olivat hyvät ja reliabiliteetti vähintään kohtalainen, samoin kuin validiteetti ja homogeenisuus. Pojat, vanhemmat teini-ikäiset, akateemisesti heikommin suoriutuvat, elämäänsä vähemmän tyytyväiset, aktiiviset internetin käyttäjät sekä Internetin käytön ongelmalliseksi kokevat ilmaisivat useammin myös pakonomaista Internetin käyttöä (Osatutkimus IV). Tämä tutkimus myös vahvisti toisen osatutkimuksen tulokset. Osatutkimuksessa V kolme alkuperäistä pakonomaisen Internetin käyttöä koskevaa skaalaa (summamuuttujaa) muokattiin mittaamaan WhatsAppriippuvuutta (WA) nuorilla. Tämä osoittautui reliaabeliksi itsearvioinnin mittariksi. Lisäksi kehitettiin ja validoitiin16 kysymystä käsittävä lyhyempi versio jokaisesta kolmesta instrumentista. Kaikki viisi osatutkimusta (I, II, III, IV, V) tarkastelivat eri näkökulmia Internet-riippuvuuteen ja auttoivat käsitteellistämään sitä. Tutkimuksissa painottui vahvasti Internetriippuvuutta koskevien luotettavien mittareiden kehittäminen sekä tämän ilmiön mittaaminen. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta että kaikki nuoret eivät altistu Internetriippuvuudelle samalla tavalla, vaan jotkut ovat sille muita alttiimpia. Nämä tutkimukset selvensivät tilanteita, piirteitä ja käyttäytymismalleja jotka voivat johtaa Internet-riippuvuuteen teini-iässä. Lisäksi uusia Internetin käyttöön ja se tuottamaan mielihyvään liityviä tekijöitä tuli esille ja ilmiötä voidaan nyt paremmin käsitteellistää. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa kehitetyt ja validoidut mittarit (27-kysymyksen Internet U&G, 14 kysymyksen CIUS, 14 kysymyksen WA addiction test, 8 kysymyksen ja 10 kysymyksen pakonomaisen Whatappin käyttämisen mittarit) voivat toimia kätevinä työvälineinä opettajille, koulupsykologeille ja opinto-ohjaajille. Näiden mittareiden avulla saadaan helposti selville, onko Internetin käyttö pakonomaista ja poikkeaako se normaalista populaatiosta. Tällä tavalla on mahdollistaa auttaa Internet-addiktiolle mahdollisesti altistuvia oppilaita. Tämä tutkimus vahvisti aikaisempia Internet-riippuvuuteen liittyviä tutkimuksia ja auttoin yleistämään niitä laajempiin ikäryhmiin sekä uusiin kulttuureihin ja konteksteihin. Tutkimus on tärkeä, koska kohderyhmä on sellainen, jota ei aiemmin juuri ole tutkittu. Tulokset myös painottavat Internet-riippuvuuden toteamista ja tunnistamista. Kyseessä on potentiaalinen ongelma, jolle lukuisat nuoret voivat altistua jokapäiväisessä elämässään. On myös huomattava, että suurin osa nuorista kokee mielihyvää Internetin käytöstä, mutta ei osoita addiktion oireita

Do Online Privacy Concerns Predict Selfie Behavior among Adolescents, Young Adults and Adults?

Selfies, or self-portraits, are often taken and shared on social media for online self-presentation reasons, which are considered essential for the psychosocial development and well-being of people in today's culture. Despite the growing popularity and widespread sharing of selfies in the online space, little is known about how privacy concerns moderate selfie behavior. In addition to this, it is also not known whether privacy concerns across age and gender groups influence selfie behavior. To address this timely issue, a survey assessing common selfie behaviors, that is, frequency of taking (individual and group selfies), editing (cropping and filtering), and posting selfies online, and social media privacy concerns (over personal data being accessed and misused by third parties) was conducted. The web-survey was administered to 3,763 Norwegian social media users, ranging from 13 to 50 years, with a preponderance of women (n = 2,509, 66.7%). The present study investigated the impact of privacy concerns on selfie behaviors across gender and age groups (adolescent, young adult, and adult) by use of the structural equation modeling approach. The results suggest that young adults have greater privacy concerns compared to adolescents and adults. Females have greater privacy concerns than males. Greater privacy concerns among female social media users were linked to lower engagement in selfie behavior, but privacy concerns did not influence selfie behavior in the case of male adolescents and young adults. Overall, privacy concerns were more consistently and inversely related to selfie behavior (taking and posting) among females than males. The study results have theoretical as well as practical implications for both researchers and policy makers.Peer reviewe

Barriers and paradoxical recommendation behaviour in online to offline (O2O) services. A convergent mixed-method study

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Associations between travel and tourism competitiveness and culture

publishedVersio

Associations between travel and tourism competitiveness and culture

In recent years, countries have been competing with each other to attract tourists due to of the unprecedented growth in new tourism destinations. Consequently, these countries have been taking several initiatives to improve the competitiveness of their destinations in comparison to those of other countries. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for destinations to become the most popular and preferred choice among tourists. Previous literature has highlighted the need for examining the association between the culture of a particular destination and their competitiveness with respect to tourism. Little is known, however, about these associations at the present time. This study offers a cultural explanation of the travel and tourism competitiveness (TTC) of a country by investigating the relationship between destination competitiveness, as measured by TTC, and national culture. The study investigates these relationships by analysing data from 73 countries. Multiple regression was used to examine the relationships, and cluster analysis to segment the countries. The findings indicate that individualism, long-term orientation, and indulgence dimensions of national culture were significant in influencing the TTC of a country, whereas power distance and masculinity were insignificant. This study emphasises the importance of developing culturally congruent policies to improve destination competitiveness.publishedVersio

Facebook Photo Tagging Culture and Practices Among Digital Natives

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Although the demand for organic food is growing globally, the mainstream consumption of organic food is far less. The present study attempts to understand underlying reasons for consumer resistance toward consuming organic food using the theoretical framework of innovation resistance theory (IRT). The study further examines the association between different consumer barriers and purchase decisions (purchase intentions, ethical consumption intentions, and choice behaviour) at different levels of buying involvement and environmental concerns. The collected data, consisting of 452 consumers, were analyzed by structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that value is the major barrier influencing purchase intentions and ethical consumption intentions. Ethical consumption and purchase intention were found to have direct influence on choice behaviour. Additionally, the relationship between ethical consumption intention and choice behaviour is mediated by purchase intention. However, no significant differences have emerged based on level of buying involvement and environment concerns. The findings of the study provide insight into public policymakers, marketers, suppliers, and consumer associations by enhancing their current understanding of buying behaviour of the growing organic food community.Peer reviewe

Jealousy due to social media? A systematic literature review and framework of social media-induced jealousy

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Jealousy due to social media? A systematic literature review and framework of social media-induced jealousy

Purpose The association between social media and jealousy is an aspect of the dark side of social media that has garnered significant attention in the past decade. However, the understanding of this association is fragmented and needs to be assimilated to provide scholars with an overview of the current boundaries of knowledge in this area. This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to fulfill this need. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertake an SLR to assimilate the current knowledge regarding the association between social media and jealousy, and they examine the phenomenon of social media-induced jealousy (SoMJ). Forty-five empirical studies are curated and analyzed using stringent protocols to elucidate the existing research profile and thematic research areas. Findings The research themes emerging from the SLR are (1) the need for a theoretical and methodological grounding of the concept, (2) the sociodemographic differences in SoMJ experiences, (3) the antecedents of SoMJ (individual, partner, rival and platform affordances) and (4) the positive and negative consequences of SoMJ. Conceptual and methodological improvements are needed to undertake a temporal and cross-cultural investigation of factors that may affect SoMJ and acceptable thresholds for social media behavior across different user cohorts. This study also identifies the need to expand current research boundaries by developing new methodologies and focusing on under-investigated variables. Originality/value The study may assist in the development of practical measures to raise awareness about the adverse consequences of SoMJ, such as intimate partner violence and cyberstalking.publishedVersio

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The notion of corruption has emerged as a prominent topic against the backdrop of e-government. However, there are diverse but disorganized viewpoints about the relationship between e-government and corruption, thus creating difficulties in obtaining a structured overview of the existing literature and identifying the avenues to take this research area forward. Despite this, prior studies have made limited attempts to gather these fragmented observations to guide future research holistically. To address this concern, we conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) of 63 articles discussing e-government and corruption and provide a comprehensive synthesis of the current knowledge in this domain. In particular, we offer a thematic classification of prior studies, uncover the key gaps in the literature, identify the potential research areas, and provide recommendations to broaden the avenues for future studies. Furthermore, we propose an integrated conceptual framework to caution policymakers about the incomplete understanding offered by the existing studies and to inspire further research in several ways.publishedVersio