Gender Difference in Internet Use and Internet Problems among Quebec High School Students.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Limited data exists on Internet addiction (IA) among Canadian adolescents, particularly in Quebec.
• Understanding gender influences on adolescent Internet use and addiction is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and compare the prevalence of Internet use and potential Internet addiction among adolescents in Quebec.
• To investigate the influence of gender on Internet usage patterns and addiction risk in this population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a larger gambling study involving 3938 adolescents (grades 9-11).
• Collected information on online activities, time spent online, and scores from the Internet Addiction Test (IAT).
• Applied two common IAT cut-off scores (40-69/70+ and 50+) to assess potential IA.

Main Results:

• Boys reported significantly more time spent on the Internet than girls.
• Gender-specific online activity patterns emerged: girls favored social networks, while boys engaged more with online gaming and adult sites.
• IA prevalence varied by IAT cut-off: 1.3% at 70+ (41.7% at risk), and 18% at 50+.
• No significant gender differences were found in the proportion of adolescents at risk or with IA problems.
• Analysis suggested a 50+ IAT cut-off score is more effective in identifying at-risk adolescents.

Conclusions:

• This study provides valuable data on Internet use and addiction among a large cohort of Quebec adolescents.
• Findings highlight the need for nuanced approaches to assessing Internet addiction, considering different usage patterns and appropriate diagnostic thresholds.
• The results underscore the importance of further research into gender-specific online behaviors and their implications for adolescent mental health.