Page 36 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 36
avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 34 dents think that life without the internet is boring. 17% of students believe that
they are addicted to using social networks, while 21% are undecided.
24 students (13%) were victims of psychological violence during child-
hood, 18 students (10%) were victims of physical violence, 6 students (3%) were
victims of sexual violence, and 9 students (5%) were exposed to neglect in their
childhood.
Discussion
We found out that 79% of students regularly speak on the phone or over the
internet. 90% of students use social networks, 79% of them are day-to-day us-
ers. Rozman (2013) also notes the high percentage of the mobile phones use
or the drastic increase in the use, and states that addiction to the internet or
its excessive use is growing at the expense of smartphones. The EU Kids On-
line research, conducted among children in 25 European countries in 2010, al-
so showed that 73% of Slovenian children use the internet every day or almost
every day. The use increases with age (Livingstone et al., 2011). Further findings
of our research show that to 12% of students the use of online social networks
represents the most important contact with their friends and Repa (2010) states
that the internet is an ideal environment for a person who has difficulties in
making contacts, is less confident, and has self-image problems. The way of life
and lifestyle have changed in the present day, therefore the use of the internet is
in many cases urgent today. For this reason, people are not even thinking about
the effects and consequences. Rozman (2013) further confirms that the essen-
tial characteristic of all social networks is to establish and maintain connec-
tions. This can also be good, as we can find friends and acquaintances, who we
have long lost contact with. Ule (2008) considers that adolescents spend a lot of
time establishing and maintaining friendships and invest a large part of their
energy and social life into it.
Students believe that 15% of them consequently come into conflict with
family members. 15% of students acknowledge that they neglect their study
obligations, as confirmed by Goldberg’s research (1996, and Repa, 2010) that
young people spend more and more time on the internet to experience sat-
isfaction; they are increasingly criticized for abandoning social contacts, job,
school and family obligations, and they use the internet for a longer period of
time than they intended. The latter was also confirmed by our research - 13% of
students are being warned by their family members that they spend too much
time behind a computer. Consequently, for 10% of students their effectiveness
or success in school has dropped, while 23% of students state that social net-
working relaxes them.
An alarming piece of information shows that violence in childhood is a
risk factor in addiction among adolescents, as our research found a greater in-
cidence of different forms of addiction among adolescents, especially girls who
were exposed to violence. Kašnik Janet et al. (2009) state that risk factors are
they are addicted to using social networks, while 21% are undecided.
24 students (13%) were victims of psychological violence during child-
hood, 18 students (10%) were victims of physical violence, 6 students (3%) were
victims of sexual violence, and 9 students (5%) were exposed to neglect in their
childhood.
Discussion
We found out that 79% of students regularly speak on the phone or over the
internet. 90% of students use social networks, 79% of them are day-to-day us-
ers. Rozman (2013) also notes the high percentage of the mobile phones use
or the drastic increase in the use, and states that addiction to the internet or
its excessive use is growing at the expense of smartphones. The EU Kids On-
line research, conducted among children in 25 European countries in 2010, al-
so showed that 73% of Slovenian children use the internet every day or almost
every day. The use increases with age (Livingstone et al., 2011). Further findings
of our research show that to 12% of students the use of online social networks
represents the most important contact with their friends and Repa (2010) states
that the internet is an ideal environment for a person who has difficulties in
making contacts, is less confident, and has self-image problems. The way of life
and lifestyle have changed in the present day, therefore the use of the internet is
in many cases urgent today. For this reason, people are not even thinking about
the effects and consequences. Rozman (2013) further confirms that the essen-
tial characteristic of all social networks is to establish and maintain connec-
tions. This can also be good, as we can find friends and acquaintances, who we
have long lost contact with. Ule (2008) considers that adolescents spend a lot of
time establishing and maintaining friendships and invest a large part of their
energy and social life into it.
Students believe that 15% of them consequently come into conflict with
family members. 15% of students acknowledge that they neglect their study
obligations, as confirmed by Goldberg’s research (1996, and Repa, 2010) that
young people spend more and more time on the internet to experience sat-
isfaction; they are increasingly criticized for abandoning social contacts, job,
school and family obligations, and they use the internet for a longer period of
time than they intended. The latter was also confirmed by our research - 13% of
students are being warned by their family members that they spend too much
time behind a computer. Consequently, for 10% of students their effectiveness
or success in school has dropped, while 23% of students state that social net-
working relaxes them.
An alarming piece of information shows that violence in childhood is a
risk factor in addiction among adolescents, as our research found a greater in-
cidence of different forms of addiction among adolescents, especially girls who
were exposed to violence. Kašnik Janet et al. (2009) state that risk factors are
