L’uso problematico di Internet tra gli studenti delle scuole superiori dell’area geografica del pinerolese (TO): prevalenza e fattori correlati

[Machine translation] Background-Objectives: The problematic use of the Internet (PIU) has emerged in recent years as a problem among adolescents around the world, who in addition to being particularly vulnerable to the initiation of pathological behaviors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol and substance use, are also those who use the Internet the most. However, little is known about the prevalence of the phenomenon, the risk factors, and even the consequences for health. The few published studies on this topic show strong differences in prevalence, even at the national level. The objective of this study is to measure the prevalence of PIU in the population of high school students in the Pinerolo area and to assess their potential risk factors. Methods: A prevalence survey was conducted among students, aged between 14 and 19, belonging to 25 high schools located in the Pinerolo area (TO). A total of 97 classes were included in the sample, one for each year of course and type of school. The survey was carried out through the compilation of a completely anonymous questionnaire that the children filled out at school. The questionnaires were collected during an academic semester (between December 2010 and March 2011). The questionnaire investigated demographic characteristics, methods of Internet use, psychosocial characteristics and problematic use evaluated using the Internet Addiction Test. Individual risk factors potentially associated with problematic Internet use were studied with a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 2,022 students out of 2,033 in the study sample completed the questionnaire. 99.4% used the Internet, with a 12% prevalence of problematic use. The multivariate analysis found that belonging to a professional institution (OR=1.62, 95% CI:1.07-2.47), younger age (OR=1.71, 95% CI:1.08-2.70), feeling alone (OR=3.65, 95% CI:2.05-6.51), the use of pornographic sites (OR=2.44, 95% CI:1.62-3.69), and the use of the Internet several times a week for at least two consecutive hours (OR=2.34, 95% CI:1.60-3.41) are associated with the risk of problematic use. On the contrary, using the Internet to search for school-related information is a protection factor (OR=0.48, 95% CI:0.33-0.70). There were no gender differences in the prevalence of the problem and risk factors. Conclusions: The results of this study show a fairly high prevalence of problematic Internet use among adolescents in the Pinerolo area. Considering that almost all adolescents use the Internet, such a prevalence of problematic use, if this has serious health consequences, would constitute an important public health problem. However, it is necessary to conduct additional prospective studies, to better evaluate the temporal sequence of events, to assess the magnitude of the health consequences, and possibly define appropriate and effective preventive strategies.