Investigating the Phenomenon of Virtual Addiction among Teenagers and Young People in Qom Province

Nowadays internet and computer games have been promoted around the world. Promotion of any information technology has its own positive and negative consequences in societies. Virtual addiction, a negative consequence of internet usage, has been increased in some of big cities in our country and has created a lot of problems for individuals, families and society. The aim the present study is to investigate rate of virtual addiction among teenagers and young people of urban areas of Qom province and, to examine what affects it. The present paper is a descriptive-analytical research (in relationship form) in which two documentary and survey (questionnaire) methods are applied. Statistical population included 12 to 30 years-old teenagers and young people of Qom province urban areas. 650 subjects were selected as sampling population. Questionnaires were completed through doing door-to-door survey or referring to Net Cafés and Game Nets. Findings of the research show that 51 percent of teenagers and youth don’t suffer virtual addiction; however, 42 percent of them are prone to it and 7 percent are addicted. Virtual addiction index has been created by combination of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive addiction indices. The obtained results from multi-variable regression analysis showed that “Feeling social support” (Beta=0.29) had the highest correlation and thus, most relation with virtual addiction. In next steps, variables of “Feeling self-worth” (Beta= 0.25) and “Keeping in touch with friends” (Beta=0.18) were effective on virtual addiction. Results of “age” variable (Beta=-0.14) showed that Internet doesn’t amuse young people as much as it amuses teenagers. The obtained results also showed that employment and marriage among them has a regulatory role; because they cause these people become less dependent on internet (for doing unnecessary tasks).