The Association between Internet Addiction and Impulsivity among Academicians

Abstract

This study seeks to identify the association between academicians’ Internet addiction and impulsivitypredispositions of academics and some underlying factors behind it. The study has been conducted with232 academicians employed at a state university in Turkey’s central Anatolian region. The data have beencollected using a participant questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Scale, and the Barratt ImpulsivenessScale. The mean age of the included academicians is 34.91 ± 8.33 years, with 53.4% being male. Theparticipants’ total mean score for Internet addiction is 30.00 ± 8.74. The mean score for impulsivity is63.58 ± 5.64. The study has found no meaningful association between overall Internet addiction scoreswith overall impulsivity scores. However, varying levels of association have been observed for all subscalesfrom both scales. The subscales of impulsivity and time spent on the Internet have also been found aspredictive factors for Internet addiction. The study has concluded the academicians to have mild degrees ofimpulsivity and low levels of internet addiction, all sub-dimensions of Internet addiction and impulsivity tobe interrelated, and the time spent online to associate with Internet addiction and impulsivity.