| Adolescents have been found to be a vulnerable group for Internet addiction. The reportedly prevalence of “Internet addicts” ranged from 4% to 14%. The major symptoms of Internet addiction are: excessive use, withdrawal, tolerance, and compulsive use. Negative consequences of Internet addiction include physical complaints, worsening performance in work or study, and relationship problems.;Despite a number of risk factors identified, prior studies were limited in two aspects. First, previous studies assumed that risk factors operate in an additive manner with increasing numbers of risk factors leading to an increasing probability of becoming internet addicted. Not enough attention has been paid to relationships among the risk factors. Second, most risk factors were either personal attributes or internet use behaviors. This might lead to the biased assertion that either the person or the internet should be blamed for becoming addicted.;This research tried to extend previous research by proposing and testing a theoretical model which argued that the some adolescents became attached to the internet as it provided an alternative way of needs satisfaction or stress coping; the needs satisfaction or stress coping was not possible in realistic life due to some personal or contextual risk factors. The theoretical model was constructed based on outcome expectancy theory (Bandura, 1977; Jones, Corbin & Fromme, 2001; Oei & Baldwin, 1994), substitute gratification theory (Peele, 1998), and stress coping theory (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Abrams & Niaura, 1987) as well as some findings of previous research.;A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shanghai, China. A non-random sample 892 adolescents (aged 12 to 18) from six secondary schools were recruited. 52(5.83%) participants were included in the high-risk group of internet addiction. Risk factors for internet addition were: male, senior secondary school students, social anxiety, stress, avoidance coping style, desirable outcome expectancy of substitute gratification (need to belong), desirable outcome expectancy of stress coping, frequency of online gaming, frequency of idling online and time spent online during weekdays. Moreover, social anxiety, stress, and avoidance coping style had both direct and indirect effects on severity of internet addiction symptoms via the mediators of desirable outcome expectancy of substitute gratification (need to belong) and desirable outcome expectancy of stress coping; the results provided preliminary support to the theoretical model proposed in this study.;Both conceptual and methodological limitations and their implications for further research were discussed. Prevention and intervention programs were proposed according to results of this study. |
