Investigating the Relationship between Problematic Internet Use and Psychological Well Being and Loneliness in Secondary Education Students

The purpose of the study was to determine whether school type and gender affected Problematic Internet Use (PIU) or not, and to specify whether Psychological Well-Being (PWB) and loneliness were significant predictors of PIU. In the study group, there were 242 secondary education students studying at Anatolian High School and Imam Hatip High School. As the data collection tool, Problematic Internet Use Scale-Adolescent (PIUS-A), Psychological Well-Being Scale-Adolescent (PWBS-A) and UCLA Loneliness Scale were used. PIU scores were determined to significantly differ according to gender and school type. Grade- school type common effect and gender-grade-school type common effect were found to be efficient upon PIU scores. Psychological Well-Being (PWB) and loneliness scores were specified to be significant predictors of PIU scores. Whereas PWB scores positively predicted PIU scores, loneliness scores negatively predicted PIU scores.