Development of an integrated intervention model for Internet addiction in Hong Kong – Savvy Essay Writers | savvyessaywriters.net
Development of an integrated intervention model for Internet addiction in Hong Kong – Savvy Essay Writers | savvyessaywriters.net
Int J Child Adolesc Health 2013;6(4):475-486 ISSN: 1939-5930 © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Development of an integrated intervention model for Internet addiction in Hong Kong
Daniel TL Shek, PhD, FHKPS, BBS, JP1,2,3,4,5 and Hildie Leung1 1Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PR China 2 Centre for Innovative Programmes for Adolescents and Families Public Policy Research Institute, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PR China 3Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, Macau, PR China 4Department of Social Work, East China Normal University, Shanghai, PR China 5Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
Correspondence: Professor Daniel TL Shek, PhD, FHKPS,
BBS, JP, Chair Professor of Applied Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Room HJ407, Core H, Hunghom, Hong Kong. E-mail: daniel.shek@ polyu.edu.hk
Abstract
In response to the severe lack of indigenously developed preventive and counseling services for young people displaying Internet addiction problem, the Community Chest of Hong Kong funded a pioneering project entitled “Youngster Internet addiction prevention and counseling service”. Besides provision of preventive services at the community, school, family and individual levels, individual-based and family-based counseling services were developed for young people displaying Internet addiction problem. In this paper, the major features of the counseling model are outlined, including emphases on controlled and healthy use of the Internet, understanding the change process in adolescents with Internet addiction problem, use of motivational interview methods, adoption of a family perspective, multi-level counseling at the individual, peer and family levels, and the use of both case and group approaches. The process of intervention in this counseling model is also described. Evaluation findings provide support for this integrated intervention model.
Keywords: Internet addiction; family intervention; individual counseling; motivational interviewing
Introduction
Despite potential educational and entertainment value of the Internet, its attractive nature may create addiction in young people. In fact, there are research findings showing that problematic or pathological use of the Internet adversely affects the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health of adolescents (1,2). There are also research findings showing that problem use of the Internet is quite prevalent in young people in the West (3,4) and the Asian contexts (5,6). For instance, according to a report on youth Internet addiction disorder published in 2009, approximately 14.3% of adolescents in China aged between 13-17 years and 15.6% of those aged between 18-23 years who had access to computers
Daniel TL Shek and Hildie Leung
476
suffered from Internet addiction (7). Studies conducted in Taiwan found that 18.8% of high school students (8) and 17.9% of senior high school students (9) were classified as being addicted to the Internet.
With specific reference to Hong Kong, Leung (10) concluded that 37.9% of the respondents were identified as Internet addicts. In another study (11), it was estimated that roughly 20% of the respondents could be classified as Internet addicted. In a longitudinal study of Internet addiction in students in Hong Kong, findings showed that Internet addiction is a common risk behavior in secondary school students. Using Young’s 10-item Internet Addiction Test, roughly one-fourth of Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 students could be classified as having Internet addiction. Besides, both psychosocial and familial factors have been associated with Internet addiction among youths (12-14). Specifically, Shek and Lu (12) found that the possession of positive and clear identity and general positive youth development predicted a lower probability of Internet addiction. Furthermore, adolescents with divorced parents were more likely to engage in pathological use of the Internet; perceived parental rearing behaviors that were lacking emotional warmth, rejecting, and punitive, were also associated with Internet addiction in adolescents (15).
In contrast to the growing Internet addiction in the global contexts, related work on intervention is scattered and was conducted in unsystematic manners (16,17). Furthermore, there is very little published work on successful intervention models in the Chinese contexts. Intervention models in the Chinese contexts are important because there is evidence showing that Chinese people displayed more pathological gambling behavior than did non-Chinese people (18,19). The widespread use of opium in China before the Opium War also suggests that we need Chinese models on addiction.
With the funding from the Community Chest of Hong Kong, a pilot project entitled “Youngster Internet addiction prevention and counseling service” was launched by the Jockey Club Wah Ming Lutheran Integrated Service Centre, Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, and Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod (LC-HKS). The major objectives of this pilot project were: a) to provide preventive education programs at the community, school, family, and individual levels; and b) to conduct a pilot project on
individual- and family-based counseling services for young people who have displayed Internet addictive behavior. In this paper, the basic features of the intervention model and the process of intervention are outlined.
Features of the intervention model
As there are few validated intervention models for Internet addiction in the global and local contexts, the Research Team attempted to pull together intervention strategies and techniques together in the fields of substance abuse, family counseling, and peer support group. Essentially, the intervention model adopted in this pilot project has the following features:
1. Emphasis on controlled and healthy use of the Internet: Instead of proposing complete abstinence of Internet use, it is argued that Internet use is intrinsically neutral. As such, controlled and healthy use was regarded as the desired outcome. This principle can also facilitate the involvement of the adolescent client in the counseling process. 2. Understanding the change process in adolescents with Internet addiction behavior: In the stages of change model (20, 21), there are several stages in the process of change, including pre-contemplation, contemplation, determination, action, maintenance, and relapse. In the pre- contemplation stage, the client may not think that his/her Internet use behavior is problematic and he/she does not consider changing his/her Internet use behavior. In the contemplation stage, the person starts to realize that his/her Internet use behavior is problematic and considers the possibility of changing. However, the consideration is ambivalent in nature. In the determination stage, the person decides to change his/her Internet use behavior. In the action stage, the person starts to decrease his/her online time. The person is successful in changing if he/she can maintain the changed Internet use behavior. Otherwise, relapse occurs and he/she might go through the stages of change again.
Intervention model for Internet addiction
477
This model was used in the present context to understand the needs of adolescents with Internet addiction problem and their family members. In the
intervention model, counseling tasks in relation to these different stages of change were devised. The details are described in table 1 and table 2.
Table 1. Individual-Based and Family-Based Counseling Tasks in the First Few Stages of the Change Process
Stages of Change
Individual-Based Counseling Family-Based Counseling
Pre- Contemplation
Making connection by expressing empathy. Understanding the daily functioning, thinking,
and feeling with respect to different areas such as school, peer and family contexts.
Understanding the needs and concerns of the client.
Understanding the positive and negative aspects of Internet use.
Developing discrepancy between what one wants and the current Internet use behavior.
Helping parents to handle emotions aroused by their children’s Internet addictive behavior.
Helping parents to understand their children’s needs and other problems behind the Internet addictive behavior.
Identifying the interaction patterns which maintain the Internet addictive behavior.
Contemplation Constructing decisional balance about change and no change which is in favor of changing current Internet use behavior.
Strengthening self-efficacy so as to enhance the possibility of change.
Determination Developing plans for changing Internet use behavior, not just an Internet use time table, but also a short-term plan about study or career. Different resources, such as the Youth Pre- Employment Training Program might be introduced whenever appropriate.
Engaging the client to join peer support groups, interest classes, or voluntary services.
Facilitating direct and congruent parent-child communication, thus improving their mutual understanding and relationships.
Breaking the circular interaction patterns which maintain the Internet addictive behavior.
Developing and strengthening interaction patterns of dealing with the conflict about Internet use, which in turn promote healthy Internet use habits.
Action Strengthening problem solving skills for handling the difficulties in carrying out the action plan.
Providing support to develop self-efficacy. Expressing empathy for those facing
difficulties during the changing process.
Table 2. Individual-Based and Family-Based Counseling Tasks in the Maintenance and Relapse Stages
Stages of Change
Individual-Based…
