The relations between the internet use and antisocial behavior and emotional regulation in young children

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Behind the first-rank IT power and game industry with the highest Internet distribution rate in the world, South Korea is taking the lead in experiencing side-effects of Internet. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate young children's actual use of internet and to identify the correlations between anti-social behavior and capability of emotion regulation according to degree of internet use, to help make the relevant policies and development of educational strategies for toddlers. METHODS: Participants in this cross-sectional study were 161 preschool children in the kindergarten aged 4 to 6 in Korea. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS18.0 statistical program, frequency, percentage, mean, t-test and ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients were used and data were analyzed within the 5% statistical significance level RESULTS: Antisocial behavior was not related to duration and frequency of using the internet. However, There were significant differences in self-recognition (t=9.063, p=.003), self-regulation (t=16.870, p<001), and regulation of others (t=14.608, p<001) by the length of use; those using Internet for three months or more showed a high degree of self-recognition and recognition of others but significantly lower self-regulation. Children using Internet once or more often a day or a week showed a significantly lower degree of recognition of others (t=4.685, p=.031) and emotional regulation (t=8.057, p=.005). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that how often using the internet rather than the period of a week is considered to be more important in the toddler's ability to integrate emotional regulation. ?2015 International Information Institute.