Facebook addiction
From Drug Rehab Wiki
A recent college study identified characteristics that might indicate "Facebook Addiction."
Substance and gambling addictions are often addressed by health care professionals. Prevention messages for these areas are well placed to educate individuals as to the impact such dependencies can have on a life. While it is still under debate, online and gaming addictions have also been diagnosed.
A new “drug” is now presented in the form of social networking. Facebook, to be more specific, has drawn people to its site and for some, the attraction is addictive. According to an article in the Oregon Faith Report, Christian college students are spending an exorbitant amount of time on Facebook.
A study by two Gordon College faculty members, Bryan C. Auday, professor of psychology, and Sybil Coleman, professor of social work, found that one in three students say they are spending 1-2 hours a day on the Facebook site. Another 12 percent report using 2-4 hours a day; and 2.8 percent report usage of 4-7 hours per day.
“We’d received enough anecdotal evidence from college students to raise some red flags about these issues,” said Coleman. “But we felt it was crucial to gather scientific data from students about both the benefits and concerns (of usage) if we were going to get a clearer picture about how we could best respond.”
The online study was conducted in April of 2009 and included 1,342 students between the ages of 18 and 27 on four evangelical Christian college campuses with an equal class representation. Of the participants, 70 percent were women. Survey questions included amount of time spent, the primary reason for using a site, the impact on life and relationships, the ability to stop and possible conflict with values.
More than half, or 54 percent, reported that they were neglecting important areas of their life as a result of spending too much time on these sites. For those admitting they might have a problem, 12.7 percent affirmed they believed they were addicted and 8.7 percent were unsure.
