ADOLESCENTS’ INTERNET ADDICTION AND PSYCHOSOMATIZATION MODERATE THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND RISK BEHAVIOR

Abstract

This article is an empirical study that was conducted to study Ukrainian adolescents. The total sample of the study was 615 people. The final sample size included 589 people. The study was conducted in secondary schools of Odessa (only 10 secondary schools). The respondents’ average age was 14,866 years (SD = 1,107 years). Were covered different types of schools: public schools, gymnasium, lyceum, college and boarding school. In our study, we analyzed the issues of objective and subjective feelings of stress and adolescents’ risk behavior. We have suggested that objective and subjective stress can influence adolescents’ risk behavior. In turn, the adolescents’ internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders can change that influence, making it stronger or weaker. Thus, the purpose of this work was to study the moderating effect of adolescents’ internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders on the impact of objective and subjective stress on adolescents’ risk behavior. It was found that older students with high level of Internet addiction were more likely to have psychosomatic disorders. It was also established that adolescents with higher level of psychosomatization, were more exposed to risky behavior. A similar trend was found between Internet addiction and high school students’ risk behavior. It was found that low level of adolescents’ internet addiction provoked risky behavior as a response to objective and subjective stress more strongly. It was found that adolescents with a low level of psychosomatic disorders were found to be more likely to exhibit risky behavior when experiencing total stress and subjective stress. The results of this study can be used in educational and psychological practice for the prevention of adolescents’ mental health problems. Prospects for further research in this direction are the study of other factors that may have a moderating effect on the impact of stress on adolescent risk behavior.