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Using metaphors to investigate cognition–behavior link in problematic I nternet use among college students
Author(s) -
Koc Mustafa
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12150
Subject(s) - the internet , psychology , addiction , gratification , mood , cognition , social psychology , world wide web , computer science , psychiatry
This study employed metaphor analysis as a novel approach to explore college students' metaphorical representations of the I nternet and their associations with problematic I nternet use ( PIU ). It aimed to find out whether normal and problematic I nternet users conceive the I nternet through the same cognitive framework. Methods The sample included 370 college students in T urkey. A questionnaire was conducted to gather metaphorical conceptions of the I nternet, patterns of I nternet usage, and PIU status. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results Of the sample, 8.6% were diagnosed with PIU . Home access and entertainment gratification were strong correlates of PIU . Gender and major had no effects on PIU . Participants produced 66 metaphors that were grouped into eight conceptual categories: information source, immensity, basic need, addictive substance, double‐edged sword, transporter, mood regulator, and supporter. Discussion PIU was the highest in the addictive substance category, followed by basic need and mood regulator categories, with cigarette, water, and friend being the dominant metaphors in these categories, respectively. Problematic users are less likely to conceptualize the I nternet as a supportive entity. Normal users are able to verbalize the good and bad aspects of the I nternet, but those negatively affected appear to have lost sight of the most useful function of the I nternet.