| Abstract [eng] |
It is becoming more and more important for younger children to explore the manifestations of their virtual activity using information technology opportunities. The Internet opens up a wide range of opportunities to get the information you need, communicate, play, learn. However, it also contains a number of threats. That is why more and more attention is paid to the risky online behavior of children and adolescents. The aim of the Master's thesis is to reveal the links between risky online behavior, sensation seeking and strengths and difficulties in adolescence. To evaluate selected constructs we used the Risky online behavior scale (created by the author), Sensation seeking scale (SSS-V), and Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). 212 pupils from 4 different schools in Klaipėda and Klaipėda district participated in the study. Average age = 14.42 (SD = 1.109). The results of the study showed that the Risky online behavior scale (created by the author) has good internal consistency (Cronbach α: 0.802). According to the estimates of the sub-scales, the greatest risk among students is to be addicted to the Internet (M = 14.31, SD = 4.06), the least – to the negligent sexual behavior on the Internet (M = 8.97, SD = 3.48). General Risky online behavior has a significant impact on the sensation seeking, shared difficulties (SDQ) and the amount of time spent online every day. Regression analysis has revealed that there is a prognostic link: with the increasing sensation seeking and experiencing difficulties, the chance that the teenager will behave more risky on the Internet also increases. When communicating online, boys are more abusive than girls, with more disinhibition in real life situations, and lower social skills. Girls are more likely to share private information on the Internet, are more attractive to new experiences through unusual sensations and thoughts, have social skills, receive more parental control and experience more emotional difficulties. The older the teenagers, the more likely they are prone to the negligent sexual behavior on the Internet, reveal more private information, strive for sharp and new sensations, experience more emotional difficulties, and their behavior on the Internet is less controlled by the parents. |
