Supervisors info:
Κολαΐτης Γεράσιμος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αναγνωστόπουλος Δημήτρης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Λαζαράτου Ελένη, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction
The diploma thesis investigates the use-misuse of the internet by people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities,aged 14 to 50 years. Statistical studies on internet access for people with such disabilities are very limited (Chadwick,Wesson &Fullwood,2013). Research on disability and the use of technology had been extended in the past but still remains a new field(Carey,Friedman and Bryen,2005) and therefore there are gaps in our knowledge. There appears to be no research in which researchers have considered internet use and the prevailing electronic technologies such as mobile phones, tablets and so on (Carey, Friedman and Bryen, 2005).
Aim - Objectives
The aim of the present study was to investigate the penetration of the internet in everyday life of people with mild and moderate mental disabilities and specifically whether the use of the internet affects their lives and to what extent.The ultimate goal was to provide suggestions on how to address the effects of online abuse, how to prevent such abuse and to investigate the factors that are associated with the abuse, such as gender or age.
Method
60 people, participated in the present study, both men and women,students of ''Margarita'' special education lab with mild and moderate mental disabilities along with their siblings as a control group.The data collection was conducted with the Young Internet Addiction Test questionnaire.The method chosen to approach research questions was a quantitative research.
Results
Based on the levels of dependence of the Internet Addiction Test questionnaire,the majority of both groups had normal levels of internet dependence.16,7% of the control group and 21,1% of students had mild dependence. In addition, 18,3% of the control group and 22,8% of the students had moderate dependence, while no one was seriously dependent.The dependency levels were similar in both groups.
Conclusions
The research data suggest that people with mild and moderate mental disabilities seem to be frequent users of the internet. However, the internet access rate was significantly lower in the student group. Gender was found to be related to excessive use of the Internet as in both groups(control and student group)the internet dependency ratio was significantly higher in males compared to females.The age of users in both groups was about 32 years. Socio-economic and educational background as well as professional training of parents were found to affect users access.
Keywords:
Internet Addiction, Mental Disabilities, Use of Internet by people with mental disabilities, Internet Addiction Test
