Abstract:

Obese children have significantly lower self-esteem than their normal-weight peers. The duration of internet use and the severity of addiction are associated with obesity. There are a limited number of studies examining the relationship between internet addiction and self-esteem in obese people. Thirty-six adolescents with a diagnosis of obesity and 36 adolescents in the normal weight range were matched according to age and gender and were included in the study as the control group. Participants completed Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Internet Addiction Scale. When the obese and non-obese groups were compared, parental interest and relationship with father were found to be higher in the obese group. Internet addiction scores did not differ between the two groups. Parental interest and relationship with father were independently associated with the obese group. Self-esteem, faith in people, daydreaming, psychosomatic symptoms, and psychic isolation differed among the groups determined according to internet use. Male gender and psychic isolation variables but not obesity were found to be independently associated with risky internet use and addiction. There was no difference between obese and non-obese adolescents in terms of self-esteem and internet addiction. Psychic isolation and male gender were found to be variables associated with risky internet use and internet addiction.

Keywords: