The goal of this research test the effects of Meditation Based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) program on internet addicted youths who suffer from internet addiction and problems of self-efficacy and impulsivity.
In order to effectuate the goals of this resea...
The goal of this research test the effects of Meditation Based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) program on internet addicted youths who suffer from internet addiction and problems of self-efficacy and impulsivity.
In order to effectuate the goals of this research, the following issues were established.
First, what effects would MBCT have on the internet addiction levels among internet addicted youths?
Second, what effects would MBCT have on the sense of self-efficacy among internet addicted youths?
Third, what effects would MBCT have on the self-control of impulsivity among internet addicted youths?
The subjects of this research were all the male first and second year junior high school students of H Junior High School, J-Gun, C-area, who were administered a self-review styled scale test(K-Scale Test) on internet addiction. Based on the tests, an experimental group of 20 students representing high risk and potential risk students was established to undergo an intensive group consultation program. A control group of 19 students consisting of first and second year junior students from a nearby G Junior High School was also established to serve as control group.
Research scale tests utilized were the internet addiction scale test(K scale test), self-efficacy scale test, and the impulsivity scale test.
The experiment proceeded over a period of 8 weeks consisting of 50 minutes per session on the experimental subjects based on the MBCT as the utilized method. By contrast, nothing was conducted on the control group. The scaled test on sense of self-efficacy and control of impulsivity was administered both before and after the experiment to both the experimental group and the control group.
The data analysis for the research was conducted based on the Windo SPSS V23.0 statistics program. The qualitative similarity of the experimental and control group was verified through the running of the population statistical quality Independent two-sample t-test, and the effect of the program was verified through the Two-Way ANOVA program.
The results of the research was as follows:
First, after the MBCT program, there were no statistically significant differences based on the two-way ANOVA method between the experimental group and the control group on the measure of internet addiction, except for the first lower measure of obstacle to normal daily life.
Second, although the total average score of the experimental group did rise, there were no statistically significant change in the score for the sense of self-efficacy, based on the two-way ANOVA method, between results for the before and after MBCT program.
Third, there was a significant showing of difference in the experimental group on the measure of self-control of impulsivity, verifying the effectiveness of the MBCT program. There was a meaningful differences in all the various measurement criteria.
Reviewing these results, it is reasonable to conclude that the MBCT program demonstrates effectiveness in reducing the internet addiction levels in youths. Given that the subjects were mostly a potentially at risk group based on their score on the first criteria (obstacle to normal daily life), their statistically significant improvement from an internet addicted group to a normal functioning group demonstrates the effectiveness of the MBCT program in lowering the internet addiction score.
In addition, while there was no showing of a significant difference on the scoring for sense of self-efficacy, there was a significant difference in the score for self-control of impulsivity, which has the closest relationship to internet addiction.
Given that internet addiction creates many problems both personal and societal for the youth population, this research may be meaningful if it provides a basis for introducing the MBCT program in the education setting of the schools so that youths can practice mind-control on their own volition.
Finally, it is my view that, if other test programs were also tested between an experimental and control group and their results compared, it would be possible to objectively test the effectiveness of the test program. In addition, if further research including follow up investigations were to continue documenting the effectiveness as well as the continuity of the MBCT program, there may be ways to test the conflicting results reaches under prior research studies.