J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2006 Sep;45(5):468-475.

Temperament and Genetic Polymorphism in Korean Male Adolescents with Internet Addiction Tendency

• Kim EY
• Lee YS
• Han DH
• Suh DS
• Kee BS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Among chemical and non-chemical dependence, internet addiction is one of the most frequent addictive behavior in adolescent. This study was performed to detect certain temperamental and genetic characteristics in adolescent with internet addiction tendency.
METHODS
87 adolescents with internet addiction tendency (AIT) and 78 adolescents without internet addiction tendency (NAIT) were classified by Young's Internet Addiction Test. Cloninger's Temperament Character Inventory and 6 candidate genes of drug addiction (DRD2 TaqI A, DRD4, DAT1, 5-HTTLPR, NET-8, and COMT) polymorphisms were tested between two groups.
RESULTS
Novelty Seeking scores (p=0.001) and Harm Avoidance scores (p=0.042) were significantly higher in AIT. The frequency of DRD2-A1/A1 genotype and G allele of NET-8 in AIT was higher than that in NAIT. In AIT, Novelty Seeking scores were significantly different (p=0.011) according to NET-8 genotypes (G/G>G/A>A/A).
CONCLUSION
These data suggest that male adolescents with internet addiction tendency have the specific temperament and genetic polymorphisms like chemical dependence.

Keyword

Internet addiction tendency; Male adolescent; Temperament; Genetic polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Alleles
Behavior, Addictive
Genotype
Humans
Internet*
Male*
Polymorphism, Genetic*
Substance-Related Disorders
Temperament*