Table 4. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (1998, pp. 31–33)
To assess your level of addiction, answer the following questions using this scale:
1 = not at all 2 = rarely 3 = occasionally 4 = often 5 = always
1. How often do you find that you stay online longer than you intended?
1 2 3 45
2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time online?
1 2 3 45
3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy in your relationship?
1 2 3 45
4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow online users?
1 2 3 45
5. How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend online?
1 2 3 45
6. How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend online?
1 2 3 45
7. How often do you check your e-mail before something else that you need to do?
1 2 3 45
8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet?
1 2 3 45
9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do online?
1 2 3 45
10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the Internet?
1 2 3 45
11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go online again?
1 2 3 45
12. How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless?
1 2 3 45
13. How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are online?
1 2 3 45
14. How often do you lose sleep because of late-night log ons?
1 2 3 45
15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the Internet when off-line, or fantasize about being online?
1 2 3 45
16. How often do you find yourself saying, “just a few more minutes” when online?
1 2 3 45
17. How often do you try to cut down on the amount of time you spend online and fail?
1 2 3 45
18. How often do you hide how long you’ve been online?
1 2 3 45
19. How often do you choose to spend more time online over going out with others?
1 2 3 45
20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back online?
1 2 3 45
Answer all questions. Add up number selected. The higher the score, the higher level of Internet addiction. Evaluate the score based on the following scale:
20–39 Points: average online user. There is control over Internet use, although use of the Internet may be lengthy at times.
40–69 Points: frequent problems exist regarding use of the Internet.
70–100 Points: internet usage is causing significant problems in life. Issues need to be addressed.
Can be accessed at: www.netaddiction.com
*Permission needed from the author to publish the assessment tool.