Communicating and Meeting with Online Contacts among Female Adolescents: Developing Scales and Exploring Preventive Role of Schools Through Subjective Adjustment

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to gain insight into the predictive role of subjective adjustment to school on meeting online contacts and related risky behavior (online interaction risk behavior). 344 female high school students completed an anonymous questionnaire with Online Interaction Risk Behavior Scale (OIRBS), Subjective Adjustment for Adolescents Scale, Revised New Internet Addiction Scale, relationship with online contacts met offline, and parental involvement when meeting online contacts. Multiple regression analysis showed that for female adolescents, subjective adjustment to school predicted connection-seeking behavior of the OIRBS, while higher school grade and less time spent studying outside of school predicted self-exposure behavior of the OIRBS. The result suggests that school efforts to improve subjective adjustment to school might be effective in reducing online interaction risk behavior in female adolescents.