Examination of the Relationship Between Nutrition, Exercise Behavior and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Objective: This study aims to determine the relationship between adolescents' nutritionexercise behaviors and internet addiction, as well as identify the factors affecting their eating-exercise behaviors and internet addiction. Material and Method: This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was performed in Fethiye. The sample of the study consisted of 421 students attending 11 secondary schools. Data were collected using a descriptive data form, the Internet Addiction Scale and the Nutrition Exercise Behavior Scale. The data were collected by the researcher after obtaining ethical committee and institutional permissions. Results: The students' psychological/addictive eating behavior subscale mean score was 38.9±8.8, their healthy eating/exercise subscale mean score was 47.6±9.4, the unhealthy eating/exercise behavior subscale mean score was 49.0±7.0, and the meal pattern subscale mean score was 23.4±4.5. The internet addiction scale mean score was 19.6±7.5. The regression analysis showed that variables pertaining to the students’ psychological/ addictive eating behavior, meal patterns, unhealthy nutrition/exercise behavior, their use of the internet for social media and other purposes, their class, and their consciousness of eating during the COVID-19 pandemic explained 35.8% of internet addiction, meaning that the model was statistically significant. An inverse correlation was found between the variables of psychological/addictive eating, meal patterns, unhealthy nutrition/exercise and being conscious of what one was eating during the COVID-19 pandemic, while a positive correlation was found between the variables of using the internet for social media and class. Conclusion: Pediatric nurses play an important role in supporting the healthy development of adolescents by creating programs to instill healthy lifestyle habits.