본 연구는 성인군을 대상으로 인터넷 중독군이 가지는 특이한 기질 요소를 알아보기 위한 연구로 인터넷 중독군 에서 높은 HA와 NS 그리고 낮은 RD를 보임을 알 수 있었으며 이러한 결과는 종전의 청소년군을 대상으로 한 연구에서 높은 HA와 낮은 RD로만 설명 되던 인터넷 중독 행위에 높은 NS으로 설명되는 또 다른 요소가 존재함을 의미하는 것으로 보인다. 이러한 높은 NS 요소가 인터넷 중독에 있어 어떤 의미를 가지는 지 좀 더 명확하게 알기 위해서 앞으로 더 많은 연구들이 더 다양한 연령을 대상으로 연구되어져야 할 것이다.

Objectives：Since mid-90s there have been numerous studies to understand and establish the concept of internet addiction as one of diagnostic classifications in psychiatry. Among them, many studies on the personality characteristics of internet addiction have been conducted. Recently, interests are expanding to temperament characteristics of internet addictors but the subjects have been limited to adolescents. In this study, the temperament characteristics of internet addiction in adults were investigated using Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Methods：430 participants (189 males, 241 females) answered the on-line and off-line questionnaires from January to December in 2005. Participants completed questionnaires on demography and the onset of internet use, Young’s Internet Addiction Scale and Korean Contracted Version of Cloninger’s Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Results：There were statistically significant differences in age, marital status, occupation, psychiatric history, smoking history, alcohol history and onset age of internet use among non-addiction, overuse and addiction groups by Young’s scale. Of the TPQ items harm avoidance (HA) scores were significantly higher in addiction and overuse groups than non-addiction group. Reward dependence (RD) scores were significantly lower in addiction group than non-addiction group. Novelty seeking (NS) scores were significantly higher in addiction group than non-addiction group. Conclusion：This study suggests a significant difference of novelty seeking in temperament characteristics between adults and adolescents with internet addiction. Further studies are expected for profound understanding of internet addiction. (J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2006;45(6):565-570)

Objectives：Since mid-90s there have been numerous studies to understand and establish the concept of internet addiction as one of diagnostic classifications in psychiatry. Among them, many studies on the personality characteristics of internet addiction have been conducted. Recently, interests are expanding to temperament characteristics of internet addictors but the subjects have been limited to adolescents. In this study, the temperament characteristics of internet addiction in adults were investigated using Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Methods：430 participants (189 males, 241 females) answered the on-line and off-line questionnaires from January to December in 2005. Participants completed questionnaires on demography and the onset of internet use, Young’s Internet Addiction Scale and Korean Contracted Version of Cloninger’s Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ). Results：There were statistically significant differences in age, marital status, occupation, psychiatric history, smoking history, alcohol history and onset age of internet use among non-addiction, overuse and addiction groups by Young’s scale. Of the TPQ items harm avoidance (HA) scores were significantly higher in addiction and overuse groups than non-addiction group. Reward dependence (RD) scores were significantly lower in addiction group than non-addiction group. Novelty seeking (NS) scores were significantly higher in addiction group than non-addiction group. Conclusion：This study suggests a significant difference of novelty seeking in temperament characteristics between adults and adolescents with internet addiction. Further studies are expected for profound understanding of internet addiction. (J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2006;45(6):565-570)

Adult· Cloninger· Internet addiction· Temperament.