..social skills are built and educational choices are made that influence the entire adulthood" (90). Thus, the concern on the possible effects Internet addiction can have on the youth's development as an adult makes escalating Internet use and eventual addiction not just a concern, but must also be considered as a serious mental health problem that progresses through the user's formative years from adolescent to adult stages. It is in the context of Kaltiala-Heino's study that Internet addiction is seen as a progressively escalating health concern that can affect an adolescent's eventual development into an adult, negatively affecting his/her development or achievement of normative social and intellectual skills and capacities. In terms of escalating Internet use and its relationship in the development of physical health problems among users, Griffiths' (2002) study generated the finding that physical health problems resulting from excessive Internet use is also influenced by mental health problems exhibited by Internet addicts. He identified Internet addicts as highly-involved in "Internet chat rooms (i.e., chatting) or play fantasy role-playing games -- activities that they would not engage in except on the Internet itself" (284).

Relating mental health problems as the 'starting point' through which physical health problems arise and develop because of the user's Internet addiction, the author stated that physically-manifested health...

Withdrawal-type symptoms are physically manifested through moodiness, irritability, nausea, and stomach cramps. These symptoms are just few of the many experienced physical manifestations of users who are already experiencing mental health problems as well, mainly due to their addiction and high and frequent exposure to the Internet.
These studies relating Internet addiction to mental and physical health problems among the youth demonstrate that apart from the relationship between Internet use and health problems, mental and physical health problems are also related, in the sense that mental health problems, once developed and have escalated, will eventually manifest physically, resulting to physical health problems due to Internet addiction.

Bibliography

Griffiths, M. (2002). "Occupational health issues concerning Internet use in the workplace." Work & Stress, Vol. 16, Issue 4.

Kaltiala-Heino, R. (2004). "Internet addiction? Potentially problematic use of the Internet in a population of 12-18-year-old adolescents." Addiction Research & Theory, Vol. 12, Issue 1.