About 90 percent of Chinese university students regard “Internet love” as an effective* way to satisfy their emotional needs, according to a survey by Northeast China Normal University.

The survey by the Changchun-based institute in northeastern Jilin Province polled* 4,811 students at 10 universities across the country. It found that 18.4 percent of respondents* admitted to having at least one Internet lover, the China Youth Daily reported. In addition, 38 percent said people around them were having online love affairs.

“Life is full of troubles. If there is someone on the Internet I can turn to, why not?” the survey quoted* an anonymous* student as saying. “We have to face too many pressures when falling in love in the real world, but the inner emotional needs can be better relieved* through Internet relationships.”

One out of five students thought online love was a good thing. More than half thought they might develop such a relationship when they were helpless, depressed or emotionally hurt.

In addition, 38 percent thought it was possible to develop a real-world relationship from of a virtual one.

“The Internet is becoming a much more popular medium for young people to express their feelings and satisfy their emotional needs,” said Sun Caiping, a Northeast China Normal University professor.

While more than half remained indifferent* to the issue, only 11.6 percent showed a negative attitude toward it. Their main reason was that Internet love didn’t end well and made people lose their sense of responsibility.

The survey found boys were more likely to focus on appearance while most girls took talent, moral qualities and other characteristics into account.

The survey defined Internet love as an “emotionally interdependent* relationship two people develop through the medium of the Internet, including online relationships and real-life relationships that have evolved from virtual ones.”

“Many university students are experiencing Internet relationships with worries and questions. If the issue is not properly handled, it may have negative effects on them,” said Sun. (SD-Agencies)

最新调查：大学校园流行网恋

一项对10所高校4800多名大学生的网恋专题调查近日揭晓，调查发现，87.8％的大学生认为，网恋是满足情感需要的一种方式，18.4％的同学承认自己有网络恋人；38％的大学生反映周围同学有网恋现象；一半左右的同学认为网恋需要学校指导。

effective adj. 有效的

poll v. 调查

respondent n. 应答者

quote v. 应用

anonymous adj. 匿名的

relieve v. 舒缓

indifferent adj. 漠不关心的

interdependent adj. 相互依赖的