Gender, Age and Class in School Differences in Internet Addiction and Psychological Distress among Adolescents in a Nigerian Urban City
Friday E. Okwaraji, Emmanuel N. Aguwa, Godwin C. Onyebueke, Sussan U. Arinze-Onyia, Chioma Shiweobi-Eze
International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal · pp. 123–131 · Published 8 Jul 2015
10.9734/INDJ/2015/18933Abstract
Background: Reports had revealed that internet addiction is a newly emerging social and mental health issue among the youths and has attracted much attention around the world. Furthermore excessive use of the internet has negatively affected the daily life routines of adolescents. Objective: This study assessed gender differences, internet addiction and psychological distress among adolescents in a Nigerian urban city. Study Design: This is a descriptive cross sectional study design. Place and duration of study: This study was carried out in Enugu, south east Nigeria between February and April 2015. Method: The young Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the General health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and a socio demographic questionnaire were used to access 480 adolescents (240 males and 240 females) in a Nigerian urban city for prevalence of internet addiction and psychological distress. Results: Result revealed that many adolescents showed presence of internet addiction and psychological distress. There was difference in internet addiction and psychological difference among the age groups, gender and class in school. Conclusion: This study has observed the prevalence of internet addiction and psychological distress among adolescents in a Nigerian urban city. It is recommended that there is need for government to make laws regulating the rate of usage of the internet by young people especially adolescents.
References (27)
- 1 Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? [DOI]
- 2 A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use [DOI]
- 3 The Relationship Between Depression and Internet Addiction [DOI]
- 4 Internet addiction in Korean adolescents and its relation to depression and suicidal ideation: A questionnaire survey [DOI]
- 5 In Defense of the Internet: The Relationship between Internet Communication and Depression, Loneliness, Self-Esteem, and Perceived Social Support [DOI]
- 6 Internet Addiction on Campus: The Vulnerability of College Students [DOI]
- 7 Gender Differences in Internet Use Patterns and Internet Application Preferences: A Two-Sample Comparison [DOI]
- 8 Prevalence of Pathological Internet Use among University Students and Correlations with Self-Esteem, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Disinhibition [DOI]
- 9 Comparison of Internet addicts and non-addicts in Taiwanese high school [DOI]
- 10 Problematic Internet and mobile phone use and clinical symptoms in college students: The role of emotional intelligence [DOI]
- 11 Factor structure for Young’s Internet Addiction Test: A confirmatory study [DOI]
- 12 The relationship of Internet use to depression and social isolation among adolescents.
- 13 The measurement of Internet addiction: A critical review of existing scales and their psychometric properties [DOI]
- 14 Internet Addiction among Greek Adolescent Students [DOI]
- 15 The Relationship between Recent Stressful Life Events, Personality Traits, Perceived Family Functioning and Internet Addiction among College Students [DOI]
- 16 Is Internet addiction a useful concept? [DOI]
- 17 The association between suicidality and Internet addiction and activities in Taiwanese adolescents [DOI]
- 18 The German Version of the Internet Addiction Test: A Validation Study [DOI]
- 19 Burnout among Nurses in a Nigerian General Hospital: Prevalence and Associated Factors [DOI]
- 20 The Clergy as a Resource for Those Encountering Psychological Distress [DOI]
- 21 Analysis of Attitudes Toward Computer Networks and Internet Addiction of Taiwanese Adolescents [DOI]
- 22 Burnout and psychological distress among nurses in a Nigerian tertiary health institution [DOI]
- 23 Internet addiction, adolescent depression, and the mediating role of life events: Finding from a sample of Chinese adolescents [DOI]
- 24 Psychometric properties of Young internet addiction test
- 25 Construct validation of the Use, Abuse and Dependence on the Internet inventory [DOI]
- 26 Internet Addiction and Psychological Morbidity among Nursing Students in Gaza-Palestine [DOI]
- 27 Evaluation of Internet Addiction, Impulsivity and Psychological Distress among University Students [DOI]
Cited by 39
Md. Sahab Uddin, Abdullah Al Mamun, Mohammed Ashraful Iqbal · Psychology · 2016
Nosheen Saba, Iram Batool, Huma Batool · Journal of Professional & Applied Psychology · 2024
Frances Jumoke Oloidi, Uche Calista Vita-Agundu · Frontiers in Psychology · 2022
Wen Li, Stephanie L. Diez, Qianwei Zhao · Psychiatry Research · 2019
Xintong Zheng, Jianwen Chen, Yafei Guo · Addictive Behaviors Reports · 2020
Xintong Zheng, Jianwen Chen, Quanlei Yu · Journal of Interpersonal Violence · 2023
Destasari Tri Hartanti, Yunias Setiawati, Dominicus Husada · Jurnal Berkala Epidemiologi · 2021
Giulia Ballarotto, Barbara Volpi, Eleonora Marzilli · BioMed Research International · 2018
Moses Onyemaechi Ede, Joachim C. Omeje, Damian Chijioke Ncheke · Journal of Gambling Studies · 2020
Yiqing Wang, Ling Jiang, Tingting Jing · International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction · 2022
Showing 13 of 39 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- A Comparative Study of Selected Risky Behaviours among Adolescents of Private and Public Secondary Schools in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Chronic Urogenital Schistosomiasis among In-School Adolescents in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Factors Influencing the Utilization of Contraceptives among Adolescents in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana — shares topic coverage
- Emotional and Behavioral Performance among Adolescents Attending at Outpatient Departments of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University during COVID-19 Pandemic — shares topic coverage
- Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Use and its Determinant Factors among Adolescents in Urban and Rural Communities in Abia State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
57
Page views
0
PDF downloads
4
Outbound clicks
39
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.