Internet Addiction and Depression - Literature review Example

Internet Addiction and Depression Background Technological developments over the years have significantly affected the lives of people across the globe (Oh et al. 2005). These developments have changed the way people communicate, live, and conduct businesses. Widyanto and Griffiths (2006) note that greatest technological advancement that has greatly affected people’s lives is the internet. The internet enables people to access virtually all the information they need and is available online. It also facilitates easier and effective communication among people through media such as Facebook, and e- mails regardless of their physical locations or geographical boundaries. Chien, et al. (2005) argues that despite the great benefits brought about by the internet, it has led to adverse effects to some of its users. Internet addiction and depression has been cited as one of the major problem brought about by the internet (Oreilly, 1999). Current Problem Internet addiction and depression is a major problem afflicting some of the internet users. According to Block (2008), internet addiction can be defined as the excessive use/ overuse of technological devices that can provide access to internet such as computers and phones in such a way that they interfere with one’s daily life. Internet addiction includes the following activities; excessive gaming on the internet, blogging, e- mailing, online social networking, internet shopping, and inappropriate pornography use (Young 2009). However, it is important to note that activities such as playing computer games or reading are only considered troubling/ addiction to an extent that these activities are interfering with a person’s normal life (Welsh, 1999). Related to internet addiction is internet related depression, which is defined as a mental/ psychological disorder that is characterized by loss of interest or pleasure, an all- encompassing low mood, and low self- esteem in an event that internet is withdrawn from an addicted person’s life (Bessiere, 2010). Bellamy and Hanewicz (2001) explain that internet depression can also take the form of an internet addict substituting friendships, which are meaningful, and socializing with internet’s virtual contacts, hence having adverse effects on his or her mental wellbeing. Morrison (2010) argues that their study proved that internet addiction and internet depression are strongly linked but the nature of that relationship is what is yet to be established. Armstrong (2001) says that it is not known, which comes first- whether internet cause depression or depressed people are drawn to the internet. The problem of internet addiction and depression is worrying and if no intervention is made the problem may escalate and become worse among the world population especially the young people Young and Rodgers (1998). According to Morrison (2011), about 1.2% of internet users worldwide are addicted to internet and majority of them are depressed. Purpose of Current Study The purpose of the current study was to determine the extent of internet addiction and depression among the students of our university. The study was also interested with examining what comes first between internet addictions and internet depression, and what are the possible reasons to leading to this scenario. The outcomes of the study will provide deeper insights on the problem and possibly provide the appropriate ways of tackling the problem. This is because it is agreeable by majority of people that internet addiction and depression is a gradually growing problem, which needs to be solved to ensure that users of internet benefit from it and not being affected by it. Methods Participants The participants were composed of our university students only. Sampled participants were obtained from each academic year class. In the sample from each class, males and females were 50% of each gender. Since all university students use internet at given times when in session, there was no specific requirements to participate because all were eligible to participate. Measures This study used two measures namely; Nowicki- Strickland Locus of Control Scale and K- scale. Nowicki and Duke developed Nowicki- Strickland Locus of Control Scale in 1974. It aims at providing psychometric measures such as addiction and depression Botstein (2010). The measure consists of 40 questions that can be answered in a format of yes or no. Every ‘yes’ scored is considered external while a ‘no’ is considered internal. Total scores range from 0 which is considered as high internal to 40 which are considered as high external. The higher the score the lower the degree of addiction and depression while the lower the score the higher the degree of addiction and depression to a specific addictive, in this case the internet Burger (1999). This measure demands that conclusions are supported by strong premises hence it has high degree of validity. In addition, the measurements are consistent and therefore the results obtained are reliable (Rotsztein, 2010). The K- Scale was developed by Korea National Information Society Agency and constitutes 20 items in four categories. The scale aims at diagnosing individual’s addiction to internet-using respondent’s questionnaire items (Kim, 2011). The four categories of this measure are; high-risk addict, Potential addict type A, Potential Addict type B, and General user where each category consists questionnaire items. The diagnostic scores for this measure are classified in the aforementioned categories according to the summation of the scored survey per respondent. Since the measure is quantitative and entails four categories that measure addiction and depression progressively through 20 questionnaire items, it will yield valid results. This measure has well- founded measurements hence guaranteeing reliability. Procedures Students were randomly selected from each class that is, based on the academic year the students are in regardless of their course of studies. 4 students were picked from each class (2 males and 2 females). Twenty students were picked since the university has 5 classes. It was explained to the students that this study aims to study their habits regarding internet use. They were informed in both oral and through the consent; form attached to the questionnaire that their participation was voluntary, could leave the questions out, and could stop anytime if they wished so. To ensure that the questionnaires are completed, incentives were added by entering participants into the draw to win five randomly drawn prizes of seventy- dollar gift certificates to book stores and music. When returning their questionnaires, the students would voluntarily write their email addresses on a paper slip to be entered into the draw. After the data collection, five email addresses were drawn randomly. To ensure utmost anonymity, the students who won were emailed to collect their prizes from the university- unaffiliated office. Propose Analysis The analytical technique used in this study was t- test. The technique was preferred because the study wished to compare the sampled results with a known mean, that is, the world approximated average of 1.2% concerning internet addiction and depression. Male Female Mean 1.81 1.67 Variance 0.005486 0.00621 Observations 10 10 Hypothesized Mean Difference 0 df 60 t Stat 7.851892 P (T Read More