A Study on Internet Addiction among Young Adults in Hyderabad

Abstract

In this present era, the Internet is considered to be most important tool for education, entertainment, communication, and information-sharing. Internet, being widely accessible globally, the risk of “internet addiction” is emerging as severe behavioral addiction pandemic. The study examined the level of internet addiction among young adults and also determines the gender differences in pattern of internet usage, duration of internet usage and level of internet addiction. Exploratory research design was used for the study. College of Home Science in Hyderabad was purposively selected for this study. 60 young adults (including 30 females and 30 males) who were using internet daily and consented to participate, in the age group of 18-25 years were randomly selected. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) was used to study the level of internet addiction. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and independent t- test were used to analyze the collected data. Results showed higher internet addiction among males as compared to females. Mean Internet addiction score among males were 54.9 as compared to 41.6 among females and the difference was statistically significant.  Males were using internet for more hours than females. Females were using internet for educational purpose and males were using more for non-educational purpose. Majority of the females were having low internet addiction. Almost half of the males were having moderate internet addiction. Overall majority of the respondents falls under moderate category of internet addiction.College need to come up with workshops and seminars to bring awareness among students.