PREVALENCE OF INTERNET ADDICTION, ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PSYCHOLOGICALDISTRESS, COPING STRATEGIES AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Abstract

There is a significant correlation between internet addiction and psychological distress among male and female undergraduate students. Accepted There is a significant correlation between internet addiction and coping among male and female undergraduate students. Accepted There is a significant relationship between psychological distress and coping among male and female undergraduate students. Accepted There is a significant mediating effect of internet addiction on psychological distress and coping among male and female undergraduate students. Accepted The research study hence concludes that the undergraduate students who have access to the internet and use the internet for maximum of their tasks are dependent on it. They face internet addiction which can be a causal factor of psychological distress. However, since the sample includes young college students therefore there coping abilities are also at par and hence, looking at the results of the research we can conclude that Internet addiction can cause psychological distress and also plays a mediating role coping and psychological distress. These results align with the studies of Mohammad et al. (2023) and Ibrahim et al. (2022) who concluded that prevalence rates of internet addiction among students are very high, with addiction affecting psychological health and that Internet Addiction is an important psychological problem affecting about 9 % of university medical students during their undergraduate stage, which may interfere with their lives and studies respectively. The 39-investigator study also aligns with the study conducted by Dubai et al. (2011) concluded that stressors reported by the students were mainly financial and academic issues. Students adopted active coping strategies rather than avoidance.