Exploring the Relationship between Internet Addiction and Emotional Intelligence among College Students

Description

Page: 347-351

Ravi Raushan¹ and Viveka Nand Singh² (Department of Psychology, Patliputra University, Patna, Bihar¹ and B.D. College, Patliputra University, Patna, Bihar²)

This study explores the relationship between internet addiction and emotional intelligence among college students. A sample of 400 undergraduate and postgraduate students from urban Patna was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale. Results indicate a moderate level of internet addiction (mean IAT score of 40.63) and a lower variability in emotional intelligence scores (mean EI score of 20.19). A slight to moderate negative correlation (r = -0.27, p < 0.01) was found between internet addiction and emotional intelligence. Regression analysis showed that internet addiction is a significant predictor of emotional intelligence, explaining 7.3% of its variance (β = -0.069, p < 0.000). These findings suggest that higher internet addiction is associated with lower emotional intelligence. While the impact is statistically significant, it accounts for only a small portion of the variation, indicating the need to consider other factors affecting emotional intelligence.