Level of depression in relation to internet addiction in adolescents of Udhampur: Comparative study

Pages: 220-226
Vinod Kumar Bhardwaj (Department of Psychology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana)

Worldwide Internet addiction is a newly emerging mental health and social issue among the Youths causing neurological complications, psychological disturbances and social problems. Internet addicts make the Internet urgency more vital than family, friends and work. Several studies exposed that anxiety, backache, blurred vision, dry eyes, headache, sleep disturbance, depression, poor academic performance etc. are results of Internet addiction. The internet is a medium to obtain faster information, research and communication, but for some users, it may become a companion for survival. Adolescents usually have poorer self-control, worse self-regulation, and poorer cognition as compared to adults and are considered the most vulnerable group to the temptations of the internet. The aim of this study was to explore the Level of depression in relation to internet addiction in adolescents of Udhampur. A mixed sample of 200 subjects was taken, out of which 100 was of using internet and 100 of using less internet. Both group subjects belonged to an age group of 15 to 18 years. Beck’s Depression Inventory and internet addiction IAT Young, 1998 were used to measure the above variables. The data was analyzed by using t-test. Results revealed that higher internet user adolescents are having increased level of depression from their counterparts.