INVESTIGATION OF INTERNET ADDICTION AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Abstract

The study investigated internet addiction and interpersonal
relationship among undergraduates’ students in Nigeria. Four
research questions guided the study. The study employed
descriptive research design. The population consisted of
undergraduate students of Osun State university. Stratified and
simple random sampling was used to select 200 respondents
across nine (9) departments in two colleges. An adapted
questionnaire from Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and
Interpersonal Solidarity Scale (ISS) was employed for the study.
The results of the findings indicated that internet addiction is
moderate among undergraduates. The result also showed age,
level, course and religion do not significantly influence internet
addiction of undergraduates. However, gender significantly
influences internet addiction. The result also indicated that
personal relations, interpersonal relationship, means of surfing
the internet and place of residence does not significantly predict
students’ internet addiction. Finally, the result concluded that,
the more undergraduates become addicted to the internet, the
lesser the level of interpersonal relationship. It is thus
recommended that, internet addiction awareness should be
created among undergraduates in Osun State University through
seminars, workshops among others.