Half of US students could be internet addicts: study
Study reveals internet use can cause family relationships to disconnect or become conflicted
PHOTO: REUTERS
Roughly half (48.1%) of US students are internet addicts whereas another 40.7% are considered to be potential internet addicts, according to a new study.
Susan M Snyder, co-author of the study titled ‘The Effect of US University Students' Problematic Internet Use on Family Relationships’ explained that problematic internet use (PIU) is now considered to be a behavioural addiction, with characteristics that are similar to substance use disorders.
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People with PIU may have difficulty reducing their internet use, may be preoccupied with the internet, or lie to conceal their use. They are found to experience several negative mental health problems which could include depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hostility, social phobias, problematic alcohol use, self-injurious behaviour, and trouble sleeping (including sleep apnea, nightmares, insomnia, and struggling to stay awake during the daytime).
The study focused on undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at UNC Chapel Hill whose internet use was excessive and created problems in their lives. The participants were individuals who were spending more than 25 hours a week on the internet (time that was not related to school or work).
Some positive uses of the internet were also recorded as some participants reported that the internet connected them to their families. For example, participants discussed using Skype, Facebook, or email to maintain relationships with family while they were away at college.
“But like using Skype helps keep you connected and also when we are at home we watch a movie together, it’s like family time, you know. And um, like you know, if we read the same, like article, then we can talk about it on Skype,” one student named Hannah said.
However, for others internet use caused family relationships to disconnect or become conflicted.
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Instead of interacting with their family when they were at home, participants reported that they were “on the computer the whole time.”
Moreover, college students with PIU reported that members of their families also overuse the internet.
A participant shared her experience, saying, “He just turned four, but they got him an iPad. Like, which I don’t agree with. I think it’s so stupid, but he is always, always on it. He gets really defensive if you try to take it away or put boundaries on it or something like that.”
Participants also described their parents’ PIU. Many of them said their parents were “constantly checking email” for their work. Others described their parents as regularly on computers, phones, or iPads “on Facebook” or “browsing.”
This article originally appeared on Quartz.
Susan M Snyder, co-author of the study titled ‘The Effect of US University Students' Problematic Internet Use on Family Relationships’ explained that problematic internet use (PIU) is now considered to be a behavioural addiction, with characteristics that are similar to substance use disorders.
Largest offline populations: India tops list, Pakistan fourth, says World Bank report
People with PIU may have difficulty reducing their internet use, may be preoccupied with the internet, or lie to conceal their use. They are found to experience several negative mental health problems which could include depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hostility, social phobias, problematic alcohol use, self-injurious behaviour, and trouble sleeping (including sleep apnea, nightmares, insomnia, and struggling to stay awake during the daytime).
The study focused on undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at UNC Chapel Hill whose internet use was excessive and created problems in their lives. The participants were individuals who were spending more than 25 hours a week on the internet (time that was not related to school or work).
Some positive uses of the internet were also recorded as some participants reported that the internet connected them to their families. For example, participants discussed using Skype, Facebook, or email to maintain relationships with family while they were away at college.
“But like using Skype helps keep you connected and also when we are at home we watch a movie together, it’s like family time, you know. And um, like you know, if we read the same, like article, then we can talk about it on Skype,” one student named Hannah said.
However, for others internet use caused family relationships to disconnect or become conflicted.
Pakistan's LTE speeds one of the slowest in the world
Instead of interacting with their family when they were at home, participants reported that they were “on the computer the whole time.”
Moreover, college students with PIU reported that members of their families also overuse the internet.
A participant shared her experience, saying, “He just turned four, but they got him an iPad. Like, which I don’t agree with. I think it’s so stupid, but he is always, always on it. He gets really defensive if you try to take it away or put boundaries on it or something like that.”
Participants also described their parents’ PIU. Many of them said their parents were “constantly checking email” for their work. Others described their parents as regularly on computers, phones, or iPads “on Facebook” or “browsing.”
This article originally appeared on Quartz.