Internet Usage, Depression, Social Isolation and Loneliness Amongst Adolescents

Recent studies of Internet influence on behavioral disorders of its users have created quite a polarized ambience. On the one hand, there are those who believe that the Internet is a new better medium for enabling various patterns of communication and social relations. On the other hand, others maintain that Internet use can lead to social isolation and other forms of psychological disorders, like depression and loneliness. Internet is expected to become a basic form of social interaction in the near future, and consequently one of the major factors of socialization and constitution of one's psychological identity. Due to that fact, the aim of this work is to indicate methodological and conceptual flaws of the studies which have attempted to make a connection between mood disorders and the Internet, so as to establish the base for future studies of the psychological consequences of Internet development. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between internet addiction and depression, loneliness, and social isolation. Participants were 100 senior secondary students in the age group 16-18 years (50 Males & 50 Females) who were enrolled in High School in and around South Delhi, in India. In this study, three hypothesis were formulated and tested using Pearson`s Correlation method, t-test and multiple regression. Tests like the Internet Addiction Test, UCLA, Beck Depression Inventory and Social Isolation Scale were used. The study found internet addiction was positively related to depression, loneliness and social isolation. However there was no gender difference observed in the present study related to internet addiction, depression, loneliness and social isolation. The conclusion is that increased internet usage results in psychological problems like depression, social isolation and loneliness amongst adolescents. It is recommended thus that the usage of internet should be limited by the adolescents so as to prevent psychological symptoms to take form.