Psychological Correlates of Internet Addiction among College Students

The Internet as a global village has become an important information and entertainment source for students, serving substantial role in changing the social lives of people. Aside from its positive effects, what have garnered researchers' attention are its adverse side effects and students' addiction to it. College going students are particularly vulnerable group for the Problematic Internet Use (PIU). The present study aimed to determine the psychological correlates of Internet addiction among college students. A descriptive study design with quantitative approach was used to collect data from 200 undergraduate college students, at college affiliated to Punjabi university, Patiala and Punjab University, Chandigarh to assess the relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety and stress. Data was collected using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Young (1998) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 42) by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995). The data was analyzed using correlation analysis to study the relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety, stress and total DASS. The use oft-test was made to study the gender difference. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship of internet addiction with depression, anxiety, stress and total DASS scores. Implications of the findings are discussed.