Demographical and Contextual Correlates of Internet Addiction for Non-Clinical Adolescents

Abstract

Internet is a significant revolution of this modern century and becomes an essential part of our daily routine. However, excessive use of internet now becomes an addiction which is called “Internet Addiction”, and in young generation this addiction gives rise to wellbeing deterioration. In the context of aforesaid, this retrospective research made its’ effort to ascertain the demographical and contextual factors associated with internet addiction among school going adolescents. The demographical characteristics includes gender, family type, inhabitance and socio-economic status, whereas the contextual factor covers internet related aspects namely purpose to use internet, device used for internet, preferred time to use internet. The sample was comprised of 182 non-clinical adolescents with internet addict falling within the age range of 15 to 17 years from various schools situated in Rajasthan state through purposive sampling technique. This study adopted correlational research design. All demographical and contextual aspects were obtained by using Internet Information Index (III), which was developed for obtaining information. To ascertain the prevalence of internet addiction, Young’s Internet Addiction Test developed by Kimberly S. Young in 1998 was used. Obtained data was analysed using chi squire analysis. Results divulged insignificant association of IA level (High & Low) with demographical factors (Except family type for gender, inhabitance and socio-economic status), whereas, with contextual aspects (except time, with purpose and device) it is found to be significant for school going adolescents. In a nutshell, the present study is significant in terms of addressing contextual factors rather than demographical factors are more prominent to determine level of internet addiction for India adolescents, hence recommended to focus on these factors in preventive measures of internet addiction.