Internet Addiction, Problematic Smartphone Use and Psychological Health of Nigerian University Undergraduates

Abstract

Aim: This study examined Internet Addiction (IA) and Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) as predictors of severities of anxiety, depression and psychological distress among university undergraduates in Nigeria.
 Study Design: Exploratory /Descriptive survey design.
 Place and Duration of Study: Redeemer’s University Nigeria, between April and August 2018.
 Methodology: A total of 854 university undergraduates made up of 342 males and 512 females, mean age 20.5 years, were purposively selected from four universities in Osun state, southwestern Nigeria. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used for data collection. 
 Results: Observed prevalence of studied variables among respondents are: Internet Addiction (IA) 48.6%, Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) (47.4%), anxiety disorder (50.6%), depression (49.8%) and psychological distress (47.6%). IA independently and significantly predicted severities of anxiety disorder (R² = .01, p = .025), depression (R² = .057, p = .000) and psychological distress (R² = .105, p = .000). PSU independently and significantly predicted severities of depression (R² = .073, p = .000) and psychological distress (R² = .094, p = .000). However PSU failed to significantly predict severity of anxiety disorder (R² = .00, p = .650) among the participants.
 Conclusion: High prevalence of IA, PSU, anxiety disorder, depression and psychological distress exist among the participants. IA is a significant independent predictor of anxiety, depression and psychological distress. PSU is a significant independent predictor of depression and psychological distress but is not a significant predictor anxiety disorder among Nigerian undergraduates.

Internet Addiction among University Students during Covid-19 Lockdown: Case Study of Institutions in Nigeria

“…Other similar surveys by Asibong et al (2020) among university students in Calabar, Nigeria, and Hasmujai (2016) among university students in Albania also revealed that 20.1% and 16.6% had problematic internet users. On the contrary, the 13% problematic internet users reported from this study is lower to the 48.6% from the findings of Akpunne and Akinnawo (2019) among university students in Nigeria, 40% reported by Al-Gamal et. al.…”

Development and validation of the Redeemer’s University Suicidality Scale

“…The GHQ-12 has acceptable psychometric properties for the Nigerian population. 43 As a measure of psychological distress, 40 the GHQ-12 was used to validate suicidality, which is also a manifestation of psychopathology. The researchers collected data for the study.…”

Problematic Internet Use and Health Outcomes: Does Trait Self-Control Matter?

“…Prior studies (e.g., Caplan, 2003;Heim, 2012;Niemz, Griffiths, & Banyard, 2005;Ponnusamy, Iranmanesh, Foroughi, & Hyun, 2020;Yan, Li, & Sui, 2014) have shown that PIU is associated with a wide range of social and psychological problems, including social isolation and high level of stress, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, poor academic performance and schizophrenia. Research has also indicated that uncontrolled Internet use is positively related to increased psychological distress, anxiety disorder, as well as depression symptoms among undergraduate students in Nigeria (Akpunne & Akinnawo, 2018). Given the prevalence and significant consequences of PIU, knowledge about when and how it is related to adverse health outcomes could have important practical implications.…”