Social Problems Leading to Internet Addiction and Consequences Arising from Internet Addictive Behaviours among Undergraduates in Imo State, Nigeria

Aims: This study assessed the social problems that led to internet addiction as well as social problems that arose from such addictive behaviours among undergraduates of two tertiary institutions in Imo State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A correlational study guided by two research questions; what are the problems that lead to internet addiction, and what are the social problems arising from internet addictive behaviour were utilised in this study.

Methodology: A total of 390 students were surveyed with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) questionnaire adopted for this study.

Results: Findings revealed that meeting people online 72.1%, education 95.4%, romance 99.0% , need to talk to someone 100% among other factors lead to internet addiction while social consequences that arose from internet addictive behaviour included salience 35.1%, frequent use to achieve desires 50.8%, withdrawal 23.3%, loneliness 66.7%, poor relationships 30.8%, poor school performance 37,4% amidst other factors. There was statistically significant relationship between social problems that lead to internet addiction and social problems arising from internet addictive behaviour, p<0.05.

Conclusion: Social problems that lead to internet addiction can also give rise to consequences. Creation of awareness of problems arising from internet addiction, counselling, seminars and workshops on internet addition will help reduce the menace.