Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Social Support Among University Undergraduates

Abstract

Internet is a highly useful and advanced technological tool, which is beneficial and supportive in individual’s life including, entertainment, social sharing, easy and faster access to knowledge and information. Its users are rapidly increasing in all over the world. Though there are several advantages of internet use, still its harmful physical, psychological and social effects as a result of excessive use could not be ignored. Present research is aimed at exploring the relationship between internet addiction and social support among University undergraduates age range between 18 to 22 years. Sample of the study consisted of 164 University undergraduate students, 82 male students and 82 female students. Hypothesis of the study states that, there is negative correlation between internet addiction and social support among university undergraduates. For data collection simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collected from various departments of Sindh University. For the measurement of both variables, Internet addiction test (Young, K 1996) and Perceived Social support scale (Zimet, et al 1988) were used. For statistical analysis of the scores obtained by the participants on both scales, statistical methods of Mean, SD, and Pearson product correlation co efficient were computed. Results of the study explored negative correlation (r=--0.03193) between internet addiction and Perceived social support.