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| Published: March 25, 2021

Internet addiction, loneliness and social anxiety among adolescents

Nithya. R

B.Sc Psychology Student, Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies, Ezhakkad, Palakkad, Kerala, India. Google Scholar More about the auther

, Jith George

Assistant Professor and Head of the Department Psychology, Yuvakshetra Institute of Management Studies, Ezhakkad, Palakkad, Kerala, India Google Scholar More about the auther

DIP: 18.01.109/20210901

DOI: 10.25215/0901.109

ABSTRACT

Internet addiction is a major issue among adolescents over the recent years. This study aimed to investigate correlation between internet addiction with social anxiety and loneliness. The sample consisted of 100 adolescents. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) by Dr. Kimberly Young, UCLA Loneliness Scale and Leibowitz social anxiety scale were employed in the collection of data. Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and the student t-test were used for data analysis. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between social anxiety and loneliness with Internet addiction. Furthermore, social anxiety and loneliness were found to be significant predictors of Internet addiction. Research suggests that socially anxious and lonelier individuals are particularly susceptible to this problematic internet use. This vulnerability may relate to the perception of online communication as a safer means of interacting, due to providing anonymity, improved sense of social control and decreased risk of negative evaluation, social fears and social rejection.

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Nithya. R @ Nithyapsy4@gmail.com

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Article Overview

ISSN 2348-5396

ISSN 2349-3429

18.01.109/20210901

10.25215/0901.109

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Published in   Volume 09, Issue 1, January-March, 2021