Social Intelligence and Mental Health Status of Internet Dependent and Internet Independent University Entrants

Aim: The present study aim to compare the social intelligence and mental health status of internet dependent and internet independent university entrants. Methods: The study was conducted on a stratified random sample of 642 first year degree students. Data were collected by administering the Young’s Internet Addiction Test, and the Social Intelligence Test and the Mental Health Status Scale developed by the investigators. Statistical techniques such as t-test, product moment correlation, and two tailed test of significance for the differences between two independent coefficients of correlation were used for data analyses. Results: Significant differences exist between internet dependent and internet independent university entrants with regard to their social intelligence and mental health status. Social intelligence and mental health status of university entrants are correlated negatively but significantly to their internet addiction. There exist significant differences between internet dependent and internet independent university entrants with regard to the correlation of internet addiction to their social intelligence as well as mental health status.