LIFE SATISFACTION, DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS AS PREDICTORS OF INTERNET ADDICTION AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN METROPOLIS

Authors

Abstract

The study examined life satisfaction, depression and loneliness as predictors of internet addiction among in-school adolescents in Ibadan metropolis. It adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 200 in-school adolescents, selected using stratified sampling technique, participated in the study. They responded to “Internet Addiction Predictors Assessment Scale”, a battery of adopted scales. The battery comprised of Section A, which centres on respondents’ socio-demographic information, and four other scales; Internet Addiction Test (20 items, r=0.95), Life Satisfaction Scale (5 items, r=0.90), Loneliness Scale (20 items, r=0.68), and Depression Scale (10 items, r=0.56). Three research questions were raised and answered in the study, and data was analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression. Results revealed that all the independent variables (life satisfaction, depression and loneliness) were significant at 0.05 level of significance (.938**, 226** and -.956**) to the prediction of internet addiction among in-school adolescents. It also revealed that the joint contribution of independent variables (life satisfaction, loneliness and depression) on dependent variable (Internet Addiction) was significant (f (351.029) ­= 8.597; R2= .920, R2=841, p<.05). About 84.1% variation was accounted for by the independent variables. Results also revealed that all of life satisfaction, depression and loneliness were potent predictors of internet addiction. The most potent factor was loneliness, followed by depression, while life satisfaction negatively correlated with internet addiction. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that government at all level should develop a curriculum that will inculcate discipline and moral into students in the various secondary schools. Also, parents should adequately monitor their children on the duration they spend on the internet. Also, teachers in all schools should ensure that they serve as parents in the school, most especially the class teachers by ensuring proper monitoring of students’ behaviour so as to regulate the ones that can affect them in the nearest future.

Keywords; Life satisfaction, depression, loneliness, internet addiction and in-school adolescents.

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2022-06-11

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Research Article