The Level of Internet Addiction Among High School Students at Irbid Public Schools, And Its Relationship with Their Psychosocial Adaptation Problems

Abstract

This study aims to identify the Internet addiction level among high school students at Irbid public schools and its relationship with their psychosocial adaptation problems. Study population consists of high school students at the public schools of Irbid city for the 2018/ 2019 school year where  a random categorical sample of (337) male and female students was selected. Researcher used two study instruments to collect data: the first relates to Internet addiction and the second relates to the psychological and social problems. Study results found that Internet addiction level among study sample members was high and it showed that most important goals of Internet browsing or surfing among study sample were the electronic games and entertainment, such as movies, sport games, and YouTube, in addition to chatting and social communication. The study indicated that most important negative results related to the Internet use were feeling nervous frequently and the unwillingness to sit down with people and it revealed that problems level of psychological and social adaptation was high. Study found statistically significant differences at level (α= 0.05) for Internet addiction due to (gender, browsing hours rate per session, first term average) variables while there weren't any statistically significant differences at level (α= 0.05) that may be attributed to the (study branch, grade) variables. Study also found a statistically positive significant relationship between the Internet addiction level among high school students at Irbid public schools and their psychosocial adaptation problems.

Keywords: Internet addiction, Irbid public schools, psychological adaptation, psychosocial adaptation, social adaptation

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-30-05

Publication date:October 31^st 2019