Correlational study reveals weak positive links between internet addiction and depression in college students, suggesting gender-specific vulnerabilities and a bidirectional cycle.
This study examined the relationship between internet addiction and depression among male and female students, revealing mild depression and moderate addiction levels overall. Correlational and t-test analyses assessed links between depression and Young’s Internet Addiction Test dimensions (Time/Control, Social/Emotional, Excitatory/Compensatory, Adverse Outcomes), plus gender differences. Key Results; weak positive correlations emerged (males: r=0.106-0.239; females: r=0.063-0.337*, significant for Time/Control and Adverse Outcomes at p=0.05), rejecting no-relationship hypotheses. Males showed higher addiction (t=2.75, p=0.01) but similar depression to females (t=1.26, p=0.20), partially supporting low severity claims. Findings indicate a bidirectional addiction-depression cycle, with gender-specific risks (male addiction proneness, female control vulnerabilities), aligning with prior work by Young (1998) and Hendrick (2010). Gender-tailored screenings and digital wellness programs are recommended for Indian college settings.
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Fathiyeh Mohamad Barazi (2026) studied this question.
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