A study on Internet addiction and its relation to psychopathology and self-esteem among college students

BACKGROUND: Internet use is one of the most important tools of our present-day society whose impact is felt on college students such as increased use of Internet. It brings change in mood, an inability to control the amount of time spent with the Internet, withdrawal symptoms when not engaged, a diminishing social life, and adverse work or academic consequences, and it also affects self-esteem of the students. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to explore the Internet use and its relation to psychopathology and self-esteem among college students. METHODOLOGY: A total of 200 college students were selected from different colleges of Kolkata through random sampling. After selection of the sample, Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to assess the Internet usage, psychopathology, and self-esteem of the college students. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity were found to be correlated with Internet addiction. Along with that, low self-esteem has been found in students to be associated with possible users of Internet. CONCLUSION: Internet usage has been found to have a very strong impact on college students, especially in the areas of anxiety and depression, and at times it affected their social life and their relationship with their family.