INVESTIGATION OF INTERNET ADDICTION AND INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

The study investigated internet addiction and interpersonal relationship among undergraduates’ students in Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. The study employed descriptive research design. The population consisted of undergraduate students of Osun State university. Stratified and simple random sampling was used to select 200 respondents across nine (9) departments in two colleges. An adapted questionnaire from Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Interpersonal Solidarity Scale (ISS) was employed for the study. The results of the findings indicated that internet addiction is moderate among undergraduates. The result also showed age, level, course and religion do not significantly influence internet addiction of undergraduates. However, gender significantly influences internet addiction. The result also indicated that personal relations, interpersonal relationship, means of surfing the internet and place of residence does not significantly predict students’ internet addiction. Finally, the result concluded that, the more undergraduates become addicted to the internet, the lesser the level of interpersonal relationship. It is thus recommended that, internet addiction awareness should be created among undergraduates in Osun State University through seminars, workshops among others.