A Co-Relational Study To Assess The Relationship Between Internet Addiction And Mental Health Status Among Adolescents In Selected Schools Of Pune City

Introduction: With the rapid growth of digital technology, adolescents are increasingly exposed to prolonged internet usage, raising concerns about its impact on their mental health. Internet addiction is defined as excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. The present study title: The main aim of the study was toassess the relationship between internet addiction and mental health status among adolescents in selected schools of Pune city.” Material and methods: A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive co-relational design was used with a sample of 300 adolescents (aged 14–16 years), selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a Mental Health Inventory (MHI. Result: The demographic analysis of 300 adolescents showed that 56% were aged 15–16 years and 53.7% were male. Most students (42.7%) were in the 9th standard. In terms of parental education, 42.3% of mothers had completed secondary education, while 78% of fathers had higher education. The majority (65.3%) had a family income between ₹20,001–₹25,000, and 58.3% were from nuclear families. Smartphone usage was reported by 98%, and 73% received related knowledge from hospitals. Findings showed that 60% had moderate and 22% had high internet addiction, while 35% demonstrated poor mental health. A significant negative correlation was found between internet addiction and mental health (r = –0.62, p < 0.01). Age and screen time were significantly related to addiction, while gender, income, and school type showed no such link. Conclusion: The study confirms that increased internet use is linked to declining mental health among adolescents. The results underscore the need for preventive interventions, digital literacy programs, and school-based mental health support to foster healthy digital habits and emotional well-being.