A Study of Internet Addiction and its Impact on Academic Performance of University Students

The study focused on exploring internet addition among university students and its relation to academic performance. The data were collected from 210 Punjabi University, Patiala students through Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The results of correlation analysts revealed negative relationship between internet addiction and academic performance of university students, though not significantly so. The result of the study revealed significant gender differences in internet addiction among university students. Further, male university students were found to be significantly more addicted to the use of internet than their female counterparts. On the contrary, no significant differences were found in internet addiction among university students in relation to locale and subject stream. Internet addiction was found to have a significant negative impact on academic performance of adolescents. Further, perceived behaviour control emerged as the most significant predictor of academic performance of the university students. These results of the study have implications for counsellors, teachers and parents.