PREVALENCE, PATTERN AND CORRELATES OF INTERNET USE INCLUDING PROBLEMATIC INTERNET USE AMONGST IN SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: The advent of the Internet, referred to as the global communication of millions of computers connected over large distances, has undoubtedly revolutionized virtually every aspect of human life—from communication, business, entertainment to research and information gathering. In spite of the obvious benefits inherent in this technological breakthrough, there are growing concerns about the addictive potential of the Internet. An emergent body of research evidence suggests that Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is an evolving public health issue. Clinicians are beginning to have patients present with psychosocial difficulties arising from Internet use, and some countries have even declared PIU a public health problem. Given the uniqueness of the developmental phase they are in, adolescents, tend to be at an increased risk of using the Internet to excessive levels with the attendant social, educational and psychological consequences. Research on PIU is particularly lacking in Africa (Nigeria inclusive), despite the teeming adolescent population of the continent as well as growing Internet access. It is against this backdrop, therefore, that this study was deemed worthy of execution. Objective: This study aimed at assessing the prevalence, pattern and correlates of Internet use (including problematic Internet use) amongst in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: This was a cross-sectional study in which students aged 12-19 years were recruited from four (4) secondary schools in two (2) urban local government areas in Ibadan through a four-stage sampling technique participated in the study. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to assess participants' Internet usage level, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to screen for mental health problems and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES) was employed to assess the respondents’ self-esteem. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 with percentages and frequencies used to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as well as the prevalence of problematic Internet use in the study population. Means and standard deviations were used to present continuous data while chi-square was used to investigate the association between categorical variables. Predictors were obtained using a multiple regression logistic model. Results: A total of 387 participants aged 12 to 19 years (mean=15.76 years ± 1.57), with 215 (55.6%) being females. A total of 379 (97.9%) reported they were Internet users and 93 (24.8%) were classified as PIU. The Internet activities participants engaged in included: accessing academic information (72.6%), social media (61.5%), gambling (11.5%) and obtaining sex-oriented information (12.1%). Participants who perceived themselves “addicted” to the Internet were more likely to be PIU (χ2=25.787; p= <0.001). PIU was found to be associated with conduct problems (χ2= 4.430; p= 0.035) but not with total difficulty, as measured by the SDQ (χ2= 0.278; p= 0.598). A significant association was also found between PIU and e-mail use (χ2= 3.907; p= 0.048), but not so with social media use (χ2=1.653; p= 0.198). Males were found to be almost twice as likely to develop PIU (OR= 1.79; 1.098-2.921; p= 0.020); working to earn money was associated with lesser odds of developing PIU (OR= 0.55; CI= 0.309-0.963; p= 0.037); and low self-esteem was associated with a greater likelihood of developing PIU (OR= 2.242; CI=1.365- 3.680; p= 0.001). Conclusion: This study was able to demonstrate that Problematic Internet Use is not a phenomenon limited to the advanced world; rather it is a global issue that is present in our setting as well and is associated with conduct problems in adolescents. Adolescents who have low self-esteem are more likely to be problematic Internet users and consequently suffer the psychosocial impairments that may be associated with it. It, therefore, behoves all stakeholders to put adequate measures in place to ensure that the tremendous benefits the Internet promises are not undermined by unrestrained and unguarded Internet behaviours on the part of adolescents.