Effects of Excessive Internet Use on Undergraduate Students in Pakistan

This study was undertaken to investigate the positive and negative effects of excessive Internet use on undergraduate students. The Internet Effect Scale (IES), especially constructed by the authors to determine these effects, consisted of seven dimensions namely: behavioral problems, interpersonal problems, educational problems, psychological problems, physical problems, Internet abuse, and positive effects. The sample consisted of 200 undergraduate students studying at the GC University Lahore, Pakistan. A set of Pearson Product Moment correlations showed positive associations between time spent on the Internet and various dimensions of the IES indicating that excessive Internet use can lead to a host of problems of educational, physical, psychological and interpersonal nature. However, a greater number of students reported positive than negative effects of Internet use. Without negating the advantages of Internet, the current findings suggest that Internet use should be within reasonable limits focusing more on activities enhancing one's productivity.

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