How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted internet use behaviors and facilitated problematic internet use? A Bangladeshi study

Tools

Jahan, I, Hosen, I, Al Mamun, F, Kaggwa, MM, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524 and Mamun, MA, 2021. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted internet use behaviors and facilitated problematic internet use? A Bangladeshi study. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, pp. 1127-1138. ISSN 1179-1578

Preview

Text
1454359_Griffiths.pdf - Published version
Download (492kB) | Preview

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S323570

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic-related “stay-at-home” and confinement orders has led individuals to be more engaged with technology use (e.g., internet use). For a minority of individuals, excessive use can become problematic and addictive. However, the investigation of problematic internet use in the COVID-19 context is only just emerging. Therefore, the present study investigated the changes in internet use behaviors and addiction rates in comparison with prior Bangladeshi studies.

Methods: An online cross-sectional study was carried out among a total of 601 Bangladeshi students between October 7 and November 2, 2020. The survey included questions relating to socio-demographic, behavioral health, online use behaviors, and psychopathological variables.

Results: A quarter of the participants (26%) reported having low levels of internet addiction, whereas 58.6% were classed as having moderate internet addiction and 13% severe internet addiction. A total of 4% of the sample were classed as being at risk of severe internet dependency (i.e., scoring over ≥ 80 on IAT). Risk factors for internet addiction included smartphone addiction, Facebook addiction, depression, and anxiety. However, the final hierarchical regression model comprising all variables explained a total of 70.6% variance of problematic internet use.

Conclusion: Based on the present findings, it is concluded that individuals are at elevated risk of problematic internet use like other psychological impacts that have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, risk-reducing measures and healthy control use strategies should be implemented for vulnerable individuals.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Psychology Research and Behavior Management
Creators:	Jahan, I., Hosen, I., Al Mamun, F., Kaggwa, M.M., Griffiths, M.D. and Mamun, M.A.
Publisher:	Dove Medical Press
Date:	26 July 2021
Volume:	14
ISSN:	1179-1578
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.2147/PRBM.S323570 DOI 1454359 Other
Rights:	© 2021 Jahan et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. Open access journal. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php).
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Jonathan Gallacher
Date Added:	27 Jul 2021 08:15
Last Modified:	27 Jul 2021 08:15
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/43641