Vol. 10, Issue 9, Part D (2024)

Context: Human beings are social animals, and the tenure of our social life is one of the most important influences on our mental health. The Internet and mobile technology are increasingly important to the educational and social lives of Adolescents, and are becoming a part of Adolescent’s identity. It is important that Problematic Internet Usage does not go unnoticed during this developmental period since it has been found that addictive behaviours developed during this time are likely to continue into adulthood.

Aims and Objectives: The study aims to to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding internet usage and its level of addiction among adolescents. The objectives were to assess Knowledge and Attitude regarding Internet Usage, Co-Relation between Knowledge and Attitude of Internet Usage, Association between Knowledge and Attitude regarding Internet Usage among Adolescents with selected Socio-Demographic Variables and Level of Addiction (in terms of sub scales), among Adolescents Studying in a Selected School of Delhi.

Methodology: A quantitative research approach where the adolescents of 6th - 12th grade of Delhi were selected using simple random sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire, 5-point Likert scale were used to assess the knowledge and attitude regarding internet usage respectively and a standardized GPIUS-2 scale were used to assess the level of addition among adolescents (10-19 years).

Results: The data gathered was analyzed and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that majority of the student were of the age group 14 - 16 years. 72.5% of adolescents spent 1-3 hours on the internet daily. About 82% of adolescents have average knowledge and 97% of adolescents have uncertain attitude regarding internet usage. In terms of preference for online social interaction, majority of adolescents 44% have mild Internet Addiction. In terms of mood regulation, majority of adolescents 52% have moderate Internet Addiction. In terms of cognitive preoccupation, majority of adolescents 43%have.

Moderate Internet Addiction: In terms of compulsive internet use, majority of adolescents 45.5% have Moderate Internet Addiction. In terms of negative outcomes, majority of adolescents 47% have Moderate Internet Addiction. This indicates that the structured knowledge questionnaire, Likert scale and generalized problematic internet use scale -2 were effective in assessing the knowledge, attitude and level of internet addiction among adolescents (10-19 years).

Conclusion: Majority of the students had average knowledge, uncertain attitude, mild internet addiction in terms of preference for online social interaction and moderate internet addiction in terms of mood regulation, cognitive preoccupation, compulsive internet use, negative outcomes.