Internet Addiction, Sense of Belonging and Peer Relations as Predictors of Psychological Well-Being among Students of Imo State University, Owerri

Abstract

The study examined Internet addiction, sense of belonging and peer relations as predictors of psychological well-being among students of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. The study adopted cross sectional survey design and multi-stage sampling technique. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of 5 faculties out of 12 in IMSU, Owerri, while convenience sampling technique was used in the selection of 497 students from the selected faculties. The participants comprised of 247 male and 250 female students within the age range of 19 to 30 years, with a mean age of 24.12 and standard deviation age of 2.75. Four instruments were used for data collection including: Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Sense of Belonging Instrument–Psychological State (SOBI-P), Index of Peer Relations Scale (IPR) and Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWS). Data were analysed using Multiple Regression Statistics. The results confirmed the hypotheses.  Internet addiction significantly predicted psychological wellbeing among students of IMSU, Owerri. Sense of belonging significantly predicted psychological wellbeing among students of IMSU, Owerri. Finally, peer relations significantly predicted psychological wellbeing among students of IMSU, Owerri. The study recommends, among other things, that School and Counselling Psychologists employed in Imo State University should provide counselling and intervention services to identified students with internet addiction problems, poor peer relationships and decreased mental wellbeing.