Abstract
Problematic internet use (PIU) has generally been strongly associated with depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, especially among adolescents, with resulting consequences for their health. This study explores the pattern of internet use, and the prevalence of PIU before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the causes, effects, and potential mitigation measures in respect of PIU during the lockdown, among high school students in Ibadan, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire, including a 20-question internet addiction test (IAT), was administered during the COVID-19 lockdown to 440 adolescents enrolled in high schools. Of these adolescents, 7.7% appeared from their responses to have had PIU before the COVID-19 lockdown period. However, 64.3% of respondents appeared from their responses to have had PIU during the COVID-19 lockdown period. The main reasons for the increased PIU were boredom, loneliness, idleness, pleasure gained from internet use, physical isolation, and the need for information and communication. The effects of PIU reported among the adolescents included reduced family intimacy, poor academic performance, loss of concentration, as well as internet abuse and risky sexual behaviour. To mitigate PIU among high school students, parental monitoring of adolescents, and their internet access and use, should be promoted. In addition, programmes should be organised by the media and academic institutions to keep adolescents engaged in productive tasks.
Highlights
The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first documented in Wuhan, China in late 2019, was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation in March 2020 (WHO, n.d.; Ilesanmi et al, 2021)
The failure to address the possible effects of Problematic internet use (PIU) and to suggest mitigating factors could result in impaired cognitive capacity among adolescents with a resulting decline in their productivity in later years
Using the internet addiction test (IAT) tool, 20 questions were asked on elements associated with PIU, both before and during the COVID-19 lockdown
Summary
The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first documented in Wuhan, China in late 2019, was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organisation in March 2020 (WHO, n.d.; Ilesanmi et al, 2021). Adolescents are vulnerable to PIU because of the rapid mental, emotional, and social developments occurring during this phase of life (Yang & Tung, 2007; Ceyhan, 2008) Due to their quest for knowledge during this developmental period, adolescents are more attracted than any other age group to technological tools (Cakmak & Gul, 2018). The failure to address the possible effects of PIU and to suggest mitigating factors could result in impaired cognitive capacity among adolescents with a resulting decline in their productivity in later years. This could pose great threats to the overall safety and productivity of Nigeria and the entire world. This study aimed to assess the pattern of internet use, and the prevalence of PIU before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the causes, effects, and potential mitigation measures for PIU during the COVID-19 lockdown among high school students in the Nigerian city of Ibadan
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