The relationship between internet addiction and psychopathological variables among students of Albania’s Universities

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between Internet addiction with loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress among students of Albania’s universities. The prevalence of Internet addiction and the gender differences are other important purposes of this study. The sample consists of 1,024 university students from different Faculties of Albania’s Universities. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between internet addiction and loneliness, anxiety, stress and depression as a whole and all its components. Data were collected using the Internet addiction scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21). The regression results also indicated that in general, Internet addiction can predict loneliness, depression, anxiety and stress variable. T-test analysis indicated that male students are more prone to be addicted to the Internet than female ones and the prevalence rate of heavy internet addiction is about 0.7%. The data were analysed using correlation, regression, descriptive analysis and t-test. Keywords: Internet addiction, loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress.