Loneliness, Internet addiction and gender (Case Study: University Students of Golestan Province Center)

Document Type : Tarviji

Authors
Sina Peighambari 1
Ramazan Hasanzadeh 1
Gholamreza Khoshfar 2
1 Department of psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.
2 Social sciences Department, Golestan University, Gorgan, IRAN.
Abstract
Objective: Loneliness is a perceived failure and weakness in interpersonal relationships, leading to dissatisfaction with social relationships. Gender plays a decisive role in the level of loneliness and addiction to the Internet and has been used in media-related studies. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to explain the relationship between feelings of loneliness and levels of Internet addiction with emphasis on the role of gender.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study using descriptive survey method.The statistical population of the study consisted of 16532 students of universities in central Golestan province. In order to determine the sample size, 385 people were selected based on Krejcie and Morgan table. Appropriate stratified random sampling was used to select the samples.
Results: Research findings indicate that Internet addiction is more prevalent among female students than male students, while male students are more likely to be addicted than female students. 
Conclusion: Also controlling for gender variables showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between loneliness and internet addiction among both male a

Keywords

 
-Al-Saggaf, Y., & Nielsen, S. (2014). Self-disclosure on Facebook among female users and its relationship to feelings of loneliness. Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 460–468.
-Booth, R. (2000). Loneliness as a component of psychiatric disorders. Medscape Mental Health, 5(2).
-DiTommasso, E & Brannen, C & Best, L. A, (2004). measurement and validity characteristics of the short version of the social and emotional loneliness scale for adults. Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 64, No, 1, pp. 99-119.
-Hamburger, Y, (2002). Internet and Personality, Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 18, pp. 1–10.
-Hamburger, Y. A & Ben-Artzi, E, (2003). Loneliness and Internet use, Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 19, pp. 71–80.
-Horowitz, L & French, R. D, (1979). Interpersonal problems of people who describe themselves as lonely, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 47, pp. 762-764.
-Hu, M. (2009). Will online chat help alleviate mood loneliness? Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 12(2), 219–223.
-Hughes, M.E., Waite, L.J., Hawkley, L.C., & Cacioppo J. T. (2004). A shortscale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two populationbased studies, Research on Aging, 26, 655-72.
-Hughes, M.E., Waite, L.J., Hawkley, L.C., & Cacioppo J. T. (2004). A shortscale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two populationbased studies, Research on Aging, 26, 655-72.
-Jacob.davidson. http://time.com/money/3896219/internet-users-worldwide (2015).
-Jin, B., & Park, N. (2013). Mobile voice communication and loneliness: Cell phone use and the social skills deficit hypothesis. New Media & Society, 15(7), 1094–1111.
-Kraut, R., Patterson, M., Landmark, V., Kiesler, S., Mukophadhyay, T., Scherlis, W. (1998). Internet paradox: a social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well being? American Psychologist, 53, (3),1017-31.
-Li, Y., Gao, Y., &Wang, Y. (2013). Online communication and loneliness of adolescents: Moderation and mediation effects. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21(3), 490–492.
-Odacı, H., & Çelik, Ç. B. (2013). Who are problematic Internet users? An investigation of the correlations between problematic Internet use and shyness, loneliness, narcissism, aggression and self-perception. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2382–2387.
-Ong, C., Chang, S., & Wang, C. (2011). Comparative loneliness of users versus nonusers of online chatting. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 14(1–2), 35–40.
-Skaff, M. L. (2008). Predicting longitudinal loneliness in older adults. Dissertation. Ames: Iowa State University.
-Whitty, M. T., & McLaughlin, D. (2007). Online recreation: The relationship between loneliness, Internet selfefficacy and the use of the Internet for entertainment purposes. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3),1435–1446.
-Widyanto, L., & McMurran, M. (2004). The psychometric properties of the Internet addiction test. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 7 (4), 443– 450.
-Young, K. S. (1996).  Internet addiction:  The emergence of a new clinical disorder.  Paper presented at the 104th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, August 18, 1996.  Toronto, Canada.
-Young, K. S. (2004). Internet addiction: A new clinical phenomenon and its consequences. American Behavioral Scientist, 48, 402–415.
Society Culture Media
Volume 7, Issue 29
Summer 2019
Pages 11-28

  • Receive Date 15 December 2019