Internet Addiction in Students: Threat Factor for Mental Health

The use of the internet has increased considerably over the last few years, with increasing number of internet users. The internet addiction has attracted high attention for psychiatrists, psychologists, and educators. Increasing demand for computer and internet has potential problems for human beings. This research was aimed to study of internet addiction in students: threat factor on mental health.

In this descriptive research; statistical population is all of students of Islamic Azad university- Sari- Branch. Sample size estimate with use Kerejci and Morgan table. Study sample are 261 college students; selected by random sampling method. For data gathering questionnaires were used,and six hypotheses was tested. To analyze data, coefficient of correlation and, t-test have been used.

We found that: Students were suffered to internet addiction (t=28.456, p<0.05).with significant difference in male and female (t=4.267, p<0.05), and with different use levels (F=22.655, p<0.05); but no significant difference with different ages (F=1.054, p>0.05).

Internet addiction is currently becoming a serious mental health problem among college students. Internet addiction as new challenge in health psychology needed to prevention and cure considerations.