eISSN: 2978-3747 editor@irjernet.com
All Journals
Submit your article

Frontiers in Medical and Clinical Sciences

Open Access Peer Review International
Open Access

Knowledge of Internet Addiction and Its Mental Health Consequences Among University Students in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Study

DOI https://doi.org/10.64917/fmcs/Volume03Issue08-01
PDF
Mudiaga Favour Akpuma 1 Freedom Nwakaego Igheghe 1 Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu 1 ORCID iD Ibiangake Friday Ndioho 1 Obiageli Uzoamaka Onyemelukwe 1 Nneka Angela Oseji 1 Comfort Ometere Alabi 1 Morrison Okwudilichukwu Eze 1 Balaraba Ubanyero John 1
4 MScPH, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 MScPH, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Health and Care Management, Arden University, Manchester, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Studies & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 FWACP, Alras General Hospital, Alras, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Science, Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Science, Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 MBBS, Cygnet Healthcare, Woking, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Arden University, Leeds, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background: Internet addiction has emerged as a significant public health concern because of its potential effects on psychological wellbeing, academic performance and social functioning, particularly among university students who rely extensively on digital technologies for learning and everyday communication. Although considerable attention has been directed towards the prevalence and consequences of problematic internet use, less emphasis has been placed on students' knowledge of internet addiction and their awareness of its implications for mental health. Understanding this knowledge is important for informing preventive interventions and promoting healthier patterns of digital engagement within higher education.

Aim: To assess students' knowledge of internet addiction, including their understanding of its behavioural characteristics and awareness of its potential consequences for mental health and academic functioning among students at the University of Sunderland.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among University of Sunderland students using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling, and data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants' demographic characteristics and knowledge of internet addiction.

Results: Participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge regarding internet addiction and its potential impact on mental health. Most respondents correctly identified the characteristics of problematic internet use and recognised that excessive internet use may contribute to adverse psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression and emotional distress, as well as impaired academic performance and social functioning. The findings also indicated strong awareness of behavioural features associated with internet addiction, suggesting that internet addiction is widely recognised as a behavioural health concern within the study population.

Conclusion: University students demonstrated substantial knowledge of internet addiction and its potential implications for mental health. Nevertheless, awareness alone may not be sufficient to reduce engagement in excessive internet use or prevent its adverse consequences. Higher education institutions should therefore complement awareness initiatives with evidence-based digital wellbeing programmes that encourage healthy internet use, strengthen self-regulation and support early identification of students at risk of problematic internet use. The findings provide valuable evidence to inform health promotion strategies and student wellbeing initiatives within university settings.

How to Cite

Akpuma, M. F., Igheghe, F. N., Obohwemu, K. O., Ndioho, I. F., Onyemelukwe, O. U., Oseji, N. A., … John, B. U. (2026). Knowledge of Internet Addiction and Its Mental Health Consequences Among University Students in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in Medical and Clinical Sciences, 3(08), 01–13. https://doi.org/10.64917/fmcs/Volume03Issue08-01
⬇ Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS) ⬇ BibTeX

References

Anderson, E. L., Steen, E., & Stavropoulos, V. (2017). Internet use and problematic internet use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood. International Journal of adolescence and youth, 22(4), 430-454.
Brouzos, A., Papadopoulou, A., & Baourda, V. C. (2024). Effectiveness of a web-based group intervention for internet addiction in university students. Psychiatry Research, 336, 115883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115883
Cai, Z., Mao, P., Wang, Z., Wang, D., He, J., & Fan, X. (2023). Associations between problematic internet use and mental health outcomes of students: A meta-analytic review. Adolescent Research Review, 8(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-022-00201-9
Casale, S., Lecchi, S., & Fioravanti, G. (2015). The association between psychological well-being and problematic use of Internet communicative services among young people. The Journal of psychology, 149(5), 480-497.
Deng, A.-P., Wang, C., Cai, J., Deng, Z.-Y., Mu, Y.-F., Song, H.-J., Meng, Y.-J., Meng, X.-D., Huang, X.-H., Zhang, L., Huang, Y., Zhang, W., Chen, J., & Ran, M.-S. (2023). Effects of internet addiction and academic satisfaction on mental health among college students after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in China. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1243619. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1243619
Helsper, E. J., & Smahel, D. (2020). Excessive internet use by young Europeans: psychological vulnerability and digital literacy?. Information, communication & society, 23(9), 1255-1273.
Kim, B., & Kim, N. (2023). Exploring the psychosocial factors between adaptive and maladaptive use of gaming among Korean adolescents. Children, 10(6), 1059.
Ko, C.-H., Yen, J.-Y., Yen, C.-F., Chen, C.-S., & Chen, C.-C. (2012). The association between internet addiction and psychiatric disorder: A review of the literature. European Psychiatry, 27(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.04.011
Kuss, D. J., & Lopez-Fernandez, O. (2016). Internet addiction and problematic Internet use: A systematic review of clinical research. World journal of psychiatry, 6(1), 143.
Li, W., O’Brien, J. E., Snyder, S. M., & Howard, M. O. (2015). Characteristics of internet addiction/pathological internet use in US university students: a qualitative-method investigation. PloS one, 10(2), e0117372.
Mota, D. C. B., Silva, Y. V. D., Costa, T. A. F., Aguiar, M. H. D. C., Marques, M. E. D. M., & Monaquezi, R. M. (2021). Mental health and internet use by university students: coping strategies in the context of COVID-19. Ciencia & saude coletiva, 26, 2159-2170.
Sánchez-Fernández, M., Borda-Mas, M., & Mora-Merchán, J. (2023). Problematic internet use by university students and associated predictive factors: A systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 139, 107532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107532
Schimmenti, A. (2023). Beyond addiction: rethinking problematic internet use from a motivational framework. Clinical neuropsychiatry, 20(6), 471.
Shiraly, R., Roshanfekr, A., Asadollahi, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2024). Psychological distress, social media use, and academic performance of medical students: the mediating role of coping style. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 999.
Tran Quang Duc, Vu Thi Quynh Chi, Nguyen Thi Hoa Huyen, Phan Ngoc Quang, Bui Thi Thuy, & Nguyen Di Khanh. (2024). Growing propensity of internet addiction among Asian college students: Meta-analysis of pooled prevalence from 39 studies with over 50,000 participants. Public Health, 227, 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.11.040
Tunney, C., & Rooney, B. (2023). Using theoretical models of problematic internet use to inform psychological formulation: A systematic scoping review. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 28(2), 810-830.
World Health Organization. (2021). Helping adolescents thrive toolkit: strategies to promote and protect adolescent mental health and reduce self-harm and other risk behaviours. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2024). Psychological interventions implementation manual: Integrating evidence-based psychological interventions into existing services. World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2025). Guidance on mental health policy and strategic action plans: module 2: key reform areas, directives, strategies, and actions for mental health policy and strategic action plans.
Zewude, G. T., Gosim, D., Dawed, S., Nega, T., Tessema, G. W., & Eshetu, A. A. (2024). Investigating the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between internet addiction and mental health among university students. PLOS Digital Health, 3(11), e0000639. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000639

Most read articles by the same author(s)