Does psychoeducation module-based community intervention address Internet addiction among school-going adolescents? A quasi-experimental study from Mangalore, India

Abstract

Excessive and uncontrolled use of the Internet leads to Internet addiction and negatively affects the physical and mental health of adolescents. Normalization of the Internet and electronic gadgets during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the vulnerability of adolescents to developing behavioral dependency on Internet use. Intervention is needed to protect the formative years and to grow as responsible net users. Aim To study the effectiveness of psychoeducational module-based community intervention on Internet addiction in adolescents. Method This was a quasiexperimental study with pre- and post-test design. The study subjects were homogeneous and purposively selected single group from a secondary school in a city in southern India. Group intervention was executed for 5 to 6 hours with a prevalidated psychoeducation module on Internet addiction. The intervention focused on the prevention and control of Internet addiction. The level of Internet addiction was measured by using Kimberly Young’s Internet Addiction Test-20. Results Of the total of 144 subjects, 72% were males and 28% were females. All were 14–16 years of age and were well versed with Internet gadgets and smartphone use and self-reported the use of the Internet/gadgets for at least 2 hours a day for recreational purposes. Descriptive analysis and RMANOVA show interventions were significantly effective (P < 0.001). Among total participants, the Internet addiction found at preintervention was 44.75 ± 19.69, with a postintervention at first month of 34.73 ± 16.14 and a postintervention at second month of 28.84 ± 13.98; reduced duration of Internet use was significant (P < 0.001) at postintervention. Conclusion The psychoeducation module-based group intervention in community school settings is well accepted and effective on Internet addiction in adolescents.

Keywords

• adolescents
• group intervention
• internet addiction
• psychoeducation module