Hooked Online, Disconnected Offline: A Study of Internet Addiction and Social Skills

Abstract

The present study investigated the association between internet addiction and social skills among postgraduate students, proposing that increased internet addiction would be linked with lower levels of social skills. Internet addiction, typically described as excessive and poorly controlled internet use, has been associated with several adverse psychosocial consequences, including reduced interpersonal functioning. The study sample consisted of 200 postgraduate students (100 males and 100 females) aged between 21 and 25 years. To measure the variables, the Internet Addiction Test by Young (1998) and the Social Skills Inventory by Riggio (1986) were administered. Findings revealed a statistically significant negative relationship between internet addiction and social skills (r = −.42, p < .01), indicating that individuals with higher internet addiction tended to demonstrate lower social competence. In addition, a one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in social skills across high and low internet addiction groups, F(1, 198) = 8.42, p = .04. Further, an independent-samples t-test showed a significant difference in social skills based on gender. Female participants (M = 72.8, SD = 11.3) scored higher on social skills compared to male participants (M = 68.2, SD = 12.5), t(198) = 2.73, p = .03, suggesting relatively stronger interpersonal abilities among females. Overall, the results support the proposed hypothesis that greater internet addiction is associated with weaker social skills. The findings also indicate notable gender differences in social competence. These outcomes emphasize the need for strategies aimed at minimizing excessive internet use and improving interpersonal functioning among university students.