Conditions exposing students of Bahir Dar University to internet addiction, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Internet addiction is an excessive-compulsive use of internet that causes psychological, social, family, school, health, and work impairments. Previous studies reported that, there is an increasing rate of internet addiction in colleges and higher educational institutions. But, conditions exposing students of higher educational institutions to internet addiction are not well explored in African context in general and among Ethiopian university students in particular. The purpose of this study was to explore conditions exposing students of Bahir Dar University to internet addiction. To this end, a phenomenological qualitative approach was used as an appropriate method to undertake an in-depth analysis of the issue under study. Data were collected from nineteen purposefully selected internet addicted students using a semi structured in-depth interview guide and the collected data were analysed using thematic analysis method under six themes. The study findings revealed that absence of student friendly recreational centers in the university, peer pressure, low parental control, gender insensitive social environment, feelings of academic seniority, and stress are the most prominent conditions exposing Bahir Dar University students to internet addiction. These findings have an implication for social work education that the pros and cons of internet technology should be part of academic curriculums starting from early grade schools in order to help students have earlier level conscious understanding of the internet service. So that, they can protect themselves from internet addiction when they go to universities.

Key Terms: Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Undergraduate students, Internet addiction