Abstract
This chapter explores the phenomenon of addictive Internet use among college students in Malawi and how this relates to probable cases of common mental disorders (CMD). The chapter applies a combination of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Among students who were identified as having significant problems due to frequent use of the Internet, females (58%, 29/50) were more reported than males (42%, 21/50). Lastly, this chapter posits that there is strong positive correlation between Internet addiction and probable CMD (r = 0.390, p < 0.01). While acknowledging that correlation does not necessarily mean causation, it is important to recognize that excessive usage of Internet may increase the vulnerability to CMD or vice versa in college students in Malawi.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Beusenberg, M., and J.H. Orley. 1994. A User’s Guide to the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Geneva: World Health Organization.
Faraci, P., G. Craparo, R. Messina, and S. Severino. 2013. Internet Addiction Test (IAT): Which Is the Best Factorial Solution? Journal of Medical Internet Research 15 (10): e225.
Griffiths, M. 2000. Does Internet and Computer “Addiction” Exist? Some Case Study Evidence. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 3 (2): 211–218.
Harding, T.W., M.V. De Arango, J. Baltazar, C.E. Climent, H.H.A. Ibrahim, L. Ladrido-Ignacio, and N. Wig. 1980. Mental Disorders in Primary Health Care: A Study of Their Frequency and Diagnosis in Four Developing Countries. Psychological Medicine 10 (2): 231–241.
Ingram, J.M. 2016. Online Usage Among College Students: A Comparison of Online Gaming and Facebook Users. Ellensburg: Central Washington University.
Johnson, N.F. 2009. The Multiplicities of Internet Addiction: The Misrecognition of Leisure and Learning. Surrey: Ashgate.
Li, W., J.E. O’Brien, S.M. Snyder, and M.O. Howard. 2015. Characteristics of Internet Addiction/Pathological Internet Use in U.S. University Students: A Qualitative-Method Investigation. PLoS One 10 (2): e0117372. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117372.
Mkandawire, M., and L. Senganimalunje. 2011. Pathological Internet Use Among College Students in Malawi. Malawi Medical Journal 23 (3): 99.
Murphy, B. 1996. Computer Addictions Entangle Students. The APA Monitor 27 (6): 26.
Nakaya, A.C. 2015. Internet and Social Media Addiction. San Diego: ReferencePoint.
Parks, P.J. 2013. Online Addictions. San Diego: ReferencePoint.
Paska, L.M., and Z. Yan. 2011. Internet Addiction in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A Comparison Between the United States and China. In Internet Addiction, ed. H.O. Price. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Perdew, L. 2015. Internet Addiction. Minneapolis: Abdo.
Reinecke, L. 2009. Games and Recovery: The Use of Video and Computer Games to Recuperate from Stress and Strain. Journal of Media Psychology 21 (3): 126–142.
Stewart, R.C., F. Kauye, E. Umar, M. Vokhiwa, J. Bunn, M. Fitzgerald, et al. 2009. Validation of a Chichewa Version of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) as a Brief Screening Measure of Maternal Depressive Disorder in Malawi, Africa. Journal of Affective Disorders 112 (1–3): 126–134.
Udedi, M., L. Swartz, R.C. Stewart, and F. Kauye. 2014. Health Service Utilization by Patients with Common Mental Disorder Identified by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire in a Primary Care Setting in Zomba, Malawi: A Descriptive Study. International Journal of Social Psychiatry 60 (5): 454–461.
van der Westhuizen, C., G. Wyatt, J.K. Williams, D.J. Stein, and K. Sorsdahl. 2016. Validation of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20-Item (SRQ-20) for Use in Low-and Middle-Income Country Emergency Centre Setting. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 14 (1): 37–48.
Widyanto, L., and M. McMurran. 2004. The Psychometric Properties of the Internet Addiction Test. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 7 (4): 443–450.
Young, K.S. 1998. Internet Addiction: The Emergence of a New Clinical Disorder. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 1 (3): 237–244.
Young, K.S. 1999. Internet Addiction: Symptoms, Evaluation and Treatment. In Innovations in Clinical Practice, ed. L. VandeCreek and T.L. Jackson, vol. 17. Sarasota: Professional Resource Press.
Young, K.S. 2004. Internet Addiction: A New Clinical Phenomenon and Its Consequences. American Behavioral Scientist 48 (4): 402–415.
Young, K., and C.N. de Abreu. 2011. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment, ed. K. Young and C.N. de Abreu. Hoboken: Wiley.
Young, K.S., and R.C. Rogers. 1998. The Relationship Between Depression and Internet Addiction. Cyberpsychology & Behavior 1 (1): 19–31.
Zaremohzzabieh, Z., B.A. Samah, S.Z. Omar, J. Bolong, and N.A. Kamarudin. 2014. Addictive Facebook Use Among University Students. Asian Social Science 10 (6): 107–116.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Manda, T.D., Jamu, E.S., Mwakilama, E.P., Maliwichi-Senganimalunje, L. (2019). Internet Addiction and Mental Health among College Students in Malawi. In: Ndasauka, Y., Kayange, G. (eds) Addiction in South and East Africa . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13593-5_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13593-5_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-13592-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-13593-5
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)