Relationship between Problematic Internet Use and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among University of Nairobi Students

• Author(s): Sylvia Adoyo Mita ; Prof. Mathai Muthoni ; Dr. Pius Kigamwa
• Paper ID: 1708356
• Page: 1404-1413
• Published Date: 23-05-2025
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 8 Issue 11 May-2025

Abstract

Background: Problematic internet use is consistently associated with negative mental health outcomes, including increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. This relationship is complex and influenced by various factors, including the nature of internet use and individual psychological characteristics. Objective: This study sought to determine the relationship between problematic internet use and anxiety, depression, and stress among students at the University of Nairobi. Design: This was an analytical cross-sectional research design. Setting: This study was conducted within the three colleges of the University of Nairobi; College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Health Sciences, and the College of Arts and Engineering. Subjects: The study was done among students who were on session at the University of Nairobi. Materials and Methods: A total of 190 participants were randomly sampled. The study used the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale -21, and a Socio-demographic questionnaire as instruments of data collection. The study was approved by the Kenyatta National Hospital and University of Nairobi Ethics and Review Committee and the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation. Data management; Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS ver. 21, and the qualitative data was analyzed using ATLAS. ti. ver. 23 software. Descriptive statistics were measured using percentages, means, and standard deviation (SD), and presented in tables and charts. Results: Most of the respondents were from the College of Humanities and Social Studies (50%), in the 2nd year of schooling (31.6%), and were females (54%) with a mean age of 23 years. Anxiety was most prevalent, at 132(69.5%), depression was 126 (66.3%), and stress was 71(37.4%). Most respondents had moderate and severe levels of Problematic Internet Use at 100 (52.6%) and 66(34.7%). The relationship between problematic internet use and depression was (p=0.000, AOR=4.941, 95% CI 2.078-11.752), stress (p=0.071, AOR=3.342, 95% CI 1.624-6.878), and anxiety (p=0.001, AOR=3.798, 95% CI 0.957-15.068). On the relationship between problematic internet use and respondents' characteristics, Year of study (p=0.019) and college belonging (0.032) showed significant association with problematic internet use, with no significant relationship with sex/gender (p=0.882) and age (p=0.493). Relationship between problematic internet use and significant respondents’ factors being (CAE; AOR=1.659, 95% CI 0.753-3.653); (CHS; AOR=0.547, 95% CI 0.217-1.375); (1st year AOR=0.770, 95% CI 0.130-4.557); (2nd year AOR=0.311, 95% CI 0.087-1.113); (3rd year AOR=0.589, 95% CI 0.161-2.163); (4th year AOR=0.469, 95% CI 0.132-1.663). Conclusions: The study establishes that there were significantly high levels of problematic internet use and a strong association of the problem with similarly significantly high conditions of depression, anxiety, and stress among students at the University of Nairobi

Keywords

Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Problematic Internet Use

Citations

IRE Journals:
Sylvia Adoyo Mita , Prof. Mathai Muthoni , Dr. Pius Kigamwa "Relationship between Problematic Internet Use and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among University of Nairobi Students" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 11 2025 Page 1404-1413

IEEE:
Sylvia Adoyo Mita , Prof. Mathai Muthoni , Dr. Pius Kigamwa "Relationship between Problematic Internet Use and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among University of Nairobi Students" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(11)