"A Survey on Addiction to the Internet and its Psychological/Social Effects among Female Internet Users in Esfahan City in the Year 2006 "

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is to study the internet addition and its psychological-social effects in female internet users in Esfahan City, in the year 2006. The statistical population of this study was the whole population of the female internet users of the cities of Isfahan and Shaheenshar. 115 people (54 single females and 61 married females) who were the internet users of Isfahan City comprised the sample of this study. They were selected using the multistage cluster sampling method. The instrument of this investigation was a researcher-made questionnaire which contained 23 items measuring addiction to the Internet. The following four questions were suggested in this study:
1. What are the characteristics of the population of the Internet-addicted users in Esfahan City?
2. How is the addiction to the Internet among the female Internet users in Esfahan City?
3. How are the common psychological disorders among the female Internet addicted users in Esfahan City?
4. How are the social effects of using the internet among the Internet addicted females in Esfahan City?
What follows is some of the obtained results. Addiction to the internet among the internet-addicted females is more than the average level. The percentage of addiction to the Internet is not the same in different female age groups. The internet-addicted female users prefer using the Internet to being with their family, walking around with others, and visiting the relatives and friends. Use of the Internet is interesting and different for the usual life of people who are emotionally depressed. It may also lead to the seclusion of some female Internet-dependent users. Most of the female Internet-addicted users believe that the use of the Internet is psychologically pacifying and the troubles caused by others or disruption in internet connection makes them nervous.
Statistical methods used in this study: one-variable tests, Chi-square, Analysis of recognition