Effect Of Internet Addiction On Psychological Wellbeing Of Visually Impaired Students

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out the effect of Internet Addiction on Psychological wellbeing of visually impaired students. A Sample of 50 Visually Impaired students (25 Males and 25 Females), living in various Government and aided hostels situated in Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Rajnadgaon, and Dhamtari Districts of Chhattisgarh State, were selected as sample for the present study. Internet Addiction Scale: Internet Addiction Scale constructed by Damandeep Kaur Gulati, Jose J. Kurisunkal and Mamta Bakliwal (2021) was used. This scale consists 20 items divided into Four area— I. preoccupation, II. mood management, III. external consequences and IV. self-control for age group 13 to 18 years. Psychological Well-being Scale: Self-made Psychological Well-being Scale was used by the researcher to assess the psychological well-being of the students. 2×2 Factorial Design Anova was employed for analyses of data and interpretation of the results. Results revealed that Internet addiction negatively impacted the psychological well-being of visually impaired students, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and social withdrawal. It exacerbated feelings of isolation, hindered adaptive coping mechanisms, and reduced self-esteem, while excessive online use disrupted sleep patterns and real-world interactions essential for their mental health and overall development.