Comparing Internet Addiction, Feeling of Loneliness, and Educational Progress in Psychologically Healthy and At- Risk People

Purpose: the main purpose of the present study is to compar e Internet addiction, feeling of loneliness, and educ ational progress between two groups of students of Oshnavieh Payam-e-Noor Univer sity including healthy and at-risk students. Methods: for the purpose of this study 260 subjects (143 female and 111 male students) participated which we re selected by proportional random method. The research data was g athered through administrating three questionnaire-based tests incl uding Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), UCLA Loneliness Test, and Kes sler Psychological Distress Scale for discriminating healthy and at-ri sk students. Findings: the obtained results demonstrated a significant differe nce in Internet addiction between female and male students. Besides, the diff erence between healthy and at-risk students was significant considering the fe eling of loneliness. Conclusions: psychological disorders appear to have significan t influence on incidence of Internet addiction and feeling of lone li ss in students.