article · Discover Mental Health
A cross-sectional investigation of 850 undergraduate students across six schools in a Ghanaian university evaluated the prevalence and predictors of internet addiction and internet use. High internet addiction was identified in 52 percent of participants, while 54 percent exhibited high internet use. Risk profiles varied significantly across academic disciplines, with students in basic and biomedical sciences and pharmacy showing higher risks of internet addiction than those in medicine. Conversely, fourth-year students and single students had a lower risk compared to first-year and married peers. Additional predictors included parental education, maternal self-employment, and student religion. The findings highlight widespread internet addiction among tertiary students and indicate that interventions, such as tailored digital literacy programmes, targeted workshops, and dedicated counselling services, should be adapted to specific student cohorts, academic disciplines, and study levels to encourage responsible online behaviour.
High rates of internet addiction among university students can undermine academic performance, health, and wellbeing. Identifying specific academic disciplines, study years, and familial factors linked to excessive internet use helps higher education institutions design targeted interventions. Addressing these risks through focused counselling and digital literacy initiatives ensures that university support services reach the most vulnerable student groups effectively.
The findings represent early-stage observational research that provides evidence for university administrators, student affairs departments, and mental health service providers. The insights could inform the development and deployment of tailored digital wellbeing workshops, campus counselling protocols, and literacy programmes. However, because the study does not test or package specific intervention products, direct commercial applications remain at an early, conceptual stage.
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Despite the high prevalence of Internet addiction in previous studies, there is an existential dearth of epidemiological data among Ghanaian tertiary students on the associated factors. We sought to model the factors associated with internet addiction and use among university students. Using a cross-sectional survey design with a self-administered questionnaire, a sample of 850 students was selected with simple random sampling from six schools in the university. The data collected, entered, and coded in Excel were analysed using R software to implement the Mann–Whitney test, the Kruskal–Wallis test and logistic regression analysis. Internet addiction and internet use were high in 52% (95% CI 49, 55%) and 54% (95% CI 51, 57%) of the students, respectively. The results showed that belonging to the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences ( p = 0.009) and the School of Pharmacy (aOR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.66–5.45, p < 0.001) increased the risk of internet addiction among students compared with belonging to the School of Medicine. Level 400 students ( p = 0.036) and those who are single ( p = 0.048) had a lower risk of internet addiction compared with level 100 students and the married. Other predictors include mothers’ higher education and self-employment, as well as fathers’ no formal education. The findings of the study revealed high levels of internet addiction among students. Internet addiction was associated with the type of school, academic level, religion of the students and the mother’s employment status. Programs for digital literacy adapted to academic levels and school types are needed to support the promotion of responsible use, including workshops and counselling services for students.
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DOI: 10.1007/s44192-026-00564-8
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