Learned Helplessness and Internet Addiction Among Young Adults

Abstract

Learned helplessness, a psychological concept suggesting individuals who have experienced repeated failures or a perceived lack of control over outcomes may develop a belief that they are powerless to change their circumstances, is often explored as a correlate of lack of control over addictive behaviours. This mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the impact of learned helplessness on individuals with Internet Addiction. The quantitative phase included 136 individuals with internet addiction (60 males and 76 females) aged 20 to 35 years. The Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire was used to screen for internet addiction, and the Learned Helplessness Scale was used to assess levels of learned helplessness. Statistical analyses, including independent sample t-tests, Pearson correlations, and regression analysis, were conducted. The quantitative results revealed a significant difference in learned helplessness between males and females with Internet addiction, with females exhibiting higher levels. A significant positive relationship was found between internet addiction and learned helplessness, and regression analysis indicated that learned helplessness significantly predicted internet addiction. However, no significant difference in the severity of internet addiction was found between males and females. Following the quantitative phase, a qualitative exploration was conducted using semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed key themes, including internet usage as a coping mechanism, social isolation, varying levels of insight into internet addiction and learned helplessness, personal and environmental triggers for internet use, the integration of internet use into daily schedules, and the loss of time sense. The qualitative findings provided rich contextual explanations for the quantitative results, particularly concerning the gender differences in learned helplessness and the mechanisms linking learned helplessness to internet addiction. This study highlights the complex interplay between learned helplessness and internet addiction, emphasizing the importance of considering both quantitative and qualitative perspectives in understanding and addressing this issue.