Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period

K M Rahmatullah Rahat; Md Tanvir Ahmed

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period

K M Rahmatullah Rahat^*

, Md Tanvir Ahmed

Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 13, Issue 1)

Received: 1 February 2025 Accepted: 17 February 2025 Published: 26 February 2025

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Abstract

Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, including education, communication, entertainment, and social engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified internet reliance due to the shift to online learning, social distancing, and limited access to offline activities. Excessive internet use can lead to internet addiction, causing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and physical health issues, which are a growing concern. In our study, we investigated internet addiction among the adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh, based on a comparative approach through studies conducted before and after COVID-19. We approached 108 students across all grades 7-12 in 2019 and 2023 by following the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) protocols to study changes in internet use and addiction levels. Using cross-sectional research design and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we found a significant increase in daily internet use, social media use, and online dependency post-COVID-19. The results showed increased internet addiction and deteriorating academic performance and daily routines. Such findings indicate that targeted interventions are needed to prevent the negative consequences of excessive internet use on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Promoting balanced internet use, encouraging offline hobbies, and providing resources for effective time management are essential steps in addressing this growing concern.

Published in	American Journal of Health Research (Volume 13, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
Page(s)	73-83
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Internet Addiction, Adolescents, Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), COVID-19

References

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Rahat, K. M. R., Ahmed, M. T. (2025). Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. American Journal of Health Research, 13(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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Rahat, K. M. R.; Ahmed, M. T. Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. Am. J. Health Res. 2025, 13(1), 73-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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Rahat KMR, Ahmed MT. Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. Am J Health Res. 2025;13(1):73-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16,
  author = {K M Rahmatullah Rahat and Md Tanvir Ahmed},
  title = {Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period
},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {13},
  number = {1},
  pages = {73-83},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  abstract = {Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, including education, communication, entertainment, and social engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified internet reliance due to the shift to online learning, social distancing, and limited access to offline activities. Excessive internet use can lead to internet addiction, causing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and physical health issues, which are a growing concern. In our study, we investigated internet addiction among the adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh, based on a comparative approach through studies conducted before and after COVID-19. We approached 108 students across all grades 7-12 in 2019 and 2023 by following the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) protocols to study changes in internet use and addiction levels. Using cross-sectional research design and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we found a significant increase in daily internet use, social media use, and online dependency post-COVID-19. The results showed increased internet addiction and deteriorating academic performance and daily routines. Such findings indicate that targeted interventions are needed to prevent the negative consequences of excessive internet use on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Promoting balanced internet use, encouraging offline hobbies, and providing resources for effective time management are essential steps in addressing this growing concern.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period

AU  - K M Rahmatullah Rahat
AU  - Md Tanvir Ahmed
Y1  - 2025/02/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 73
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
AB  - Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, including education, communication, entertainment, and social engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified internet reliance due to the shift to online learning, social distancing, and limited access to offline activities. Excessive internet use can lead to internet addiction, causing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and physical health issues, which are a growing concern. In our study, we investigated internet addiction among the adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh, based on a comparative approach through studies conducted before and after COVID-19. We approached 108 students across all grades 7-12 in 2019 and 2023 by following the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) protocols to study changes in internet use and addiction levels. Using cross-sectional research design and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we found a significant increase in daily internet use, social media use, and online dependency post-COVID-19. The results showed increased internet addiction and deteriorating academic performance and daily routines. Such findings indicate that targeted interventions are needed to prevent the negative consequences of excessive internet use on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Promoting balanced internet use, encouraging offline hobbies, and providing resources for effective time management are essential steps in addressing this growing concern.

VL  - 13
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K M Rahmatullah Rahat

Department of Economics, University of Barishal, Barishal, Bangladesh

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http://orcid.org/0009-0003-7411-0181
Md Tanvir Ahmed

Department of Economics, University of Barishal, Barishal, Bangladesh

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http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6202-9461

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Rahat, K. M. R., Ahmed, M. T. (2025). Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. American Journal of Health Research, 13(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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Rahat, K. M. R.; Ahmed, M. T. Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. Am. J. Health Res. 2025, 13(1), 73-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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Rahat KMR, Ahmed MT. Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period. Am J Health Res. 2025;13(1):73-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16,
  author = {K M Rahmatullah Rahat and Md Tanvir Ahmed},
  title = {Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period
},
  journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
  volume = {13},
  number = {1},
  pages = {73-83},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20251301.16},
  abstract = {Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, including education, communication, entertainment, and social engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified internet reliance due to the shift to online learning, social distancing, and limited access to offline activities. Excessive internet use can lead to internet addiction, causing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and physical health issues, which are a growing concern. In our study, we investigated internet addiction among the adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh, based on a comparative approach through studies conducted before and after COVID-19. We approached 108 students across all grades 7-12 in 2019 and 2023 by following the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) protocols to study changes in internet use and addiction levels. Using cross-sectional research design and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we found a significant increase in daily internet use, social media use, and online dependency post-COVID-19. The results showed increased internet addiction and deteriorating academic performance and daily routines. Such findings indicate that targeted interventions are needed to prevent the negative consequences of excessive internet use on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Promoting balanced internet use, encouraging offline hobbies, and providing resources for effective time management are essential steps in addressing this growing concern.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Internet Addiction Among Adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh: A Comparison Study Between Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Period

AU  - K M Rahmatullah Rahat
AU  - Md Tanvir Ahmed
Y1  - 2025/02/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
T2  - American Journal of Health Research
JF  - American Journal of Health Research
JO  - American Journal of Health Research
SP  - 73
EP  - 83
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8796
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20251301.16
AB  - Adolescents rely on the internet for various purposes, including education, communication, entertainment, and social engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified internet reliance due to the shift to online learning, social distancing, and limited access to offline activities. Excessive internet use can lead to internet addiction, causing emotional and psychological problems such as depression, loneliness, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and physical health issues, which are a growing concern. In our study, we investigated internet addiction among the adolescents of Barishal City, Bangladesh, based on a comparative approach through studies conducted before and after COVID-19. We approached 108 students across all grades 7-12 in 2019 and 2023 by following the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) protocols to study changes in internet use and addiction levels. Using cross-sectional research design and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, we found a significant increase in daily internet use, social media use, and online dependency post-COVID-19. The results showed increased internet addiction and deteriorating academic performance and daily routines. Such findings indicate that targeted interventions are needed to prevent the negative consequences of excessive internet use on the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Promoting balanced internet use, encouraging offline hobbies, and providing resources for effective time management are essential steps in addressing this growing concern.

VL  - 13
IS  - 1
ER  -

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