Abstrak

Purpose: the main purpose of the present study is to compare Internet addiction, feeling of loneliness, and educational progress between two groups of students of Oshnavieh Payam-e-Noor University including healthy and at-risk students. Methods: for the purpose of this study 260 subjects (143 female and 111 male students) participated which were selected by proportional random method. The research data was gathered through administrating three questionnaire-based tests including Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), UCLA Loneliness Test, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale for discriminating healthy and at-risk students. Findings: the obtained results demonstrated a significant difference in Internet addiction between female and male students. Besides, the difference between healthy and at-risk students was significant considering the feeling of loneliness. Conclusions: psychological disorders appear to have significant influence on incidence of Internet addiction and feeling of loneliness in students.