PREVALENCE OF INTERNET ADDICTION AND RESILIENCE AMONG UNIVERSITY LIBRARY USERS AT THE NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction and resilience among university library users at the National Open University of Nigeria. Recognising the integral role of the Internet in academic and social activities, the research aimed to elucidate the extent to which students exhibited addictive behaviours and their capacity to adapt and cope within the digital environment. The primary objectives were to identify the extent of internet addiction among library users in National Open University of Nigeria and to identify the extent of resilience among the library users in National Open University of Nigeria, thereby informing strategies to promote healthy Internet use and academic resilience. Employing a descriptive research design, the study sampled 400 students across six geopolitical zones using stratified random sampling. Data was collected via structured questionnaires and analysed with SPSS version 26, utilising descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analyses. The findings revealed a significant prevalence of Internet addiction behaviours, such as excessive online engagement, preference for virtual interactions, and emotional reliance on the Internet, indicating that many students struggled with self-regulation in their online activities. Conversely, students generally demonstrated high levels of resilience, characterised by confidence in utilising library resources, adaptability to challenges, and motivation to continue learning despite difficulties. The results underscored a dual scenario: pervasive problematic Internet use coexisted with strong selfefficacy and resilience in academic resource utilisation. These insights suggested the need for targeted interventions focusing on digital literacy and responsible Internet use, alongside leveraging students’ resilient traits to foster balanced and healthy engagement with digital environments. Overall, the study emphasised the importance of integrative strategies to mitigate Internet addiction whilst strengthening students’ adaptive capacities to enhance academic success and well-being.