Internet Addiction and Academic Fatigue, Engagement, and Performance Among Undergraduates in Southwestern Universities in Nigeria

Authors

Mensah Prince Osiesi, Nelson Mandela University, South AfricaFollow
Olutoyin Olufunke Fajobi, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Sikeade Mercy Adegboyega, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Abiodun Adesope Fadiya, Federal University Oye Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Olaitan Titilayo Akinola, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Folasade Oluyemisi Olayinka, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Muyiwa Sunday Ajimuse, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Sunday Nnamdi Okocha, University of Ibadan, NigeriaFollow
Tolulope Oluwatoyin Olayiwola-Adedoja, Northwest University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaFollow
Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun PhD, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Atinuke Titilope Babalola, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, NigeriaFollow
Valentina Grion, Universitadegli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.Follow

Digital Object Identifier

10.18870/hlrc.v15i1.1552

ORCID

http/orcid.org/0000-0002-7660-6127

Abstract

Objective: Internet addiction among university undergraduates may deeply impact their academic lives. This study investigated the association between academic fatigue, academic engagement, academic performance, gender, and internet addiction and how the variables jointly and relatively predict internet addiction among undergraduates in southwestern universities in Nigeria.

Method: The correlational research type of the non-experimental research design was adopted for this study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1,157 students. The main variables were the Internet Addiction Test (r = 0.82) and the Academic Fatigue Questionnaire (r = 0.85; both adapted), as well as the Academic Engagement Scale (r = 0.93; researcher developed) and cumulative grade point average. We analyzed the data using frequency, percentages, correlation, and multiple regression.

Results: Undergraduate males are significantly more addicted to the internet than females. Academic fatigue, academic engagement, male gender, and internet addiction had a positive significant relationship, while academic performance did not. The multiple association among academic fatigue, engagement, male gender, and internet addiction was 0.6, while the variance accounted for by the predictors on internet addiction was 35.2%. Further, academic fatigue (β = 0.346, t = 14.042, p t = 15.741, pt = 7.609, p

Conclusion: Academic fatigue, academic engagement, and gender (specifically male) are leading causes of increased internet addiction among undergraduates. This study contributes to the extant literature by providing evidence that academic performance or success does not necessarily predict internet addiction among university students. Nevertheless, undergraduates should be helped to moderate internet usage.

Recommended Citation

Osiesi, M. P., Fajobi, O. O., Adegboyega, S. M., Fadiya, A. A., Akinola, O. T., Olayinka, F. O., Ajimuse, M. S., Okocha, S. N., Olayiwola-Adedoja, T. O., Olubodun, O. A., Babalola, A. T., & Grion, V. (2025). Internet Addiction and Academic Fatigue, Engagement, and Performance Among Undergraduates in Southwestern Universities in Nigeria. Higher Learning Research Communications, 15 (1).
DOI:10.18870/hlrc.v15i1.1552