The correlation analysis of internet usage and depression among undergaduate university students in Thailand: Cross-sectional study

Abstract

© 2020, Institute of Advanced Scientific Research, Inc.. All rights reserved. The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between internet usage and depression in students of Chiang Mai University in Thailand. The research was conducted among 500 first-year undergraduate students in the dormitory of the university by surveying the samples with the following questionnaires: general information, internet usage, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression test questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using the following statistical methods: frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. The research found that most students are slightly addicted to the internet, and that most of them are slightly depressed. The statistical hypothesis testing found that there is a moderate positive correlation between internet usagebehavior and depression, which is in accordance with the hypothesis. The correlation coefficient is 0.457, with the statistical significance of 0.01. However, this correlation might be the result of internal and external factors, such as anxiety, family, economy, or society.