Relationship between Internet Usage and Emotional Maturity among Higher Secondary Students

Abstract

The internet has emerged as a powerful medium for communication and information exchange across the globe. In the present era, internet usage has become widespread across various sectors, including education. Today, students rely on the internet to such an extent that concerns regarding internet addiction and its impact on their emotional maturity have become evident. The primary objective of this study was to examine the influence of internet usage on the emotional maturity of higher secondary students and to explore whether gender differences exist in terms of internet usage and emotional maturity. This descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 200 students (100 boys and 100 girls) from rural and urban schools in Hisar district. Standardized tools were utilized to measure emotional maturity (Y. Singh & Bhargava, 2012) and internet usage (Shaloo Saini & Parminder Kaur, 2017). Data analysis was performed using the t-test and product-moment correlation to determine the relationship between internet usage and emotional maturity among higher secondary students. The results of the study revealed that students from urban areas demonstrated higher emotional maturity compared to their rural counterparts. Additionally, a positive correlation (r = 0.48) was found between emotional maturity and internet usage, indicating that increased internet usage was associated with greater emotional maturity. These findings highlight the importance of providing educators with insights into addressing students' emotional needs and encouraging them to engage in outdoor activities for overall well-being.