Effect of internet media use, interpersonal relationships and psychosocial adjustment on students’ academic performance

Abstract

This study sought to assess the effect of media (Internet) Use, interpersonal relationships and psychosocial adjustment on students’ academic performance among polytechnic students in northern Nigeria. The population studied is of first year students of three (3) institutions sampled for the study which stood at 4,355 with a sample size of 384. The survey research design was adopted. This study finds Internet usage to have significant effect on psychosocial outcomes and interpersonal wellbeing of students, while there is no significant direct relationship between internet use and academic performance. Findings from this study lend credence to the major theoretical paradigm on the social impact of Internet use -social augmentation. On the flipside, data in the present study did not lend support to the central postulation of the social displacement model which suggests that Internet use in form of the claim that online communication detracts from the interpersonal wellbeing of adolescents by
consuming of their time that could otherwise have been spent with existing friends (physically present).Based on these findings, the study recommends among others, that the curriculum of students of tertiary institutions for various courses should be enhanced to include good study guide using media literacy.