Exploring the Relationship Between Internet Addiction, Physical Activity, and Quality of Life Among College Students

Background: With the rapid development of digital technology, the internet has become an indispensable part of college students’ daily lives. However, excessive internet use may lead to internet addiction, which can negatively impact quality of life. Physical activity not only improves physical health but also has positive effects on mental health and overall quality of life. Objective: This study explored the relationships of internet addiction, physical activity, and quality of life among college students. Method: One hundred forty-one college students (N = 141, Mage = 21.45, SD = 1.38 years) in Taiwan participated in this study. Among the participants, 39.7% were male (n = 56; Mage = 21.6, SD = 1.42) and 60.2% were female (n = 85; Mage = 21.4, SD = 1.29). Levels of internet addiction were measured using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), physical activity was measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and quality of life was measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Significant negative correlation between internet addiction and quality of life, while physical activity was significantly positively correlated with quality of life. Among the participants, students in foreign languages, mathematics and science, and engineering majors had higher internet addiction than those in life sciences. Conclusion: These findings suggest that physical activity may play an important role in reducing the risk of internet addiction and enhancing the quality of life among college students.

Journal Article

In Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences