Internet addiction, self-directed learning, and Self-esteem among nursing students during COVID 19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 pandemic causes a lot of restrictions to prevent the virus spread as
converting to distance education which negatively affect the psychosocial status of adolescents.
Nursing students commonly used the internet for different social purposes in addition to
participating in distance learning. So,the average daily time spent on the internet during the
pandemic increased matched to the pre-pandemic era, which has increased the risk of internet
addiction, at the same time may increase nursing students' levels of self-directed learning to achieve
their learning goals which chronologically may increase their self-esteem levels. Aim of the study:
This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Internet Addiction (IA) among nursing students and
its association with their Self-Directed Learning (SDL) and Self-Esteem during COVID 19
Pandemic Setting: This study was carried out at the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University in
all its departments, online through Microsoft teams' platform. Subjects: The subjects of this study
comprised of 358 students who selected by stratified sample method from all nursing students (N =
1704) at the second semesters of the academic year 2020-2021. The sample size was selected using
stratified sample method and distributed according to proportional allocation technique. Tools:
Three tools will be used for data collection Tool I: Self Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning
(SRSSDL), Tool II: Internet addiction Scale, and Tool III: Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. Results:
The present study found that, 43.3% of students suffered from moderate level of internet addiction.
Also, there was a statistically significant correlation between internet addiction and self-esteem
negatively. In addition, to the reverse relation between internet addiction and self-directed learning
(SRSSDL). It can be concluded that Internet addiction among students was established to be
associated with different psychiatric disorders such as low self-esteem, and academic disorders such
as low self-directed learning however it can be modified by motivation either intrinsic (goal
achievement) or extrinsic (faculty and family members). Recommendations: Educational
workshops should be conducted to all nurse educators about importance of nursing students' time
management planning. Also, training of nursing students how to manage deprivation from their
social environment, school, and physical activities throughout information literacy training program