Impact of Using Internet during Covid-19 Lockdown on University Students: A Study of Bangladesh Perspectives

Abstract

Introduction: Government of Bangladesh declared lock down several times in the educational institutions for the purpose of retains the rapid speed of COVID-19. During the lockdown period students stayed in home and totally depended on internet for spending times, contract friends, attained in online classes etc. The purpose of the study is to measure the impact of long- time internet usage that brought various complications among the students in their physical and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown period. Methods: A structured online based questionnaire link was sent using Google forms and distributed to students via what’s app and Facebook Messenger and 360 respondents were filled up the questionnaire in the period of June 2021-August 2021 COVID-19. The distribution of respondent demographic variables was investigated using descriptive statistical methods; Pearson’s chi-square tests have been applied. Result: About 40.8% of students’ perception was that COVID-19 lockdown had changed their internet usage habits a little more than the normal time. The measures of the duration of time of internet usages there was a significant change. The respondents usage increased rapidly on 5-6 hours (42.05%) and 10 hours + (32.8%) whereas it was 30.3 % and only 6.9% respectively in before the lock down. The usages of internet hampered the students in their studies, night’s sleep, food habits, loneliness, frustration and depression during the lock down situation. Conclusion: The concern authority should take necessary steps to reduce the habit of internet usage the COVID-19 situation and motivate the students for concentrating on their studies and minimize the excessive use of the internet.