Internet Addiction and Peer Influence as Predictors of Academic Procrastination among University Students in Awka, Anambra State

Abstract

This study explored internet addiction and peer influence as predictors of academic
procrastination among undergraduate Education students in a federal university in Anambra
State. The research adopted a quantitative research (descriptive-correlational) design. The
population comprised all the students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for the 2023/2024
Academic Session. The sample size of 640 was drawn using convenient sampling. The Internet
Addiction Questionnaire (IAQ), Peer Influence Questionnaire (PIQ) and Academic
Procrastination Questionnaire (APQ) were used for data collection. Experts in the Department of
Educational Foundations, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka validated the instruments. The
reliability coefficient was obtained using Cronbach Alpha which yielded a reliability index of 0.76,
0.79 and 0.90 for IAQ, PIQ and APQ, respectively. Data were analyzed using both descriptive
and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to answer research questions one to
three while inferential statistics, that is, the simple correlation analysis was used to answer
research questions four to six while Simple Regression Analysis was used to test the
hypotheses. The findings indicated that internet addiction and peer influence positively predicted
academic procrastination separately and jointly, among university students. Based on the
findings of the study, it was recommended among others, that students should invest their time
wisely and concentrate on their academics, rather than spend much time on internet platforms
for other purposes.

Keywords: Academic Procrastination, Internet Addiction, Peer Influence, University Students.