The Reality of Internet Addiction and Social Isolation among Female Secondary School Students: A Preventive Evaluative Study

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the nature of the relationship between Internet addiction and social isolation among a sample of high school female students in Benghazi, and to evaluate this phenomenon within the Libyan context, which is witnessing rapid digital expansion amid a traditionally structured social environment. Employing a correlational descriptive methodology, the study was conducted on a sample of (148) female students from three secondary schools in the Al-Sabri district of Benghazi during the 2024/2025 academic year. Data were collected using two validated Arabic-adapted instruments: Young's Internet Addiction Scale (1998) and the Tilburg Social Isolation Scale, with Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients of (0.71) and (0.70) respectively. Results yielded three key findings: first, no high level of Internet addiction among participants (M = 15.58 vs. theoretical mean = 60); second, no high level of social isolation (M = 82.27 vs. theoretical mean = 90); and third, a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between the two variables (r = 0.296, α ≤ 0.000). These findings are attributed to protective factors including family cohesion, parental supervision, academic pressures, and the collectivist nature of Libyan society. The study recommends embedding digital literacy within school curricula, organizing activities promoting face-to-face interaction, and conducting comparative studies across genders and age groups.