Abstract:
In an era when the internet dominates society, understanding internet addiction and how
it impacts reading attitude is crucial, especially for university students. In this ground-breaking
research, the vibrant student population of Lahore, Pakistan, is used to examine the complex
relationship between internet addiction and reading attitudes. To fully understand this unique
link, a precisely designed correlational study design is used in conjunction with a quantitative
research approach. The sample comprises 502 spirited university students, aged 18-25 years
(Mean age=20.05, S.D = 1.473), equally distributed across gender meticulously selected from an
array of private and government institutions in Lahore. Measures include demographic
questionnaire, Internet Addiction scale and Young Adult Reading Attitude scales were used to
assess the variables. According to this research's compelling findings, there is a statistically
significant positive correlation between internet addiction and reading attitude. Surprisingly,
there is a correlation between higher levels of internet addiction and slightly more favorable
attitudes towards reading. These results shed insight on the complex relationship between
excessive internet use and university students’ perceptions of reading. This study emphasizes
how crucial it is to recognize and treat the effects of internet addiction on reading behaviors and
attitudes, providing insightful information for researchers, policymakers and educators alike.
