Effects of Computer Addiction to Students Study Habits

Effects of Computer Addiction to Students Study Habits Research Report Presented to the Catanduanes State University

Author’s Note
This Research paper is for compliance In English 2 subject,
Writing in the Discipline, this Second Semester
School Year 2013-2014

Introduction
DOTA (Defence of the Ancient), DOTA 2, LOL (League of Legends) and other offline and online games are some of the most played computer games in the Philippines according from the website http://gamesinasia.com. Many people including students are playing this game for enjoyment, for fun and to forget their problems even just for an hour. But some students are not just playing it but they are now living with this computer games. Some students feel that their days are not complete if they cannot play this game for just a day. Some students cancel some of their important activities so that they can play this computer games. And because of their addiction in this computer games some students fail in their studies because of not studying before the exam because instead of reviewing they are playing computer games. Some students fail also because of attending classes instead they choose to skip classes so that they can play computer games. Because of their addiction in this computer games they don’t know the consequences that can happen and also because of this addiction many parents now are concerned about the future of their children because of computer addiction.
So because of this rising problems of the concerned parents to their children I choose the topic computer addiction so that it can help the problems of the concerned parents to their children. It can help the concerned parents and the students by knowing the causes of this computer addiction so that it can be prevented. It can also help to know the measures that can help the parents of the children and the children who have computer addiction to make their life useful. This research also helps the parents and the students the major effects of computer addiction in their study and in the future. This research also discusses the major types of computer addiction and effective study habits.

Body
Computer addiction is the excessive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. Excessive use may explain problems in social interaction, mood, personality, work ethic, relationships, thought processes, or sleep deprivation. (Wikipedia, n.d.)
According to Addictions.com (n.d.) they define computer addiction as the desire to use a computer becomes so dire that computer usage either online or offline interferes with daily routines, relationships, activities and a one’s well-being.
Computer addiction is a relatively new term used to describe a dependency on one's computer. It is not limited to personal computers, but covers video games and the Internet as well. This addiction has already been given a label by psychologists: Internet addiction disorder (IAD). Computer addiction is also sometimes linked to computer gambling. Some people only have access to gambling services through a computer. Not only do such people spend countless hours playing online poker, but they often lose thousands of dollars while playing. (wisegeek.com, n.d.)
According to William J. Cromie (January 21 1999), Orzack says that computer addiction is an emerging disorder, suffered by people who find the virtual reality on computer screens more attractive than everyday reality.

According to Orzack (n.d.) It is a problem very similar to Pathological Gambling or Compulsive Shopping. Like other addictions, it affects other people - family, friends, and co-workers. Spouses complain that their loved ones neglect them. Couples separate when one of the partners finds someone else on the Internet and leaves home. Like gamblers they compulsively keep investing time and money. They fantasize that the next connection they make will solve all their problems.
Types of Computer Addiction
According to Helpguide.org (n.d.) Internet Addiction, otherwise known as computer addiction, online addiction, or Internet addiction disorder (IAD), covers a variety of impulse-control problems, including:
1) Cybersex Addiction – compulsive use of Internet pornography, adult chat rooms, or adult fantasy role-play sites impacting negatively on real-life intimate relationships.
2) Cyber-Relationship Addiction – addiction to social networking, chat rooms, texting, and messaging to the point where virtual, online friends become more important than real-life relationships with family and friends.
3) Net Compulsions – such as compulsive online gaming, gambling, stock trading, or compulsive use of online auction sites such as eBay, often resulting in financial and job-related problems.
4) Information Overload – compulsive web surfing or database searching, leading to lower work productivity and less social interaction with family and friends.
5) Computer Addiction – obsessive playing of off-line computer games, such as Solitaire or Minesweeper, or obsessive computer programming.
Also According to Addictions.com (n.d.) the most common types of computer addiction are:
Programming addictions – these addictions result from an individual’s desire to reprogram items or databases or to create new software excessively
General Computer addictions – this the the result of an individual’s desire to play games such as solitaire or other games on the computer and does not generally include internet usage
Internet Addiction – internet addiction is the result of an individual’s desire to spend time online performing any one of a number of tasks in excessive. Internet addiction has sub-categories that include.
Study habits are defined as the regular tendencies and practices that one depicts during the process of gaining information through learning. Your study habits play a big role in determining your success in the learning process. (ask, n.d.)
According to Answers.com (n.d.) Study habits means you are not distracted by anything, you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. Basically it means that you are doing the best you can to get the grades you want.
According to Fleming (n.d.) following are the 10 tips in helping to improve your study habits
1) Write Down Every Assignment
2) Remember to Bring Your Homework to School
3) Communicate With Your Teacher
4) Organize With Color
5) Establish a Study Zone at Home
6) Prepare Yourself for Test Days
7) Know Your Dominant Learning Style
8) Take Fabulous Notes
9) Conquer Procrastination
10) Take Care of Yourself
According to Addictions.com (n.d.) the most common causes of computer addiction are the following: anxiety caused by stress at work, relationships, financial problems or other sources depression that leads to computer use to escape reality inactivity and using the computer instead of working out or otherwise being active physical illness that prevents an individual from leaving the home boredom and feeling like there is nothing else to do
According to Pascual, C. (Feburary 5, 2013) Some causes of computer addiction start when you open the internet browser for the first time and find something that is capable of holding your attention for what seems like only minutes, which eventually turns into hours. For example dota, it is one of the most popular online games today and if you find it interesting you will start to get addicted to it. Not only in computer games but also in networking sites like Facebook and twitter and also maybe because of the influence of their friends and having no goals in life that’s why they are engaging to that kind of thing.
According to Helpguide.org (n.d.) the common causes of computer addiction are:
To relieve unpleasant and overwhelming feelings
Many people turn to the Internet in order to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. When you have a bad day and are looking for a way to escape your problems or to quickly relieve stress or self-soothe, the Internet can be an easily accessible outlet. Losing yourself online can temporarily make feelings such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom evaporate into thin air. As much comfort as the Internet can provide, though, it’s important to remember that there are healthier (and more effective) ways to keep difficult feelings in check. These may include exercising, meditating, and practicing simple relaxation techniques.
For many people, an important aspect of overcoming Internet and computer addiction is to find alternate ways to handle these difficult feelings. Even when your Internet use is back to healthy levels, the painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to engage in unhealthy Internet use in the past will remain. So, it’s worth spending some time thinking about the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily irritations that would normally have you logging on.
Risk factors for Internet addiction and computer addiction (Help Guide.org, n.d.)
You are at greater risk of Internet addiction if:
You suffer from anxiety. You may use the Internet to distract yourself from your worries and fears. An anxiety disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder may also contribute to excessive email checking and compulsive Internet use.
You are depressed. The Internet can be an escape from feelings of depression, but too much time online can make things worse. Internet addiction further contributes to stress, isolation and loneliness.
You have any other addictions. Many Internet addicts suffer from other addictions, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, and sex.
You lack social support. Internet addicts often use social networking sites, instant messaging, or online gaming as a safe way of establishing new relationships and more confidently relating to others.
You’re an unhappy teenager. You might be wondering where you fit in and the Internet could feel more comfortable than real-life friends.
You are less mobile or socially active than you once were. For example, you may be coping with a new disability that limits your ability to drive. Or you may be parenting very young children, which can make it hard to leave the house or connect with old friends.
You are stressed. While some people use the Internet to relieve stress, it can have a counterproductive effect. The longer you spend online, the higher your stress levels will be.

According to Addictions.com (n.d.) following are the effects of computer addiction inability to interact social except when on the computer such as online in chat groups or social networking sites inability to experience pleasure when performing tasks that are not done on a computer. You may not feel relief or gratification unless you are taking part in a task that involves using a computer overspending on hardware, software or other computer items loss of relationships due to spending too much time on the computer and not enough time with a friend or loved one loss of a job due to a lack of productivity because time was spent on the computer performing other tasks that provided you with satisfaction giving up career goals in an effort to spend more time on the computer lack of productivity on school assignment because you are distracted by your desire to use the computer feelings of failure because you have tried to control your computer usage and despite your efforts have failed at your attempts poor self-esteem because you feel socially inept poor self-hygiene because you are too “busy” with your involvement with the computer to take time out to shower, eat, brush your teeth and hair or otherwise take care of yourself
Computer addiction can have a variety of negative effects on a person. The most immediate are social. The user withdraws from friends and family as he spends more and more time on the computer. Relationships begin to wither as the user stops attending social gatherings, skips meetings with friends and avoids family members to get more computer time. Even when they do interact with their friends, users may become irritable when away from the computer, causing further social harm. Over the long term, computer addiction can cause physical damage. Using a mouse and keyboard for many hours every day can lead to repetitive stress injuries. Back problems are common among people who spent a lot of time sitting at computer desks. Late-night computer sessions cut into much-needed sleep time. Long-term sleep deprivation causes drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and depression of the immune system. Someone who spends hours at a computer is obviously not getting any meaningful exercise, so computer addiction can indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and even obesity. (Grabianowski, n.d.)
Meanwhile, the effects of computer addiction to one person is lost track of time, conscious efforts to cut back on computer time and repeatedly failing, thinking frequently about the computer when not using it, or constantly looking forward to the next opportunity to use it. Others tend to use the computer as a means to 'escape' from the 'real world' when they're feeling depressed or stressed. While the long term effects of it are having a carpal tunnel, diminishing eye sight, weight gain, back problems, and blood clots from sitting at the computer for too long.
Computer addiction can also indirectly lead to poor overall physical condition and even obesity. Sooner than later, the consequences of computer addiction will catch up to the user. And with advancing technologies every day and computers continuously getting cheaper, it's only getting easier and more convenient for children to stay at home on the computer rather than going to play outside with their friends. They will also become lazy in everything. (Pascual C. February 5, 2013)
According from the website angelfire.com (n.d) that being addicted to computer that means they spend most of their time in front of your screen. If they do that, how can you find enough time to study and do your homework? According to the article (Orzack), overusing computer can effect negatively in children in school or adults in college. Teachers say that children grades became less and student usually sleep in class (Orzack, Ph.D.) There are a lots of students whose grades fall down because they spent most of their time on the computer, chatting, sending e-mails, playing games or downloading songs. Internet addiction affects all ages of people from high school student to adults in work (Green). Some students say that the internet and computer help them to do the best on school or college. For example, Stephen Maass , a student in Arts school, said that he spend 4 hours every day to use the internet for designing his web site and which is a part of his study. He added that he uses the internet and computer to do his academic researches and he doesn’t let the computer waste his time (Elon Green). However, there are few people who are spending most of their time on computer to support their study and the most of them their grades have been suffered and fallen down because their addiction to the computer. William J. Cromine told us about one of these students. He said that a boy (14 years old) sent an e-mail to Maressa Hecht Orzack, a Harvard University, to say that he became a computer addicted since he was 11 and he needed help from her. He Also told her that his grades fall down from 3.8 to 1.3 after using computer. Also, Fernandes said that the internet effected his work in school. “If I spent as much time studying as I do on the Web, my GPA would be up a whole point” (Green).
Many studies suggest that computer games have a generally negative impact on a child's study habits. Some possible problems include less time spent on homework, less interest in reading and earning lower grades in school. All these issues contribute to poor study habits.Studies suggest that computer games with violence, criminal behavior or offensive themes can increase negative behavior in children. Research also shows that when parents place time limits on game play, children develop fewer behavioral issues. Time limits and age-appropriate games can reduce the chance of negative study habits. (Murphy S., n.d.)
According from the website Answers.com (n.d.) The bad effects of computer addiction in the students study habits because Some people spend so much time playing computer games, rather than studying. Furthermore, when a student is studying his/her books, he/she may get distracted thinking about what computer game to play next.
According to the research of (Palaña, et al. June 24, 2010) Being too much dependent in computer is called computer addiction. Computer addiction has affected the study habits of the first year students. The computer programs that were invented were the reason why students were easily hooked with the computer.16 first year students of Mapua Institute of Technology were surveyed about study habits and computer addiction. 11 participants were classified as computer addicts. Result shows that computer addicts spend more time playing with the computer than studying. Thus more failing courses were noted with addicts than non-addicts. The researchers concluded that computer addiction leads to a decline in the academic performances of first year Mapua Institute of Technology
According to Addictions.com (n.d.) The following are the methods that can be use to prevent computer addiction:
Counseling and therapy – this may entail behavioral therapy such as CBT which will retrain the mind to perform different actions when it has certain thoughts. Counseling or therapy can also focus on treating underlying mental health conditions that caused the addiction such as anxiety, depression, social trauma or other conditions
Group Support – many different options for group or community support are available to assist those who are addicted to computers. Just getting out and interacting with others can be very rewarding to the computer addict.
Changing Interests –one method of getting past a computer addiction is to focus on new interests. For instance, you might take part in a new gym membership, spend time at the movies with friends or go out for a walk.
According to Grabianowski E( n.d.) here are some helpful tips to avoid or prevent computer addiction:
Make specific time limits. Set an alarm to go off in one hour and end computer time when it rings.
Set aside "computer-free" parts of the day. If your computer use starts after dinner and extends into the night, get all your computer work done in the morning and don't touch it after dinner.
Install software to restrict your access to Web sites that you visit compulsively. Find a friend you can trust to keep the passwords for the software so you can't circumvent it.
Make a list of things you could be accomplishing instead of wasting time on the computer, and post it prominently near your monitor.
Enlist family members to help encourage you to limit your use. It might be difficult to stop on your own.
Put the computer in high-traffic area of the house. With others looking over your shoulder all the time, you'll be less likely to overuse the computer. This is especially effective for parents who fear excessive computer use in their children.
According to Helpguide.org (n.d.) This are several Tips for dealing with Internet addiction:
Ask yourself, “What am I missing out on when I spend so much time on the Internet?” Write down these activities and decrease your Internet time to pursue some of them.
Set reasonable Internet use goals and stick to them. Take frequent breaks, at least 5 minutes each hour, and do some other activity.
Alter your routine to break your usage patterns. If you spend evenings on the Internet, start limiting your use to mornings.
Seek out friends and acquaintances who “couldn’t care less” about the Internet. Take time to appreciate the fact that all life is not yet online.
Stay connected to the offline world. Visit newsstands, book and music stores, and participate in entertainment such as museums, music, and live theater. Novels and poetry readings are hard to experience online.
Treat the Internet as a tool. Stay focused on the fact that the Internet is a means to an end. Plan your strategy—whether you’re looking for information or entertainment—with the end in mind and you’ll save valuable time.

Conclusion
Based from the gathered data in this research the following can be concluded:
Computer addiction is one of the addictions that can ruin our life by merely getting addicted in playing computer games.
Study habits refer to the practices and activities that can help you in learning more knowledge by not being distracted so that you can achieve the grades that you want.
The common causes of computer addiction are relieving stress by playing computer games, having fun of playing computer games that can make your life miserable and also by finding something amazing in the internet that can make you use the computer for long hours.
The effects of computer addiction are it can affect your social life by getting addicted in computer games you don’t have time to spend some time with your friends, loved ones and your family, it can also make you computer dependent like you cannot do anything without the help of your computer and because of this computer addiction you can have diseases like obesity because you cannot do exercise because you spend lot of time playing with your computer.
The effects of computer addiction in the students study habits are by spending lot of time in playing computer games you don’t have enough time to review your lessons or to study, also because of playing computer games you cannot do your homework because instead of doing it you choose to play computer games, because of being a computer addict you cant stop thinking of things that are related in game that even in classes you can’t participate in class discussions and the effects of this computer addiction lead to one thing it leads to failure of your study that can affect your future.
The ways that can prevent computer addiction are limiting yourself to touch your computer, by doing other things that non-computer related activities like reading books that can help in your study and by having a goal of just using the internet for one objective like using it only because you need additional information that can help you graduate and can help your studies for making your future life.