Internet addiction and modeling its risk factors in medical students, iran

Exploring the Relationship Between Excessive Social Media Use and Eating Disorders Among Young Adults: Evidence From a Bangladesh-Based Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

Problematic or addictive use of social media has been associated with psychological and health issues. The main objective of this study was to explore the relationship between Facebook addiction and eating disorders (EDs) among young adults in Bangladesh.

METHODS

We conducted an online-based cross-sectional study among 550 young adults aged 18 to 27 in Bangladesh. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the survey data. The survey tool consisted of three sections: (i) socio-demographic, behavioral, and social media use-related characteristics, (ii) assessment of Facebook addiction using Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, and (iii) assessment of EDs risk using Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26, outcome variable). Scoring at or above 20 on the EAT-26 scale (total score ranges from 0 to 78) indicated an ED risk. Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the relationship outcome and explanatory variables.

RESULTS

Approximately 38% of the study participants showed addiction to Facebook, whereas 23.6% were at risk of developing an ED. Multiple adjusted logistic regression models demonstrated that Facebook addiction was significantly associated with an increased risk of EDs (OR  =  1.784; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-2.760). Moreover, smoking habits, self-rated body mass index (BMI), and physical activity level showed a significant association with the risk of EDs.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings may help public health professionals and policymakers to take the initiative and develop strategies to overcome these addictive behaviors and promote healthy eating habits across the country.

Global prevalence of internet addiction among university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The prevalence of internet addiction among university students has been extensively studied worldwide, however, the findings have been mixed. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the global prevalence of internet addiction in university students and identify its potential moderators.

RECENT FINDINGS

A total of 101 eligible studies, comprising 128020 participants across 38 countries and territories, were included. The pooled global prevalence of internet addiction among university students was 41.84% [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 35.89-48.02]. Significant differences in the prevalence were observed across different income levels, regions, periods of COVID-19 pandemic, and cut-off values of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Sample size was negatively associated with internet addiction prevalence, while depression prevalence was positively associated with internet addiction prevalence. Male students had a significantly higher risk of internet addiction compared to female students [pooled odd ratio (OR): 1.32, 95% CI: 1.19-1.46].

SUMMARY

This meta-analysis found that the prevalence of internet addiction was high among university students, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Screening and intervention measures to address internet addiction should prioritize students with an increased risk including male students, those from lower-income regions and those with depression.

The role of academic procrastination on Internet addiction among Thai university students: A cross-sectional study

Background

The internet has become an inevitable tool for information-seeking and communication in today's modern era. However, ironically it has driven humankind to become more dependent, leading to addiction. Internet addiction has increased exponentially at all levels of society, especially university students, impeding their physical, psychological, and social well-being.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the relationship between academic procrastination and internet addiction and determine the influence of academic procrastination on internet addiction among Thai university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 470 participants selected through multi-stage cluster random sampling from a university in eastern Thailand. The data collection was conducted between 29 November 2022 and 27 January 2023. The data were gathered using a demographic data form, an internet addiction test, and a procrastination assessment scale for the students' questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression were employed for data analysis.

Results

The results revealed that academic procrastination (M = 49.68, SD = 12.61) and internet addiction (M = 65.26, SD = 5.60) were at a moderate level. A positive correlation was identified between academic procrastination and internet addiction (r = 0.33, p <0.01), indicating a low relationship. Academic procrastination also had a significant predictive power on internet addiction, accounting for 11.3% of the variance (R2 adjusted = 0.113, F (1, 468) = 59.583, p <0.001).

Conclusion

The findings indicated the significant role of academic procrastination on internet addiction. Therefore, it is crucial that nurses should formulate interventions by considering this factor and emphasize self-regulatory and time-management skills and practical ways to limit internet dependence. Furthermore, the findings suggest that nurses could assess the procrastination level among students, devise prevention strategies, and organize awareness campaigns to instill information about rational internet use that aids in mitigating the risks and preventing them from getting addicted.

Personality traits and college students' internet addiction: The mediating roles of general health and self-esteem

This research aimed to explore the gender-related differences in Internet addiction levels, the associated factors behind Internet addiction, and the mediating roles of general health and self-esteem in the relationship between personality traits and Internet addiction among college students. A total of 318 college students in Iran participating in this study completed sociodemographic information form and self-report measures of Internet addiction, personality traits, general health, and self-esteem. The results showed higher frequencies of low and moderate-severe levels of addiction among female and male students, respectively. Further, younger age, male gender, singleness, high scores on neuroticism, poor general health, and low self-esteem might be linked to Internet addiction. The overall hypothesis that general health and self-esteem mediated the effect of neuroticism on Internet addiction was also supported. Our findings highlighted the necessity of evaluating general health and self-esteem among Internet-addicted students. Further, these variables can be targeted by psychiatrists and psychologists for effective cognitive-behavioral therapy among Internet-addicted students.

Epidemiology, prevalence, and associated factors of oral candidiasis in HIV patients from southwest Iran in post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era

Background

Oral candidiasis (OC) is one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The prevalence of OC and Candida profiles among HIV-infected patients might be changing in the era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). This study aimed to identify Candida spp., determine OC prevalence and associated risk factors for PLWHA.

Materials and methods

Oral candidiasis prevalence was explored in oral swabs of 276 patients who referred for consultation at Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center (BDCC). Clinical symptoms, culture and molecular assays were used for OC detection. In statistical analysis, we assessed socio-demographic characteristics, clinical information and treatment history of some infections.

Results

The overall prevalence of OC was 41%. Candida albicans (64.6%) was the most common species, followed by C. glabrata (26.5%) and C. dubliniensis (19.5%). Candida famata, C. africana, and C. stellatoidea as the first fungi isolated from OC in PLWHA from southwest Iran. In 36.3% of patients, mixed cultures of more than one species were observed. Body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.947; CI = 0.89–0.99; p = 0.045) and CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/mm3 (OR = 4.365; CI = 1.73–10.98; p = 0.002) were the predictors of OC in the final model of multiple logistic regression analysis. Education level, addiction status, sexual behaviors, chest X-ray, other infections and WHO clinical stage were other important risk factors for OC.

Conclusion

Oral candidiasis remains a significant opportunistic infection in post-HAART era among PLWHA. Despite the increasing prevalence of NAC species, C. albicans (64.6%) was still the predominant species. Our results showed that low BMI with OC indicates treatment failure (i.e., failure to increase CD4 count or suppress viral load). Also, low CD4 counts (≤200 cells/mm3) in HIV patients show an impaired immune status, and our findings emphasize that OC can be a clinical indicator of HIV infection in individuals who do not know their HIV status or have failed treatment.

Internet Addiction among Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction

Internet addiction denotes the compulsive use of the internet which affects physical, mental, social, psychological and academic aspects of life of an individual. Very few studies among medical students in regard to internet addiction have been conducted. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of internet addiction among undergraduate medical students of a medical college.

Methods

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a medical college from September to December, 2021 after obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee (Registration number: 442). The study was conducted among 229 medical students using convenience sampling technique. Internet addiction test questionnaire was used for collecting data. Data were entered in Google Spreadsheet and analysed with Microsoft Excel 2016. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.

Results

The prevalence of internet addiction among 229 undergraduate students was found to be 121 (52.84%) (43.95-61.73 at 95% Confidence Interval). Out of them, mild and moderate internet addiction accounted for 90 (74.38%) and 31 (25.62%) respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of internet addiction in this study was higher in comparison to the other studies conducted in similar settings.

Keywords

internet addiction; medical students; Nepal; prevalence.

Executive Function and Social Media Addiction in Female College Students: The Mediating Role of Affective State and Stress

Social media addiction is the emerging occurrence in which individuals develop psychological dependencies on microblog, wechat, Tik Tok and so on. Existing research has demonstrated the possible relationship between mobile social media addiction and disordered eating attitudes/behavior. In this study, we investigated the relationship between executive function, especially food-inhibitory control, affective state/stress, and mobile social media addiction among female college students as all play predictive roles in food addiction. A structural equation model was used to examine the mediation model hypothesis, and the results confirmed the mediating role of affective state and stress between executive function, especially inhibitory control over high-calorie food, and mobile social media addiction among Chinese female college students. The results verify the correlation between social media addiction and disordered eating attitudes/behavior from the perspective of psychological mechanisms. These proposals emphasize the significance of improving inhibitory control over high-calorie food and the importance of providing psychological counseling to intervene in negative emotions and stress management in female college students.

Prevalence of Internet Addiction Among Iranian University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the overall prevalence of Internet addiction among Iranian university students. A total of 49 articles written in Persian or English, without time limitation, were gathered. Databases of Scientific Information Database, MagIran, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched during the period from February 13 to March 13, 2018. The following keywords and their possible combinations were used: Iran, student, Internet dependency, Internet addiction, and problematic Internet use. The Cochran's Q test was used to test the heterogeneity among the studies, and because heterogeneity was not significant, the random effects model was used to estimate the overall prevalence of Internet addiction. Data analysis was performed using STATA, version 12. Meta-analysis of 49 selected articles with a total sample size of 16,585 indicated that the overall prevalence of Internet addiction among Iranian students was 31.51 percent (95% confidence interval: 26.47-36.55). In addition, meta-regression analysis showed no significant relationship between Internet addiction and year of publication (p = 0.972) and sample size (p = 0.915). About one-third of Iranian students have Internet addiction. It is necessary to provide training workshops on learning about the consequences of Internet addiction and its management.

Common Predictive Factors of Social Media Addiction and Eating Disorder Symptoms in Female College Students: State Anxiety and the Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility/Sustained Attention

This study aimed to investigate the common predictive factors between social media addiction (SMA) and eating disorder symptoms (EDS), in a group of Chinese female college students. A total of 216 students completed the behavioral assessments of cognitive flexibility and sustained attention, as well as the questionnaires on anxiety, social media dependence, and eating disorders. The results indicate that SMA is significantly correlated with EDS. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model in which state anxiety, cognitive flexibility, and sustained attention predicted social gain and EDS. Additionally, the results confirmed the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and sustained attention between state anxiety and SMA/EDS in the participants. The findings revealed that in the sample group, state anxiety was related to SMA and EDS through cognitive flexibility and sustained attention. These proposals reflect the significance of improving cognitive flexibility/sustained attention and reducing state anxiety to prevent EDS and SMA in female college students.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Problematic Internet Use among Ethiopian Undergraduate University Students in 2019

Background

Problematic Internet use is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations, urges, or behavior regarding computer use and Internet access which lead to impairment or distress. It has been found that the occurrence rate of problematic Internet use among university students ranges from 0.8% to 47.7%. Despite this, there are multiple challenges that relate to problematic Internet use, which remain underrecognized and largely ignored by stakeholders and are not well known, especially in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted aiming to assess the prevalence of problematic Internet use and its associated factors among undergraduate students.

Methods

Cross-sectional study was employed from May 1st to June 1st, 2019. A multistage sampling technique was used to get a total of 846 undergraduate students. Data were collected by using self-administered structured questionnaires of Young's Internet Addiction Test. The collected data were coded and entered into EpiData 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 22; bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with problematic Internet use, and statistical significance was considered at P value <0.05.

Results

For a total of 846 study participants, the response rate was 761 (90%) and the prevalence of problematic Internet use was 19.4%. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that being male [AOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.80, 6.41], depression [AOR = 3.61, 95% CI: 2.40, 5.43], and khat or caffeinated drinks [AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.21, 2.87] were significantly associated with problematic Internet use.

Conclusion

This study revealed that there was high prevalence of problematic Internet use among Dilla University students and there were various factors associated with increased prevalence of problematic Internet use. Therefore, students need to be educated about the safe, valuable, and healthy practices of Internet use. Furthermore, it is better to counsel on substance use and its consequences to overcome the anticipated increase in problematic Internet use.

Correlates of problematic internet use among undergraduate medical students of Delhi

BACKGROUND

Globally, due to population diversity, the prevalence of problematic internet use (PIU) varies from 7.3 to 51%. This study aims to assess correlates of problematic internet use among undergraduate medical students of Delhi and derive a model for allocating new subjects among categories of internet users.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 medical-undergraduate students in a medical college of Delhi from April 1st to May 31st, 2019. A semi-structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and factors affecting PIU. Dr. Kimberly Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) tool was used to assess PIU. Binary logistic regression has been applied to assess the correlates of PIU, and step-wise discriminant analysis (DA) has been applied to derive a model for allocation of new subjects among categories of internet users. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (Trial version 27.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULT

Total 41.3% of the subjects had PIU. Univariate analysis shows that internet use for emotional support, watching adult content, and gambling were significantly associated with PIU; however, in binary logistic regression, chatting, emotional support and watching online adult content were significant risk factors for PIU. The discriminant model correctly classified 66.2% of respondents into average and problematic internet user groups.

CONCLUSION

We should create awareness among medical students regarding problematic internet use and its potential harms; this could be included in the foundation course of curriculum implementation support program (CISP) for MBBS students.

How Have Researchers Acknowledged and Controlled for Academic Work Activity When Measuring Medical Students' Internet Addiction? A Systematic Literature Review

Internationally, medical students' Internet Addiction (IA) is widely studied. As medical students use the Internet extensively for work, we asked how researchers control for work-related Internet activity, and the extent to which this influences interpretations of "addiction" rates. A search of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted on the search phrase of "medical students" and "internet addiction" in March 2020. In total, 98 studies met our criteria, 88 (90%) used Young's Internet Addiction Test, and the studies' IA rates ranged widely. Little note was taken of work-related activity, and, when discussed, had little to no impact on the interpretation of Internet "addiction". Studies seldom accounted for work-related activities, researcher bias appears to influence their position, "usage" appears conflated with "addiction", and correlations between "addiction" and negative behaviours are frequently confused with one-way causation. In spite of IA's not being officially recognised, few researchers questioned its validity. While IA may exist among medical students, its measurement is flawed; given the use of the Internet as a crucial medical education tool, there is the risk that conscientious students will be labelled "addicted", and poor academic performance may be attributed to this "addiction".

The Gender-Sensitive Social Risk Factors for Internet Addiction in College Undergraduate Students

OBJECTIVE

The current study aims to explore precipitating and social risk factors for internet addiction (IA) in university undergraduate students, and to provide evidence for interventions and the early prevention of IA in different genders.

METHODS

Four thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight college sophomores completed an online survey on their internet use-related behaviours and social risk factors.

RESULTS

We found that more male (8.3%) than female students (5.4%) had moderate and severe IA. The main online activity in the moderate and severe IA groups was online gaming in males and online streaming in females. Roommates engaging in similar internetbased entertainment was a risk factor of IA only for males, while not being in a romantic relationship was a risk factor of IA for females only. Infatuation with the internet before college and adjustment problems for college life were shared risk factors for both genders in the mild and moderate IA groups.

CONCLUSION

IA was a common phenomenon in college students with shared and unique precipitating and social risk factors in males and females. The gender-sensitive risk factors for IA warranted earlier and individualized intervention and prevention strategies for IA in this population.

Need for recovery scale in the firefighting context: Examination of the Persian culture-adapted version

BACKGROUND

Work-related fatigue can cause disruption in mental and physical activities of the workers. Considering the importance of recovery from fatigue in emergency services, as seen in firefighting duties, the preparation and validation of the Need For Recovery Scale (NFRS) questionnaire can be useful and effective.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the reliability and validity of the Persian version of Need For Recovery Scale among industrial firefighters.

METHODS

Need for recovery scale contains 11 questions. First, a questionnaire was translated using backward-forward method. Then, for measuring validity of the questionnaire, the opinions of 10 experts in related fields were obtained. Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR) were calculated. The reliability was determined through 107 questionnaires completed by the industrial firefighters.

RESULTS

The average age of the firefighters in this study was 37.5 years and they had an average of 10 years of work experience. The mean Need For Recovery Index from fatigue was 33.03 for the study population. Of the first 11 questions, 9 questions in the original NFRS showed a satisfactory level of CVR. The Content Validity Index and Cronbach's α were 0.89 and 0.77 respectively.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results, the Need For Recovery Scale is a reliable tool for assessing fatigue and revealed an acceptable level of validity and reliability that makes it usable for fatigue assessment in the industrial firefighters.

Internet Addiction Status and Related Factors among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Western Iran

BACKGROUND

In recent years, Internet and social media technology use have emerged as an integral tool of human society, and the evolution of technological integration, cyberspace, and web-technology has become a common practice in educational institutions. Internet usage among students has played an indispensable role in learning behavior; however, the excessive usage of the internet and social media leads to internet addiction. This original study has performed a focalized scrutiny on revealing relationships between internet addiction and associated factors among the students of medicine, dentistry, and pharmaceutical departments.

METHODS

This descriptive and analytical study recruited medical students from the Self-governing Education Incubator of Kermanshah. This survey distributed questionnaires among the respondents' three departments, and this statistical data reported on 420 valid responses of the respondents. They represent first and second-semester medical students of the academic year 2017-2018. The study selected medical students by applying Cochran's Sample Size Formula through Stratified Random Sampling and cross-sectional research design. The survey has utilized a demographic questionnaire of Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) for the data collection. The study analyzed received data by using SPSS version 23 and performed the descriptive statistics, and analytical statistics (t-test and ANOVA).

RESULTS

The results of the present study established that the majority of subjects were female students (53.3%), and the average age was 23.84 ± 2.14, including the students of all departments. Besides, findings specified that the overall mean and standard deviation scores were 3.34 and ±0.88. Internet addiction revealed mean and the standard deviation score measured for all students 3.29 ± 0.73, 3.17 ± 0.92, and 3.57 ± 0.64 correspondingly. The survey results illustrated that medical students' internet addiction substantially correlated with demographic variables, such as age, marital status, the field of study, academic term, significant time of consuming the internet, the key reason of utilizing the internet, and daily usage of the internet (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The results of the study specified that 25% of medical students showed internet addiction. The students are increasingly using the internet, and it has penetrated among students. The design and implementation of adequate educational programs and the application of internet-based efficiency interventions are essential for both knowledge acquisition and medical students' healthy behavior.

Internet Addiction, Sleep Quality and Depressive Symptoms Amongst Medical Students in Delhi, India

Today, the internet has become an important element in people's lives, and owing to internet access becoming widespread, it has resulted in internet addiction. It is a major concern amongst medical students aiming to develop into health professionals. The implications of this addiction as well as its association with sleep and depression affects their studies, impacts their career goals and has detrimental consequences for society as a whole. The objectives of this study were to assess the proportion of medical undergraduate students and interns with internet addiction (IA), depressive symptoms and poor sleep quality and to study the association of IA with sleep quality and depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out in a medical college in Delhi. Universal sample consisting of all the medical students from first to final year (n = 185) and interns (n = 37) enrolled during the time of the study were included. Sleep quality, internet addiction and depressive symptoms in these students was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ) respectively. The average YIAT score was 33.16 ± 15.68. Overall 18%, 59.9%, 46.8% of students scored above validated cutoff scores for internet addiction, poor sleep quality and depression respectively. Prevalence of IA among males and females were 20.4% and 12.9% respectively. Significant correlations were found between potential IA, sleep quality and depression (p < 0.001). The study concluded a strong correlation between IA, disturbed sleep quality and depression. Identifying medical students with potential IA is important because this addiction often coexists with other psychological problems. Thus timely remedial actions and tailored interventions are required to combat IA among medical students.

Internet Addiction and Its Relationship to Gender, Depression and Anxiety Among Medical Students in Anbar Governorate-West of Iraq

INTRODUCTION

The rapid increase of internet using was associated with a rise in internet addiction (IA) especially among adolescent and young adults that may associated with underlying psychological disorders. The aims of the study: a) to estimate the prevalence of internet addiction among medical students in Anbar governorate, b) to assess the effect of internet addiction on mental health by measuring the association of IA with depression and anxiety among the students.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was carried out during the period from February to April 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used which consisted from demographic questions, the Young Internet Addiction test to evaluate the internet addiction among the subjects and the Depression Anxiety stress scales (DASS) for assessing the depression and anxiety symptoms among the medical students.

RESULTS

47.5% of the subjects had mild internet addiction, proportion of moderate addiction among the participants was 23%. There was a significant association between internet addiction with depression and anxiety. The subjects with internet addiction had OR = 2.302 for depression development (P < 0.001), also the students with internet addiction had OR= 3.088 for anxiety development (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

High rate of internet addiction among medical students in Anbar city- west of Iraq and there was significant association between internet addition and mental disorders of the subjects.

Implications of COVID-19 and Lockdown on Internet Addiction Among Adolescents: Data From a Developing Country

Introduction: Physical distancing policy during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires adolescents to spend most of their time at home, thus increasing Internet use duration. Limited social interaction with their peers may lead to loneliness and an increased risk of mental health among adolescents. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents and analyze the influence of psychosocial factors toward the heightened risk of IA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey comprising sociodemographic questionnaire, Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (KDAI), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was distributed. Overall, a total of 2,932 adolescents (mean age, 17.38 ± 2.24 years old; female, 78.7%), originating from 33 of 34 provinces in Indonesia, completed the survey. Results: The point prevalence of IA among Indonesian adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak was 19.3%. Increased Internet use duration, internalization, externalization, low prosocial behavior, and sleep disturbances were found as risk factors of IA, either directly or as mediating variables. Physical distancing, large-scale social restriction (PSBB), and health status were not correlated to IA. Discussion: Physical distancing was not established as a risk of IA. This could be due to other psychological factors such as internalization, externalization, prosocial, and sleep problems that had correlations to IA occurrence among adolescents in the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep impairment might have resulted from the emotional and behavioral issues and directly contributed to IA development. Conclusion: The present study found the prevalence of IA among Indonesian adolescents to be higher than the adult during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several psychological measures were indicated to increase the risk of IA, while physical distancing did not elevate the risk. Thus, remote schooling is preferable in Indonesia along with proper parental supervision to minimize Internet use for entertainment purposes.

The relationship between internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders in Iranian undergraduate nursing students: a cross-sectional study

Internet addiction has an important impact on individuals, families, and communities. The effects of internet addiction are cumulative, significantly contributing to costly physical, mental, social, and public health problems. Thus, this study sought to examine relationships between internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders in Iranian undergraduate nursing students. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 undergraduate nursing students in the city of Hamadan in Iran, in 2018. Data collection tools included socio-demographic, the internet addiction test (IAT), and the psychosomatic complaints questionnaire. Data were analyzed by a Pearson's and independent t-tests using SPSS-18.0. The mean age of the students were 22.3 ± 3.02. The findings showed that 78.7% of nursing students reported mild, 20% moderate and 1.3% severe internet addiction, and there was a significant positive correlation between internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders (P < 0.05, r = 0.132). Internet addiction and psychosomatic disorders in nursing students can jeopardize their mental and physical health, and affect their future academic and professional activities. Therefore, providing educational and counseling interventions and reducing the negative effects of the internet can help to improve student health.

The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Social Adjustment, and Test Anxiety of the Students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between Internet addiction and social adjustment, and test anxiety among the female students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive correlational research was conducted on all female students of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences studying in the second semester of the academic year 2019. The sample consisted of 346 students who were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using three questionnaires assessing Internet addiction, social adjustment, and test anxiety. The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Results: The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between Internet addiction and test anxiety. There is also an inverse correlation between social adjustment and test anxiety. The results of step-by-step regression analysis showed that among the variables under study, the Internet addiction variable predicts 0.32 and along with the social adjustment variable 0.37 variance of test anxiety. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the level of test anxiety in students can be controlled through the necessary training to make better use of the Internet and prevent its addiction.

Musculoskeletal Consequences in Cyber-Addicted Students - Is It Really A Matter of Health? A ROC Curve Analysis for Prioritizing Risk Factors

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence and also multiple consequences of addiction to various online content, including online games and social networks, have become a major challenge. The ability to predict musculoskeletal disorders from this addiction can help reveal in students' health status in the near future. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this addiction and the ability to predict neck pain from this matter in students.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross sectional study.

METHODS

This study was carried out among 665 students. Data collection was performed through three questionnaires on problematic use of online games, social networking addiction, and Nordic musculoskeletal disorders. Data were compared with Chi-square and independent T-test, and the logistic regression model was then presented at a significant level of 0.05. Finally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Discriminant analysis were conducted to clarify associations.

RESULTS

The prevalence of Internet-related content addiction was 32.8%. The results showed that addiction to social networks and online games can increase the risk of neck disorder. Also 0.58 area under ROC curve depicted the ability to predict neck pain from this addiction.

CONCLUSION

In students with internet - related content addiction, neck disorder can be predicted. Given the high prevalence of internet addiction in students, it is essential to take immediate and appropriate interventions to avoid the associated adverse effects such as neck problems.

Problematic Internet Use, Mental Health, and Sleep Quality among Medical Students: A Path-Analytic Model

BACKGROUND

There is a close association between problematic Internet use (PIU), sleep quality, and mental health problems. To evaluate which mental health problem is more associated with coexistence of both PIU and poor sleep quality, we hypothesized a model in which PIU influences sleep quality directly and also through the mediation of three different mental health problems.

METHODS

A total of 402 medical students completed the Persian versions of the Internet Addiction Test, 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A maximum likelihood structural equation model was used to assess the hypothesis. For assessment of the indirect effects, bootstrapping was conducted.

RESULTS

PIU predicted poor sleep quality through indirect pathways by the mediation of mental health problems (P < 0.001). Poor sleep quality were associated with depressive symptoms (P < 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.035), and stress (P < 0.001); however, the direct pathways from stress and anxiety to poor sleep quality were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Findings extend our previous knowledge about the interrelationships between PIU, sleep disturbances, and mental health problems by unveiling the key role of depressive symptoms.

Associations of personality traits with internet addiction in Chinese medical students: the mediating role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a public health concern, particularly among adolescents and young adults. However, few studies have been conducted in medical students. This multi-center study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IA in Chinese medical students, to examine the associations of big five personality traits with IA in the population, and to explore the possible mediating role of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in the relationship.

METHODS

Self-reported questionnaires, including Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 (ASRS-V1.1) Screener, and socio-demographic section were distributed to clinical students at 3 medical schools in China. A total of 1264 students became the final subjects.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of IA among Chinese medical students was 44.7% (IAT > 30), and 9.2% of the students demonstrated moderate or severe IA (IAT ≥ 50). After adjustment for covariates, while conscientiousness and agreeableness were negatively associated with IA, neuroticism was positively associated with it. ADHD symptoms mediated the associations of conscientiousness, agreeableness and neuroticism with IA.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of IA among Chinese medical students is high. Both personality traits and ADHD symptoms should be considered when tailored intervention strategies are designed to prevent and reduce IA in medical students.

The relationship between social networking addiction and academic performance in Iranian students of medical sciences: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Social networks have had a major influence on students' performance in recent years. These networks create many opportunities and threats for students in various fields. Addiction to social networking and its impact on students' academic performance caused the researcher to design and conduct this study. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between social networking addiction and academic performance of students in Iran.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 360 students were enrolled by stratified random sampling. The study tools included personal information form and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Also, the students' overall grade obtained in previous educational term was considered as the indicator of academic performance. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18.0 and descriptive and inferential statistics.

FINDINGS

The mean social networking addiction was higher in male students (52.65 ± 11.50) than in female students (49.35 ± 13.96) and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There was a negative and significant relationship between students' addiction to social networking and their academic performance (r = - 0.210, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The social networking addiction of the students was at moderate level and the male students had a higher level of addiction compared to the female students. There was a negative and significant relationship between the overall use of social networks and academic performance of students. Therefore, it is imperative that the university authorities take interventional steps to help students who are dependent on these networks and, through workshops, inform them about the negative consequences of addiction to social networks.

Problematic internet use and its correlates among resident doctors of a tertiary care hospital of North India: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Problematic Internet use/ Internet addiction (IA) has gained the attention of mental health professionals recently and studies have found that medical professionals are not immune to IA with prevalence rate ranging from 2.8 to 8%. Few studies from India have also reported high rates of IA among medical students. The term 'Problematic internet use' is being increasing used nowadays in place of IA as it signifies a better terminology than the word 'addiction' per se. However, there is lack of information among resident doctors.

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence of problematic Internet use and its association with depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and health care outcomes among resident doctors working in a government funded tertiary care Institute.

MATERIALS & METHODS

An online e-mail survey was carried out among medical professionals (a total of 1721 doctors) in a tertiary care hospital located in Chandigarh, India out of whom 376 responded. The residents doctors were the postgraduate trainees (MBBS) and those residents who have complete post-graduation and working as senior residents/registrar (MBBS, MD/MS). They were in the age group ranging from 24 to 39 years. The survey included Young's Internet addiction test (IAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory and a self designed questionnaire to assess the health care related outcomes.

RESULTS

On IAT, 142 residents (37.8%) scored <20 i.e., normal users and 203 residents (54%) had mild addiction. Only 31 residents (8.24%) had moderate addiction category, none of the residents had severe IA (score>80). Those with IA reported higher level of depressive symptoms, perceived stress and burnout. There was positive association between ever use of alcohol and watching pornography (as a part of recreational activities) with IA. Significantly higher proportion of those with IA, reported having faced physical abuse and verbal abuse in the hands of the patients/caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that about 8.24% of resident doctors have Problematic internet use/IA. Problematic internet use/IA is associated with presence of higher level of depressive symptoms, perceived stress and burn out. Further, Problematic internet use/IA is also associated with higher likelihood of facing violence in the hands of patients and their caregivers.

Internet use behaviors, internet addiction and psychological distress among medical college students: A multi centre study from South India

BACKGROUND

Internet Addiction (IA) among medical students and its association with psychological distress can impact their academic progress and long term career goals. IA would also indirectly impact community of health care professionals and the society. Thus, there is a need to investigate the IA among medical students.

OBJECTIVES

This study was a first such attempt to explore internet use behavior's, IA, among a large group of medical students across multiple centers and its association with psychological distress primarily depression.

METHODS & MATERIALS

1763 medical students aged 18 to 21 years, pursuing Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from three south Indian cities of Bangalore, Mangalore and Trissur participated in the study. The socio-educational and internet use behaviors data sheet was used to gather demographic information and patterns of internet use, IA Test (IAT) was utilized to assess IA and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) assessed psychological distress primarily depression.

RESULTS

Among the total N = 1763, 27% of medical students met criterion for mild addictive internet use, 10.4% for moderate addictive internet use, and 0.8% for severe addiction to internet. IA was higher among medical students who were male, staying in rented accommodations, accessed internet several times a day, spent more than 3 h per day on internet and had psychological distress. Age, gender, duration of use, time spent per day, frequency of internet use and psychological distress (depression) predicted IA.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of medical students have IA which can be detrimental for their medical education progress and long term career goals. Early identification and management of IA and psychological distress among medical students is crucial.

Internet Use Patterns, Internet Addiction, and Psychological Distress Among Engineering University Students: A Study from India

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction (IA) among university engineering students and its association with psychological distress can impact their educational progress, academic competence, and long-term career goals. Thus, there is a need to investigate the IA among engineering students.

OBJECTIVES

This study was a first such attempt to explore internet use behaviors, IA, among a large group of engineering students from India, and its association with psychological distress primarily depressive symptoms.

METHODS

One thousand eighty six engineering students aged 18-21 years pursuing bachelors in engineering from the south Indian city of Mangalore participated in the study. The socio-educational and internet use behaviors data sheet was used to gather demographic information and patterns of internet use, Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was utilized to assess IA, and Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) assessed psychological distress primarily depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Among the total N = 1086, 27.1% of engineering students met criterion for mild addictive internet use, 9.7% for moderate addictive internet use, and 0.4% for severe addiction to internet. IA was higher among engineering students who were male, staying in rented accommodations, accessed internet several times a day, spent more than 3 h per day on internet, and had psychological distress. Gender, duration of use, time spent per day, frequency of internet use, and psychological distress (depressive symptoms) predicted IA.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of engineering students have IA which can be detrimental for their educational progress in university studies and long-term career goals. Early identification and management of IA and psychological distress among engineering students is crucial.

Internet addiction detection rate among college students in the People's Republic of China: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

With the development of economy and technology, the Internet is becoming more and more popular. Internet addiction has gradually become a serious issue in public health worldwide. The number of Internet users in China has reached 731 million, with an estimated 24 million adolescents determined as having Internet addiction. In this meta-analysis, we attempted to estimate the prevalence of Internet addiction among College Students in the People's Republic of China in order to improve the mental health level of college students and provide evidence for the prevention of Internet addiction.

METHODS

Eligible articles about the prevalence of Internet addiction among college students in China published between 2006 and 2017 were retrieved from online Chinese periodicals, the full-text databases of Wan Fang, VIP, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, as well as PubMed. Stata 11.0 was used to perform the analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 26 papers were included in the analyses. The overall sample size was 38,245, with 4573 diagnosed with Internet addiction. The pooled detection rate of Internet addiction was 11% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-13%) among college students in China. The detection rate was higher in male students (16%) than female students (8%). The Internet addiction detection rate was 11% (95% CI 8-14%) in southern areas, 11% (95% CI 7-14%) in northern areas, 13% (95% CI 8-18%) in eastern areas and 9% (95% CI 8-11%) in the mid-western areas. According to different scales, the Internet addiction detection rate was 11% (95% CI 8-15%) using the Young scale and 9% (95% CI 6-11%) using the Chen scale respectively. Cumulative meta analysis showed that the detection rate had a slight upward trend and gradually stabilized in the last 3 years.

CONCLUSION

The pooled Internet addiction detection rate of Chinese college students in out study was 11%, which is higher than in some other countries and strongly demonstrates a worrisome situation. Effective measures should be taken to prevent further Internet addiction and improve the current situation.

Psychological Factors Including Demographic Features, Mental Illnesses, and Personality Disorders as Predictors in Internet Addiction Disorder

Objective: Problematic internet use is an important social problem among adolescents and has become a global health issue. This study identified predictors and patterns of problematic internet use among adult students. Method: In this study, 401 students were recruited using stratified sampling technique. Participants were selected among students from 4 universities in Tehran and Karaj, Iran, during 2016 and 2017. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory - Third Edition (MCMI-III), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID-I), and semi-structured interview were used to diagnose internet addiction. Then, the association between main psychiatric disorders and internet addiction was surveyed. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 software by performing descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis methods. P- Values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: After controlling the demographic variables, it was found that narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive- compulsive personality disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorders, depression, and phobia could increase the odds ratio (OR) of internet addiction by 2.1, 1.1, 2.6, 1.1, 2.2 and 2.5-folds, respectively (p-value<0.05), however, other psychiatric or personality disorders did not have a significant effect on the equation. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that some mental disorders affect internet addiction. Considering the sensitivity and importance of the cyberspace, it is necessary to evaluate mental disorders that correlate with internet addiction.

Prevalence of Internet Addiction in Medical Students: a Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

With the development of online learning, communication, and entertainment, the Internet has become an indispensable tool for university students. Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a health problem and the prevalence of IA varies from country to country. To date, the global prevalence of IA in medical students remains unknown. The objective of this meta-analysis was to establish precise estimates of the prevalence of IA among medical students in different countries.

METHODS

The pooled prevalence of IA among medical students was determined by the random-effects model. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were performed to identify potential factors that could contribute to heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of IA among 3651 medical students is 30.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 28.5-31.8%, Z = -20.66, df = 9, τ ² = 0.90) with significant heterogeneity (I ² = 98.12). Subgroup analysis shows the pooled prevalence of IA diagnosed by the Chen's Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) (5.2, 95% CI 3.4-8.0%) is significantly lower than Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) (32.2, 95% CI 20.9-45.9%) (p < 0.0001). Meta-regression analyses show that the mean age of medical students, gender proportion and the severity of IA are not significant moderators.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this meta-analysis identified the pooled prevalence of IA among medical students is approximately five times than that of the general population. Age, gender, and severity of IA did not account for high heterogeneity in prevalence, but IA assessment questionnaire was a potential source of heterogeneity. Given the high prevalence of IA, medical teachers and medical school administrators should identify medical students who suffer from IA and refer them for intervention.

Prevalence of excessive internet use and its association with psychological distress among university students in South India

BACKGROUND

Excessive internet use, psychological distress, and its inter-relationship among university students can impact their academic progress, scholastic competence, career goals, and extracurricular interests. Thus, a need exists to evaluate the addictive internet use among university students.

OBJECTIVES

This study was set up to examine the internet use behaviors, internet addiction (IA), and its association with psychological distress primarily depression among a large group of university students from South India.

METHODS

Totally 2776 university students aged 18-21 years; pursuing undergraduate studies from a recognized university in South India participated in the study. The patterns of internet use and socioeducational data were collected through the internet use behaviors and demographic data sheet, IA test (IAT) was utilized to assess IA and psychological distress primarily depressive symptoms were evaluated with Self-Report Questionnaire-20.

RESULTS

Among the total n = 2776, 29.9% (n = 831) of university students met criterion on IAT for mild IA, 16.4% (n = 455) for moderate addictive use, and 0.5% (n = 13) for severe IA. IA was higher among university students who were male, staying in rented accommodations, accessed internet several times a day, spent more than 3 h per day on the Internet and had psychological distress. Male gender, duration of use, time spent per day, frequency of internet use, and psychological distress (depressive symptoms) predicted IA.

CONCLUSIONS

IA was present among a substantial proportion of university students which can inhibit their academic progress and impact their psychological health. Early identification of risk factors of IA can facilitate the effective prevention and timely initiation of treatment strategies for IA and psychological distress among university students.

Internet Addiction among Junior Doctors: A Cross-sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The number of Internet users in India crossed 205 million in October 2013. Excessive internet use has been attributed to socio-occupational dysfunction, and this study is targeting the junior doctors on whom not many studies have been done till date.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to analyze the proportion of junior doctors with internet addiction and whether there is any relation between increased internet use and psychological distress, assessed using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred postgraduate students and house surgeons were requested to fill out the specially prepared pro forma, Internet Addiction Test Questionnaire and GHQ, and the data were analyzed. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among the 100 study participants, 13% were found to have moderate addiction and none were in severe addiction range. Internet addiction was more common among those from urban areas (P = 0.011). A significant association was found between GHQ score and internet addiction test score (P = 0.031).

CONCLUSION

The Internet is a double-edged social revolution. Further studies are required to delineate the specific effects on human behavior.

The prevalence of phantom vibration/ringing syndromes and their related factors in Iranian' students of medical sciences

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Mobile phone abuse can cause pathologic stress that may lead to addictive behavior such as Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (PRS). The current study aimed to determine the PVS and PRS due to mobile phone use in students of Qom University of medical Sciences in Iran.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants were 380 students selected by proportional stratified random sampling method in each stratum.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods including t-test, chi square and analysis of variance.

FINDINGS

The prevalence of PVS and PRS due to mobile phones in students of medical sciences was estimated to be 54.3% and 49.3%, respectively. PVS was higher in female students than in males while the PRS was higher in male students. There was a significant relationship between PVS and using social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Line. In addition, a significant association was observed between PVS and friend-finding, chatting and entertainment.

CONCLUSION

Studies should be done in the future to assess the long-term complication of overusing mobile phones. In the current study, the prevalence of PVS and PRS in half of students is considerable.

Association between Internet addiction and depression in Thai medical students at Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital

Objective

To study the extent of Internet addiction (IA) and its association with depression in Thai medical students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital. Participants were first- to fifth-year medical students who agreed to participate in this study. Demographic characteristics and stress-related factors were derived from self-rated questionnaires. Depression was assessed using the Thai version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A total score of five or greater derived from the Thai version of Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction was classified as “possible IA”. Then chi-square test and logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations between possible IA, depression and associated factors.

Results

From 705 participants, 24.4% had possible IA and 28.8% had depression. There was statistically significant association between possible IA and depression (odds ratio (OR) 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34–2.77, P-value <0.001). Logistic regression analysis illustrated that the odds of depression in possible IA group was 1.58 times of the group of normal Internet use (95% CI: 1.04–2.38, P-value = 0.031). Academic problems were found to be a significant predictor of both possible IA and depression.

Conclusion

IA was likely to be a common psychiatric problem among Thai medical students. The research has also shown that possible IA was associated with depression and academic problems. We suggest that surveillance of IA should be considered in medical schools.

Prevalence and risk factors of problematic internet use and the associated psychological distress among graduate students of Bangladesh

A growing body of epidemiological literature suggests that problematic Internet use (PIU) is associated with a range of psychological health problems in adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to explore socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of PIU and examine its association with psychological distress. A total of 573 graduate students from Dhaka University of Bangladesh responded to a self-administered questionnaire that included internet addiction test (IAT), 12-items General Health Questionnaire and a set of socio-demographic and behavioural factors. The study found that nearly 24% of the participants displayed PIU on the IAT scale. The prevalence of PIU significantly varied depending on gender, socioeconomic status, smoking habit and physical activity (p < 0.05). The multiple regression analyses suggested that PIU is strongly associated with psychological distress regardless of all other explanatory variables (adjusted OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.57, 3.58). Further research is warranted to confirm this association by employing prospective study designs.

Comparison of internet addiction, pattern and psychopathology between medical and dental students

BACKGROUND

There has been an enormous use of internet among health professionals in the last decade. It has made significant changes in the health care system. Besides its several benefits, the excessive undisciplined use has led to the emergence of concept of internet addiction.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of our study were to estimate prevalence of internet addiction among medical and dental students; to determine association of internet use pattern and psychopathology between medical and dental internet addicted (IA) students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 597 students from medical and dental colleges. They completed semi-structured data, internet addiction test and mental health inventory questionnaires as per instructions provided. Students were divided into medical internet addicts and dental internet addicts for comparison.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe internet addiction was more among dental students (2.3%) than that among medical students (1.2%). There was significant difference between the students of medical and dental faculties, who fall under the category of addiction on the basis of-gender, computer ownership and purpose of internet use (P<0.05). The psychiatric symptoms such as depression and emotional ties also had statistically significant difference (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Significant differences were seen in some of the parameters of internet use pattern and psychopathology among the two groups of internet addict from health professionals. So, further studies need to be conducted among different groups of internet addicts to evaluate different parameters. Specific measures should be taken to prevent internet addiction and its complications.

Self-rated Health and Internet Addiction in Iranian Medical Sciences Students; Prevalence, Risk Factors and Complications

INTRODUCTION

Self-rated health is a brief measure for general health. It is a comprehensive and sensitive index for prediction of health in future. Due to the high internet usage in medical students, the current study designed to evaluate the self-rated health (SRH) in relationship with internet addiction risk factors in medical students.

METHODS

This cross sectional study conducted on 254 students of Qom University of Medical Sciences 2014. Participants selected by two stage sampling method including stratified and simple random sampling. The Young's questionnaire of internet addiction and SRH question used for data collection. Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression used in data analysis.

RESULTS

More than 79.9% of students reported their general health good and very good. The student's mean score of general health was higher than the average. In addition, the prevalence of internet addiction was 28.7%. An inverse significant correlation observed between SRH and internet addiction score (r=-0.198, p=0.002). Using internet for Entertainment, using private Email and chat rooms were the most important predictors of affecting to internet addiction. Moreover, internet addiction is the most predictors of SRH and increased the odds of bad SRH.

CONCLUSION

The good SRH of medical students was higher than general population but in health faculty' students were lower than others. Due to the effect of internet addiction on SRH and increasing trend of internet use in medical students, as well as low age of participants, attention to psychological aspects and the job expectancy in future, can effective on increasing the good SRH.

Sleep Quality in Medical Students; the Impact of Over-Use of Mobile Cell-Phone and Social Networks

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality is closely associated with lifestyle habits including use of mobile cell-phones.This study aimed to identify the relationship between sleep quality due to abuse in mobile cell-phones and engagement in social networks.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 380 undergraduate students selected by proportional stratified sampling in Qom, Iran in 2015. Data were collected by two standard questionnaire including Cell-Phone Over-Use Scale (COS) and Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire beside the status of usage in cell-phone social networks. T-test, chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate logistic regression were used in data analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 21.8 ±3.2 yr, 69.1% were female, and 11.7% were married. The mean of COS and sleep quality scores were 48.18 ±17.5 and 5.38 ±2.31, respectively. The prevalence of over-use of cell phone was 10.7% (CI 0.95; 8.8%, 12.6%) and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 61.7% (CI 0.95; 57.1%, 66.3%). The mean of all aspects and total score of sleep quality showed a direct significant association by cell-phone addiction score except sleep duration score that was inversely. Based on multivariate analysis affected to cell-phone addiction, being male gender and studying in general physician level are the most important predictors of poor sleep quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Over use of internet and social networks via smart phones is related to poor sleep quality and quantity. Predefined sport programs, educational, cultural, and interesting entertainment are the essential needs for all medical students. These interventions are more important especially for male students who have longer educational.

Social Network Sites as Educational Factors

BACKGROUND

in this present era, the technology development has established certain type of communication. Nowadays education as the fundamental principle in transferring cognition to the learners has found various methods. Recently the concept that social networks could be effective tool in easing the achievement to the educational goals has been under attention. Therefore, this investigation is trying to find out whether, the social networks could play role on the process of education among students?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 1000 students from 7 medical universities in 2015. The data collection tool was questionnaire that was approved Cronbach's alpha: was 0.85. Meanwhile its validity was confirmed too. The obtained data were analyzed by the descriptive statistic, ANOVA, Turkey and used X(2) SPSS-19.

RESULTS

In this investigation, 940 subjects were under study. 85% used daily the social network. The highest usage was attributed to the Telegram. 52% preferred image suitable for transferring of information. Even though, 73% believed that these networks have significant effects on coordinating of students with in university charges.

CONCLUSION

Considering the findings of the present study, it is proposed that the universities integrate the social networks in the education programs and recognize it as the awareness factor, therefore benefit it in the educational affairs.

The association between internet addiction and disordered eating attitudes among Turkish high school students

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study is to investigate the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes (DEAs) and internet addiction (IA) among a non-clinical sample of adolescents and to investigate the relationship between IA, DEAs, and selected socio-demographic characteristics.

METHODS

A total of 584 adolescents (34.8% n = 203 males and 65.2% n = 381 females) completed three instruments: the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and a socio-demographic questionnaire.

RESULTS

It was found that 15.2% (n = 89) of the participants have DEAs, and IA was detected in 10.1% (n = 59) of the participants. There was a statistically significant difference between the IA and non-IA groups in terms of body mass index (χ (2) = 10.31, p < 0.01). We found a significant positive correlation between the IAT and EAT-26 scores (r = 0.34, p < 0.01). The presence of DEAs, male gender, and high BMI were found to be the strongest predictor variables of IA.

CONCLUSIONS

IA and DEAs are relatively frequent phenomena among young students in Turkey. Future studies should attempt to determine the predictive factors by identifying the causal relations between IA and DEAs.

Problematic Internet Use and Its Correlates Among Students from Three Medical Schools Across Three Countries

OBJECTIVE

The authors aimed to assess and compare problematic internet use among medical students enrolled in a graduate degree course in one school each from Croatia, India, and Nigeria and to assess correlates of problematic use among these students.

METHODS

The questionnaire included a sociodemographic profile of participants and Young's Internet Addiction Test.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 842 subjects. Overall, 38.7 and 10.5 % of respondents scored in the mild and moderate categories. Only a small fraction (0.5 %) of students scored in the severe category. Being male and spending more time on the internet were correlated with problematic internet use. Moreover, a significantly higher proportion of participants who scored above the cutoff used the Internet for browsing, social networking, chatting, gaming, shopping, and viewing pornography. However, there was no difference between the two groups with regard to using the internet for e-mailing or academic activities.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to address problematic internet use among medical students. The correlates can help identify those at increased risk.