Internet addiction and mental health among medical students of selected university in Mangalore, Karnataka
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Internet addiction (IA) is maladaptive pattern of internet use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. It has a varied prevalence between countries and states due to varied criteria and sample studied. Objectives: The objectives are to study the magnitude of IA and its impact on mental health among medical students of a selected University in Mangalore, Karnataka, and also to assess the association of various sociodemographic variables with IA. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all the M.B.B.S students residing in the hostel of a selected university located in Mangalore, Karnataka, for 1 month. Sociodemographic profile of the study participants and information on IA and mental health were collected using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 20.62 ± 1.463 and 32.9% of the internet users were using internet for ≥38 h per week. With Young’s IA (YIAT) test, internet users were divided into 3 categories, namely, 46.2%, 32.9%, and 4.4% as average users, possible addicts, and internet addicts, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in mean scores of severe depression subscale of General Health Questionnaire - Twenty Eight across two groups of YIAT test (t = 0.448; P = 0.015). Marital status and weekly hours of internet use were the statistically significant predictors of IA (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Prevalence of IA was higher in contrast to other studies, and its impact on mental health warrants stringent efforts for higher studies, early diagnosis, and prevention.
Authors and Affiliations
Shoeeb Akram M D, Utsav Raj
Keywords
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- EP ID EP445295
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2018.1131401122017
- Views 109
- Downloads 0
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