Internet Use among Students and Its Association with Depression and Insomnia: A Cross Sectional Study
Abstract
Internet is an integral part of modern life. However excessive internet use has become a growing concern especially in youth who tend to become internet addict over a period of time. This addiction may also lead to psychological consequences .present study explores the pattern and prevalence of internet addiction and its association with depression and insomnia in such users. In this cross sectional study conducted on students through various questionnaires. Internet addiction test, Patient heath questionnaire-9, and Insomnia severity index were used to assess severity of internet use, depression, and insomnia respectively. This study observed 61.7% average users, 35.7% over users and 2.7% of internet addicts. Internet use was more common in males than females. Education (67.8%) was most common purpose of use. Mobile phone (84.67%) was most common mode of internet use. Out of total internet users 22.7% were smokers and 24.7% were alcoholics. Severity of internet use was not found to be associated neither with smoking nor with alcoholism. Association of internet addiction and overuse was established with depression and insomnia in this study. It can be concluded that internet addiction has been a significant concern in young age group. Depression and insomnia is associated with internet addiction and overuse.
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Introduction
In the past few years internet has become an integral part of our life. It has enabled us to access all desired information.
However, over a period of time people have begun overusing it and sometimes becoming internet addict leading to many neurological, psychological and various other problems. India had about 205 million internet users in 2012, and it will become a second leading internet users after China in coming time.1 Internet addiction, was the term coined by Dr Ivan Goldberg in 1995, for pathological compulsive internet use.2 Excessive internet use was linked to pathological gambling by Young3 , who used DSM-IV criteria to develop Internet Addiction Test. The prevalence of internet addiction has been found to be in the range of 1.6% to 1.8% in various populations.4,5 General population survey shows prevalence of 0.3% to 0.7%6 with addicts spending average 38.5 hour per week on a computer as compared to the nonaddict which averaged 4.9 hour/week. Goel D7 , reported 24.8% as possible addicts and 0.7% as addicts in his study of internet addiction among Indian adolescents.
Overuse of Internet has been related to many psychological problems including anxiety, depression and insomnia.8-10 The present study was planned to investigate the pattern and the prevalence of internet usage in students and its relationship with insomnia and depression.
Conclusion
Internet addiction and overuse is a growing concern in youth. There are several parameters like gender, smoking and alcohol which have been associated with the Internet addiction and overuse. There is also a significant association of Internet addiction and over use with insomnia and depression.