Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) is a severe problem, especially in academic communities. The association between IA and unfavorable emotional conditions (e.g., anxiety, stress, and depression) can harm students' relationships and academic and career performance. The present study evaluated...

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Main Authors: Arezo Arzani-Birgani, Javad Zarei, Leila Favaregh, Erfaneh Ghanaatiyan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=409;epage=409;aulast=Arzani-Birgani
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author Arezo Arzani-Birgani
Javad Zarei
Leila Favaregh
Erfaneh Ghanaatiyan
author_facet Arezo Arzani-Birgani
Javad Zarei
Leila Favaregh
Erfaneh Ghanaatiyan
author_sort Arezo Arzani-Birgani
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) is a severe problem, especially in academic communities. The association between IA and unfavorable emotional conditions (e.g., anxiety, stress, and depression) can harm students' relationships and academic and career performance. The present study evaluated (a) the prevalence of IA in a sample of medical sciences university students; (b) the association between IA and depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders; and (c) the association between demographic characteristics and IA, depression, anxiety, and stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 268 students from Abadan University of Medical Sciences were selected using Morgan Table. The participants responded to the Young Internet Addiction Test, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and least significant difference. RESULTS: The mean score of IA was 45.65 ± 35.40. IA was found to be significantly related to depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders (except for sleep disturbance) (P < 0.001). Males were found to be more likely than females to suffer from IA, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. Furthermore, age was inversely related to IA, depression, and stress. Finally, medical sciences students suffered from depression, anxiety, and stress more than students majoring in other fields. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous occurrence of IA and depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders in students indicates that IA is associated with other psychological problems. Therefore, researchers and policymakers need to identify preventive measures to help internet-addicted students.
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spelling doaj.art-6dc2a1732d164f6da0f0806b793ee4912022-12-21T19:10:39ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Education and Health Promotion2277-95312021-01-0110140940910.4103/jehp.jehp_1506_20Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional studyArezo Arzani-BirganiJavad ZareiLeila FavareghErfaneh GhanaatiyanBACKGROUND: Internet addiction (IA) is a severe problem, especially in academic communities. The association between IA and unfavorable emotional conditions (e.g., anxiety, stress, and depression) can harm students' relationships and academic and career performance. The present study evaluated (a) the prevalence of IA in a sample of medical sciences university students; (b) the association between IA and depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders; and (c) the association between demographic characteristics and IA, depression, anxiety, and stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 268 students from Abadan University of Medical Sciences were selected using Morgan Table. The participants responded to the Young Internet Addiction Test, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-42, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and least significant difference. RESULTS: The mean score of IA was 45.65 ± 35.40. IA was found to be significantly related to depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders (except for sleep disturbance) (P < 0.001). Males were found to be more likely than females to suffer from IA, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders. Furthermore, age was inversely related to IA, depression, and stress. Finally, medical sciences students suffered from depression, anxiety, and stress more than students majoring in other fields. CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous occurrence of IA and depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disorders in students indicates that IA is associated with other psychological problems. Therefore, researchers and policymakers need to identify preventive measures to help internet-addicted students.http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=409;epage=409;aulast=Arzani-Birganianxietydepressioninternet addictionsleep qualitystress
spellingShingle Arezo Arzani-Birgani
Javad Zarei
Leila Favaregh
Erfaneh Ghanaatiyan
Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
anxiety
depression
internet addiction
sleep quality
stress
title Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
title_full Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
title_short Internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality in students of medical sciences, Iran: A cross-sectional study
title_sort internet addiction mental health and sleep quality in students of medical sciences iran a cross sectional study
topic anxiety
depression
internet addiction
sleep quality
stress
url http://www.jehp.net/article.asp?issn=2277-9531;year=2021;volume=10;issue=1;spage=409;epage=409;aulast=Arzani-Birgani
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AT leilafavaregh internetaddictionmentalhealthandsleepqualityinstudentsofmedicalsciencesiranacrosssectionalstudy
AT erfanehghanaatiyan internetaddictionmentalhealthandsleepqualityinstudentsofmedicalsciencesiranacrosssectionalstudy