Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey
Background: Despite the growing epidemic of problematic Internet use (PIU), little information is available on PIU and related factors in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4261 university students among 13universities throughout the country in 2017. The data collection tool...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Health Promotion Perspectives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hpp.tbzmed.ac.ir/PDF/hpp-28611 |
| _version_ | 1818490953271345152 |
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| author | Jalal Poorolajal Jamal Ahmadpoor Younes Mohammadi Ali Reza Soltanian Seyedeh Zahra Asghari Ehsan Mazloumi |
| author_facet | Jalal Poorolajal Jamal Ahmadpoor Younes Mohammadi Ali Reza Soltanian Seyedeh Zahra Asghari Ehsan Mazloumi |
| author_sort | Jalal Poorolajal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite the growing epidemic of problematic Internet use (PIU), little information is available on PIU and related factors in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4261 university students among 13universities throughout the country in 2017. The data collection tool included demographic characteristics, the status of using the Internet, social media, computer games, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, suicide ideation and attempt, and unprotected sex. PIU was measured using the15-item PIU questionnaire. The status of general health was evaluated using the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ) questionnaire. The simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the crude and adjusted associations between various factors and PIU. Results: Of 4261 university students, 55.9% were female, 13.5% were smokers, 4.9% were drug abusers, 7.9% were alcohol abusers, 7.8% had unprotected sex in the past year, 7.4%had suicidal ideation in the past month, 1.7% had attempted suicide in the past year, and27.3% suffered from PIU. Only 61.1% had normal health. In contrast, 30.9%, 7.2%, and 0.8%had mild, moderate, and severe general health problems, respectively. There were significant relationships between PIU and age group 20-24 vs. <20 years (odds ratio [OR]=1.39; 95% CI:1.06, 1.82), single vs, married (OR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.85, 3.57), suicidal attempt (OR=2.77;95% CI: 1.47, 5.19), using online games (OR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.60), and poor general health (OR=12.14; 95% CI: 4.53, 32.54). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of medical sciences students suffered from PIU. This unhealthy behavior was associated with poor general health and elevated risk of suicidal behaviors. This health-threatening behavior provides an early warning signal that deserves special attention, otherwise, it may threaten both college students’ health and function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:23:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9aad0156292d4d72bcab12acb003c754 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2228-6497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:23:49Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Tabriz University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Promotion Perspectives |
| spelling | doaj.art-9aad0156292d4d72bcab12acb003c7542022-12-22T01:39:55ZengTabriz University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Perspectives2228-64972019-08-019320721310.15171/hpp.2019.29hpp-28611Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national surveyJalal Poorolajal0Jamal Ahmadpoor1Younes Mohammadi2Ali Reza Soltanian3Seyedeh Zahra Asghari4Ehsan Mazloumi5Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranModeling of Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of English Language and Persian Literature, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranBackground: Despite the growing epidemic of problematic Internet use (PIU), little information is available on PIU and related factors in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4261 university students among 13universities throughout the country in 2017. The data collection tool included demographic characteristics, the status of using the Internet, social media, computer games, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, suicide ideation and attempt, and unprotected sex. PIU was measured using the15-item PIU questionnaire. The status of general health was evaluated using the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ) questionnaire. The simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the crude and adjusted associations between various factors and PIU. Results: Of 4261 university students, 55.9% were female, 13.5% were smokers, 4.9% were drug abusers, 7.9% were alcohol abusers, 7.8% had unprotected sex in the past year, 7.4%had suicidal ideation in the past month, 1.7% had attempted suicide in the past year, and27.3% suffered from PIU. Only 61.1% had normal health. In contrast, 30.9%, 7.2%, and 0.8%had mild, moderate, and severe general health problems, respectively. There were significant relationships between PIU and age group 20-24 vs. <20 years (odds ratio [OR]=1.39; 95% CI:1.06, 1.82), single vs, married (OR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.85, 3.57), suicidal attempt (OR=2.77;95% CI: 1.47, 5.19), using online games (OR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.60), and poor general health (OR=12.14; 95% CI: 4.53, 32.54). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of medical sciences students suffered from PIU. This unhealthy behavior was associated with poor general health and elevated risk of suicidal behaviors. This health-threatening behavior provides an early warning signal that deserves special attention, otherwise, it may threaten both college students’ health and function.https://hpp.tbzmed.ac.ir/PDF/hpp-28611InternetVideo GamesSocial mediaMental healthStudentsSuicide |
| spellingShingle | Jalal Poorolajal Jamal Ahmadpoor Younes Mohammadi Ali Reza Soltanian Seyedeh Zahra Asghari Ehsan Mazloumi Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey Health Promotion Perspectives Internet Video Games Social media Mental health Students Suicide |
| title | Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey |
| title_full | Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey |
| title_short | Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey |
| title_sort | prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among iranian university students a national survey |
| topic | Internet Video Games Social media Mental health Students Suicide |
| url | https://hpp.tbzmed.ac.ir/PDF/hpp-28611 |
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