Evaluation of Stroop and Trail-Making Tests performance in university students with internet addiction

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of internet addiction (IA), and the relationship between (IA) and cognitive functions like selective and sustained attention, inhibitory control, set shifting by using Stroop and Trail Making Tests. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-one university students participated in the re-search. At first step, the participants were filled Sociodemographic Form and Internet Addiction Scale (IAS). At the second step, 30 participants with IA whom score was above the threshold (≥81 for IAS) and 29 participants without IA whom score was under the threshold for IAS were recruited. Stroop Test (ST), Trail Making Tests (TMT) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were applied to individuals with and without IA at the second step of the study. Results: Prevalence of IA was 15.3% (n=34) in all participants. Four of participants who had IA did not accept to participate the second step. IAS score was positively correlated with Stroop phonemic time, Stroop color naming time, Stroop interference time, TMT-B form time and TMT-B form false number (respectively; r=0.31, r=0.50, r=0.46, r=0.39, and r=0.66). Conclusion: Our results have shown that attention-related problems and inability of behavioral control may be related to IA.