Internet addiction and its associated factors: Study among the students of a public health school of Kolkata

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The Internet has brought a wealth of information and has turned to be an important tool for education, entertainment, and communication. However, aspects such as ease of access and social networking have led to addictive behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution-based study was conducted among 147 students of a public health school in Kolkata from October to November 2017. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data on demographic characteristics and the pattern of Internet use, and the assessment of Internet addiction (IA) was done using the validated Young's IA Test. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. All those who scored more than 30 were considered as IA. RESULTS: Of 147 students, 44.2% were found to have some degree of IA. Mean age (standard deviation) of the students was 27.9 (5.9) years and 74.8% of the respondents were females. Most students (92.5%) accessed the Internet from their mobile phones and 33.3% have reported to have permanently online login status. Majority (82.3%) have reported social networking as a reason for Internet use. It was found that students with factors such as age group of 27–33 years, male sex, single status, residing away from home, low physical activity, permanently online status, social networking, and accessing the Internet for entertainment were more addicted to the use of Internet. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a need for students to indulge in outdoor activities. Interacting with people socially rather than being active on social networking sites and involvement in other recreational activities will help alleviate their dependence on the Internet.