Abstract
BackgroundInternet addiction is a common problem in university students and negatively affects cognitive functioning, leads to poor academic performance and engagement in hazardous activities, and may lead to anxiety and stress. Behavioral addictions operate on a modified principle of the classic addiction model. The problem is not well investigated in Ethiopia. So the present study aimed to assess the prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors among university students in Ethiopia.ObjectivesMain objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among University Students in Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019. A total of 603 students were participated in the study using a structured questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. A binary logistic regression method was used to explore associated factors for internet addiction and variables with a p value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were fitted to the multi-variable logistic regression analysis. The strength of association between internet addiction and associated factors was assessed with odds ratio, 95% CI and p value < 0.05 in the final model was considered significant.ResultsThe prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85% (n = 466). Spending more time on the internet (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.13, 95% CI 1.33–77.00)), having mental distress (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.02–7.06), playing online games (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.38–4.18), current khat chewing (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.83) and current alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.09–4.92) were associated with internet addiction.ConclusionsThe current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors associated with internet addiction were spending more time, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing, and current alcohol use. As internet addiction becomes an evident public health problem, carrying out public awareness campaigns may be a fruitful strategy to decrease its prevalence and effect. Besides to this, a collaborative work among stakeholders is important to develop other trendy, adaptive, and sustainable countermeasures.
Highlights
Internet addiction is a common problem in university students and negatively affects cognitive functioning, leads to poor academic performance and engagement in hazardous activities, and may lead to anxiety and stress
Spending more time on the internet (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 10.13, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.33–77.00)), having mental distress (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI 1.02–7.06), playing online games (AOR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.38–4.18), current khat chewing (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI 1.14–9.83) and current alcohol use (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.09–4.92) were associated with internet addiction
The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students
Summary
Internet addiction is a common problem in university students and negatively affects cognitive functioning, leads to poor academic performance and engagement in hazardous activities, and may lead to anxiety and stress. The psychopathologic symptoms of internet addiction includes Salience(the respondent most likely feels preoccupied with the Internet, hides the behaviour from others, and may display a loss of interest in other activities and/or relationships only to prefer more solitary time online), Excessive Use (the respondent engages in excessive online behaviour and compulsive usage, and is intermittently unable to control time online that he or she hides from others), Neglect Work (Job or school performance and productivity are most likely compromised due to the amount of time spent online), Anticipation(the respondent most likely thinks about being online when not at the computer and feels compelled to use the Internet when offline), Lack of Control(the respondent has trouble managing his or her online time, frequently stays online longer than intended, and others may complain about the amount of time he or she spends online) and Neglect Social Life (the respondent frequently forms new relationships with fellow online users and uses the Internet to establish social connections that may be missing in his or her life) [7,8,9,10]
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