Abstract
BackgroundAlthough internet use can boost individuals’ quality of life in various aspects, activities on the internet (e.g., gambling, video gaming, social media use, pornography use, etc.) can be used as coping strategy to deal with psychological stressors and mood states (e.g., fear, anxiety, depression) particularly during the global COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectivesThe present study assessed problematic internet use (PIU) among Bangladeshi youth and adults in Bangladesh and examined its correlation with lifestyle and online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey was utilized between May and June 2020 comprising 13,525 Bangladeshi individuals (61.3% male; age range 18–50 years; mean age 23.7 years) recruited from various online platforms. The self-report survey included questions concerning socio-demographics, lifestyle, and online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as psychometric scales such as the nine-item Internet Disorder Scale-Short Form (IDS9-SF). ResultsUtilizing hierarchical regression analysis, problematic internet use was significantly and positively associated with those who were younger, having a higher level of education, living with a nuclear family, engaging in less physical exercise, avoiding household chores, playing online videogames, social media use, and engaging in recreational online activities. ConclusionsExcessive internet use appears to have been commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic period and young adults were most vulnerable to problematic internet use.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted most of the world with over 14.5 million cases and over 655,000 fatalities in 216 countries, creating a public health emergency of international concern (World HealthOrganization, 2020; Worldometer, 2020)
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first large-scale study among adults in Bangladesh assessing various factors associated with problematic internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic
problematic internet use (PIU) was significantly associated with being younger in age, having a bachelor degree level of education, being unmarried, being a member of a nuclear family, having middle-income socioeconomic sta tus, living in an urban area, being a cigarette smoker, being a heavier sleeper, being physically inactive, not engaging in household chores, and having higher engagement with online activities
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted most of the world with (at the time of writing) over 14.5 million cases and over 655,000 fatalities in 216 countries, creating a public health emergency of international concern (World HealthOrganization, 2020; Worldometer, 2020). It has been found that internet use can enhance the perceived quality of life by providing positive connections on social media, online shopping, online conferencing, and ongoing contact with friends and family living far away or in other countries (Pontes, Szabo, & Griffiths, 2015). Objectives: The present study assessed problematic internet use (PIU) among Bangladeshi youth and adults in Bangladesh and examined its correlation with lifestyle and online activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Utilizing hierarchical regression analysis, problematic internet use was significantly and positively associated with those who were younger, having a higher level of education, living with a nuclear family, engaging in less physical exercise, avoiding household chores, playing online videogames, social media use, and engaging in recreational online activities. Conclusions: Excessive internet use appears to have been commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic period and young adults were most vulnerable to problematic internet use
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