The Relationship of Internet Addiction with Quality of Life and Alexithymia in Students in Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Internet Addiction (IA) is one of the psychological disorders that have increased with the spread of technology, and its prevalence has also increased and leads to many complications on human health. Aim: This study was performed to investigate the relationship of IA with Quality Of Life (QOL) and alexithymia in students. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 381 students of Islamic Azad University of Shahrekord, southwest of Iran, were randomly selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), a Quality Of Life (QOL) questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Data analysis was performed by SPSS v19 using Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Results: A significant, inverse correlation was observed between QOL and IA (p=0.04, r=-0.167), and the correlation was positive and significant with respect to alexithymia. Between IA and QOL, a significant, inverse correlation was observed (p=0.03, r=0.212). Regarding the dimensions of QOL and alexithymia, IA was found to predict the QOL dimensions, including the psychological, social relationships, and external environment dimensions as well as, in alexithymia, the difficulties describing emotions and externally oriented thinking subscales (p<0.05). Conclusion: IA was associated with QOL and alexithymia. With the increase in IA, QOL declined, and as IA increased, alexithymia also increased.