Excessive Internet Research Articles

Internet Use Impact on Physical Health during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangladesh: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Previous studies on internet use frequency were focused on mental health impact, with little known about the impact on physical health during the COVID-19 lockdown. This study examined the impact of internet use frequency on self-reported physical health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Bangladesh. A web-based cross-sectional study on 3242 individuals was conducted from 2 August–1 October 2020. The survey covered demographics, internet use frequency and self-reported physical health questions. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the impact of internet use frequency on physical health. 72.5%, 69.9%, 65.1% and 55.3% respondents reported headache, back pain, numbness of the fingers and neck pain, respectively. The analyses showed increased physical health impact among regular (coefficient β = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18–0.85, p = 0.003), frequent (β = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.88–1.54, p < 0.001) and intense (β = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.91–2.57, p < 0.001) internet users. Other important predictors were gender, income, occupation, regions, and working status. Frequent and extensive uses of the internet were strong predictors of physical health problems, and our findings suggest the need for increased awareness about the physical health problems that can be triggered by excessive internet usage.

Internet Addiction in Mexican Medical Students and Family Functioning

Introduction: Internet addiction is a deterioration in the control of the Internet, manifested in various cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms. Internet addiction affects family functioning by generating problems in relationships with family members. The disturbed functioning of the family also makes individuals vulnerable to internet addiction. Objective: To determine the relationship between family functioning and internet addiction. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, survey-type observational study was carried out on 358 students of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Mexico. to measure the presence of internet addiction. Result: A prevalence of 28% for internet addiction was found in medical students. Conclusions: This research found that following Olson's model, family functioning is not significantly related to internet addiction. The overall prevalence of internet addiction was higher than that found in other countries. Since the family plays an essential role in preventing internet addiction, it should be considered to reduce excessive Internet use.

The role of sociodemographics, behavioral factors, and internet use behaviors in students' psychological health amid COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic drastically impacted students' psychological well‐being by interchanging their regular activities. Students are more engaged with online activities, which may affect their mental health. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the magnitude of psychological health of the Bangladeshi students, where the role of online use behaviors is also investigated.MethodsAn online‐based cross‐sectional survey was conducted between 7 October 2020 and 2 November, 2020 among Bangladeshi students utilizing a convenience sampling technique. The survey questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographics, behavior and health‐related variables, online use behaviors, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐2), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD‐2). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present the data (i.e., binary logistic regression was performed to examine the association between variables and hierarchical regression analysis was performed to predict the variance for depression and anxiety).ResultsOut of 601 included students, 260 and 196 students reported the symptoms of depression (43.3%) and anxiety (32.6%), respectively, where female students experienced a higher level of psychological problems. The psychological suffering was also significantly associated with medical college students, having an affair, less sleep time, not performing physical exercise, excessive internet use, and not watching news during online activities. After adjusting all of the studied variables in the hierarchical regression models, it explained 10% and 9.6% variance of depression and anxiety, respectively.ConclusionsDuring this pandemic situation, a relatively higher level of psychological complications was observed among the Bangladeshi students. Regrettably, any specific policy was absent in the country to assuage that outcome. Therefore, based on the study finding, a few strategies and policies were recommended that may be helpful to alleviate psychological issues among the students.

Hubungan Durasi Olahraga dengan Durasi Penggunaan Internet dan Tingkat Keparahan Depresi pada Mahasiswa UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta

Background: Physical exercises provide benefits for everyone. Riset Kesehatan Dasar 2018 shows increased proportion of Indonesian who lack of exercise from 26.1% to 33.5%. Inadequate exercise can reduce productivity which can lead to excessive internet use and increasing the severity of depression. Objectives: To know the association between duration of exercise against duration of internet usage and the severity of depression amongst Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta students. Methods: This is a non-experimental quantitative cross-sectional study on students of State Islamic University Jakarta using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 instrument, which has been validated by Confirmatory Factor Analysis method. Data were analysed by (1) descriptive statistics to obtain respondents general characteristics and the variables, (2) independent sample T-test to analyze the mean difference between the variables of men and women, (3) linear regression test to examine the relationship between the variables. Results: From 704 respondents, we found that 62.1% lacked of exercise, 57.8% using internet excessively, and 71.3% suffering moderate to severe depression. Furthermore, these results were common in women. There was significant negative association between duration of exercise (p-value = 0.000) and duration of internet usage, significant negative association between duration of exercise (p-value = 0.000) with the severity of depression, and significant positive association between duration of internet usage (p-value = 0.031) with the severity of depression. Conclusions: There is a significant association between duration of exercise with duration of internet usage and the severity of depression amongst Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta students. Keyword : Exercise, Excessive Internet Use, Internet Addiction, Depression, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

Assessment of Sleep Quality, Depression and Anxiety in Relation to Internet Use among College Students

Internet is a necessity and irreplaceable part of our daily lives. It became a modern-day tool for education, research, communication, shopping, entertainment and many more. In spite of the widely perceived merits of the internet, there are negative impacts too, especially the over or misuse and the related physical and psychological problems like anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and many more. The study aims to assess the sleep quality, depression and anxiety in relation to internet use among the college students. A total of 117 college students were selected by using convenient sampling technique. After selection of the sample Young’s internet addiction scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index scale and Depression Anxiety Stress scale was used. Research findings revealed that there was a significant association between sleep quality and length of internet use, level of depression and age, semester of the participant and consultation for excessive internet use, level of anxiety and years of internet use and also shows a significant positive correlation between internet use and depression and anxiety. The current study will help the health professionals and also the parents to understand about the factors associated with internet addiction.

Correlational Study between Trait Anxiety, Depression & Internet Addiction

“Internet” is one of the most critical things in today’s world, much to the point that most people who have a cell phone or other technological gadget with internet can’t imagine life without it. The Internet has aided the world’s growth at a much quicker pace, but how people use it differs from person to person. Excessive internet usage has been observed, which has negative consequences, which is why we conducted this research to better understand the relationship between Internet Addiction and Trait Anxiety and Depression. On 144 people aged 20 to 30, three tests were used: STAI, Becks depression test, and Internet Addiction test. People are becoming more social in virtual form but not in person as a result of increased Internet use. People are using the Internet to escape from Trait Anxiety and Depression or vice versa. Many nations have included Internet Addiction as one of their addiction types, and every country will eventually need to take it more seriously.

Internet addiction, substance use and alexithymic dimensions in two different faculties' students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between internet addiction, substance use and alexithymia among students of education faculty and medical faculty. This cross-sectional analytical study included 1,257 faculty students aged 18 and over, studying at Meram Medical Faculty and Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Education. Young's Internet Addiction Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Fagerström Tobacco Addiction Test and CAGE alcohol use tests were applied to collect data. The mean age of the participants was 21.12 ± 1.96 years, 71% (n = 893) of them were females and 29% (n = 364) were males, 37.9% (n = 477) were training at medical faculty, 62.1% (n = 780) were training at the faculty of education. Of the students, 1.5% were internet addicts, 15.3% were possible addicts, and 22.8% had alexithymia. Internet addiction was higher in those with higher alexithymia scores (p < 0.001). Internet addiction was significantly higher in male students, the third grade, ones with lower academic success, students who work their lessons less than 2 hours a week. Internet addiction was also significantly higher in smokers and alcohol users (p < 0.001). While there was a low negative correlation between the first internet using age and internet addiction (p < 0.001), there was a moderately significant positive correlation between spending uninterrupted time on the internet and internet addiction (p < 0.001). In this study, it was determined that the teacher and doctor candidates, who are studying at the faculties of education and medicine, were at risk of internet addiction. A teacher or a doctor who cannot develop social skills due to excessive internet use will not be a good model to communicate correctly with the target population.

The relationship between problematic Internet use in adolescents and emotion regulation difficulty and family Internet attitude.

The study aims to determine the relationship between problematic Internet use in adolescents and emotion regulation difficulty and family Internet attitude. The study used a descriptive and correlational design. The sample of the study consisted of 5916 students. The data were collected using the "Problematic Internet Use Scale," "Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale," "Internet Parental Style Scale." The total score on the Problematic Internet Use Scale was 55.41 ± 19.60 while the total score on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale was 97.51 ± 17.84. Considering the Internet parental styles, it was found that 42.89% of the parents had a negligent attitude. According to the results of the logistic regression analysis performed, grade level was found to affect problematic Internet use. A highly significant correlation was found between problematic Internet use and emotional regulation difficulties and family control of family Internet attitude (p < 0.01). This study determined that adolescents' grade level and excessive Internet use of the father were effective in the problematic Internet use of the adolescents. Adolescents' difficulties in emotion regulation and the type of families' attitudes towards Internet use were associated with problematic Internet use. In accordance with these results, it can be recommended to form programs to decrease problematic Internet use.

Predictors of excessive internet use among adolescents in Greece after the economic recession: The role of psychopathology, parental rearing practices, self-efficacy and internet-related activities

Predictors of excessive internet use among adolescents in Greece after the economic recession: The role of psychopathology, parental rearing practices, self-efficacy and internet-related activities

Association between age of first exposure and heavy internet use in a representative sample of 317,443 adolescents from 52 countries

Internet usage among adolescents has increased substantially over the last years, concurrently with emerging concerns that an abusive use is associated with detrimental health outcomes. Our objective was to examine the association between age of first exposure and heavy Internet usage in different domains. Data from the 2018 wave of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were retrieved. This included a total of 317,443 participants (49.2% boys) aged 15 and 16 years from 52 countries. Data from both Internet use and age of first exposure were retrieved and used to conduct metanalyses with random effects. Adolescents reporting an age of first exposure of Internet usage at ≥ 13 years old had the lowest odds for heavy Internet use (> 2 h/day) (reference group: ≤ 9 years) during weekends (odds ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.35–0.48]), weekdays (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.37–0.56]), and during school time (odds ratio (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.77–0.96]) even when adjusted for sex, socioeconomic status, and country. A stronger association was observed in adolescents from South and Central America and Eastern Mediterranean regions in the domain of weekends and weekdays. The results indicate that early internet exposure is associated with heavy Internet use, particularly during weekends and weekdays, regardless the geographical region, in a linear fashion. Further research should aim to examine if better education and parental control in specific areas may avoid excessive Internet use that possibly have a negative influence on both mental and physical health.

Internet addiction and psychosocial problems among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

PurposeThis research was conducted to investigate the prevalence of internet addiction and psychosocial problems and associated factors among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey. The population was composed of 9th and 10th grade students. The sample consisted of 1572 participants. Data were collected from parents of the students through a questionnaire, the Pediatric Symptom Checklist, and the Parent-Child Internet Addiction Test. ResultsThe prevalence of psychosocial problems was 20.7%. A few (4.8%) of adolescents had limited internet addiction symptoms. The psychosocial problems risk was significantly higher in adolescents whose fathers did not work, whose family income was less than expense, and whose daily internet use time was more than 3 h and more (p < 0.05). The risk of problematic internet use was significantly higher in males, whose mother's education level was high school and lower, whose family income was less than expense, and whose duration of internet use was 5 years and more (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between internet addiction and psychosocial problem mean scores (p < 0.05). ConclusionMost of the adolescents were internet users and one in five adolescents was at risk of psychosocial problems. Internet addiction and psychosocial problems were associated with several sociodemographic factors. Practice implicationsThis study emphasizes the need for the prevention of excessive internet use and psychosocial problems during COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents. Nurses should organize online trainings for internet addiction and psychosocial problems for adolescents and their parents during the quarantine process.

School-Based Prevention of Screen-Related Risk Behaviors during the Long-Term Distant Schooling Caused by COVID-19 Outbreak.

The COVID-19 outbreak and related restrictions meant a higher incidence of screen-related risk behaviors in both children and adolescents. Our goal was to assess the perceived importance and extent of school-based preventions related to these risks during the long-term, nation-wide distant schooling period in the Czech Republic. The online survey was responded to by the school-based prevention specialists (N = 1698). For the analysis, within-subject analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binominal logistic regression were used. At-risk internet use and cyber-bullying were perceived as pressing, but other risks, for example, excessive internet use or the use of cyberpornography, received substantially less priority. The differences in all grades were significant and moderate to large (η2G between 0.156 and 0.288). The proportion of schools which conducted prevention interventions of screen-related risks was low (between 0.7% and 27.8%, depending on the grade and the type of the risk). The probability of delivering prevention intervention was in all grades significantly predicted by the presence of screen-related problems in pupils (OR 3.76–4.88) and the perceived importance of the screen-related risks (OR 1.55–1.97). The limited capacity of schools to deliver prevention interventions during distant schooling as well as the low awareness and impaired ability to recognize the importance of some screen-related risks should be addressed.

Association patterns of cannabis abuse and dependence with risk of problematic non-substance-related dysregulated and addictive behaviors.

Co-occurrence of drug misuse with other dysregulated behaviors is common. This study was aimed at exploring the associations between the risk of presenting a clinically relevant condition involving non-substance-related addictive or dysregulated behaviors (as measured by the MultiCAGE CAD-4 screening), and cannabis abuse/dependence (CAST/SDS) scores, and the role of gender therein. Participants were recruited using stratified probabilistic sampling at the University of Granada. Mann-Whitney's U tests were used to compare male and female students in SDS and CAST scores. Associations between gender and MultiCAGE scores were estimated using the γ ordinal correlation index, and tested with χ2. For each MultiCAGE dimension, a Poisson-family mixed-effects model was built with either SDS or CAST as the main input variable, while controlling for nicotine and alcohol dependence, and relevant sociodemographic variables. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were computed for SDS/CAST effects, and the significance threshold was family-wise Bonferroni-corrected. Gender differences were significant for cannabis dependence/abuse and all MultiCAGE scores for non-substance-related conditions, with males showing higher risk scores for excessive gambling, excessive internet use, excessive video gaming, and hypersexuality, and females presenting higher scores in dysregulated eating and compulsive buying. Cannabis dependence and abuse were significantly associated with a higher risk of problematic video gaming. These associations were mostly driven by males. Importantly, although risk of problematic video gaming was specifically associated with cannabis abuse/dependence, there was only a weak non-significant association between problematic video gaming and alcohol use scores. Risk of alcohol use problems, in turn, was strongly associated with all other non-substance-related problems (problematic gambling, excessive Internet use, dysregulated eating, compulsive buying, and hypersexuality). These differential associations can cast light on the etiological similarities and dissimilarities between problematic substance use and putative addictive behaviors not involving drugs.

The Relationship between Stress, Personality, Dopamine Transporter, and Serotonin Transporter Level with Internet Addiction in Secondary School Students in Padang

BACKGROUND: The unpleasant stress can cause a variety of mental disorder that will lead children to run away from real life and one of the way is using excessive internet. In the past few years, more interested in studying the negative effect of the internet. The development of internet has been very rapid and used to play games and make friendship, but it also has negative impact on people’s lives. Young refers to some of the symptoms of internet addiction that resembles the symptoms of substance addiction, causing physical and psychological problems. Several studies have tried to show a relationship between dopamine and internet addiction by measuring the level of dopamine transporter (DAT). Lee et al. (2008) showed that one homozygous short allele from the serotonin transporter (SERt) gene 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5 HTT)-linked polymorphic region is more frequent in excessive internet users. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress, personality, DAT, and SERt level with internet addiction in secondary school students. METHODS: Methods applied in this study were a cross-sectional comparative design conducted in secondary school students in January 2016–March 2017 in Padang. The stress level was assessed using the depression anxiety and stress scale. Personality tests were measured using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for Adolescent. Internet addiction was assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine peripheral blood DAT and SERt or 5 HTT levels from the students who were diagnosed with stress. RESULTS: The results showed that personality was negatively associated with internet addiction (P = 0.271). Positive significant relationship of internet addiction was showed by association with levels of DAT (P = 0.001) and SERt (P = 0.001) in blood serum. DAT levels showed high relationship effect of stressed students become addicted to the internet. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that students were addicted to the internet as a coping mechanism against stress. Personality questionnaire tests failed to identify students who became addicted to the internet. The peripheral blood DAT and SERt level was predictive to identify students addicted to internet use. The present study supported the hypothesis that the DAT plays an important role in internet addiction.

Internet Addiction and Depression Among Postgraduate Residents: A cross-sectional survey.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to estimate the prevalence of social media usage and Internet addiction among Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) residents and to determine associations between Internet addiction, sociodemographic characteristics and symptoms of depression.MethodsThis cross-sectional study took place between January and March 2017. All 499 residents enrolled in OMSB training programmes during the 2016–2017 academic year were targeted. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to collect information concerning sociodemographic characteristics. In addition, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Internet Addiction Test were used to screen for depression and Internet addiction, respectively.ResultsA total of 399 residents participated in the study (response rate: 80%). Overall, 115 residents (28.8%) had varying degrees of depression and 149 (37.3%) were addicted to the Internet; moreover, among those addicted, 54 (36.2%) had depression. While no significant associations were observed between Internet addiction and sociodemographic characteristics, the association between Internet addiction and depression was statistically significant (P = 0.012).ConclusionInternet addiction was clearly detected among many OMSB residents, with a significant association observed between Internet addiction and depression. Although a causal link between these two variables cannot be established as depression is multifactorial in origin, the disadvantages and harmful effects of excessive Internet and social media usage need to be addressed. Further research on the consequences of Internet addiction and its effect on quality of life and academic achievement is recommended.

Relationships of excessive internet use with depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among high school students in northern Vietnam

PurposeTo examine the associations of excessive internet use with depression, anxiety, and sleep quality among high school students in northern Vietnam, a country experiencing rapid economic growth. Design and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a high school in northern Vietnam from July to September 2019. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were respectively assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Vietnamese Anxiety Scale. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Internet use and demographic characteristics were obtained using structured questionnaires. A multiple logistic regression was performed. ResultsIn total, 678 participants with an average age of 16.1 (standard deviation 0.9) years were included. Nearly one-third of the adolescents (30.7%) exhibited excessive internet use (> 4 h/day), 19.6% experienced depressive symptoms, 14.5% presented anxiety symptoms, and 58.8% reported poor sleep quality. Compared to non-excessive internet users, excessive internet users (> 4 h/day) experienced significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms (p = .001), anxiety (p = .008), and poorer sleep quality (p < .001). Students who were female and with fair/poor self-rated health experienced higher depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality (p < .05). After adjusting for demographic and health-related factors, students with excessive internet use were 58% more likely to experience poor sleep quality (odds ratio, 1.58, 95% confidence interval [1.06, 2.35]). ConclusionsExcessive internet use in Vietnamese high school students was significantly associated with poor sleep quality, but not with depression or anxiety.

The Influence of Interpersonal Sensitivity on Smartphone Addiction: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Smartphone addiction is a behavioral dependence characterized by excessive or compulsive Internet use and a preoccupation with and loss of control over this use that interferes with an individual’s daily functioning and results in negative mental processes and subsequent social consequences. Smartphone addiction can negatively impact physical and mental health as well as academic performance, sleep quality, and even interpersonal interaction and relationships. Based on the compensatory Internet use theory, this study explores the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and smartphone addiction in college students and constructed a moderated mediation model. A sample of 881 college students was tested using the Interpersonal Sensitivity Scale, Smart Phone Addiction Scale, Fear of Missing Out Scale, and Relational Self-Construal Scale. We used AMOS 26.0 to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis and employed SPSS 24.0 to test our hypotheses. The results indicated that (1) interpersonal sensitivity was positively related to the fear of missing out and smartphone addiction; (2) the fear of missing out mediated the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and mobile phone addiction; (3) relational self-construal moderated interpersonal sensitivity and the fear of missing out; and (4) relational self-construal moderated the mediating effect of the fear of missing out on the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and smartphone addiction. We concluded that the fear of missing out and relational self-construal play a moderated mediation effect on the relationship between smartphone addiction and interpersonal sensitivity. Our findings provided some theoretical implications. Specifically, in addition to proposing a new approach for the study of smartphone addiction, we also introduced a theoretical basis for psychotherapy and intervention of smartphone addiction. In addition, this study also provides some insightful ideas for educational practitioners.

Alexithymia, impulsivity and negative mood in relation to internet addiction symptoms in female university students

ABSTRACT Objective Alexithymia has been implicated as a risk factor for problematic substance use and other excessive behaviours including internet addiction . Impulsiveness has also been identified as a likely predisposing factor for excessive behaviours. However, as impulsivity is often elevated in alexithymia, the degree of independence of these factors in relation to excessive internet use is unclear. Method The present study assessed contributions of alexithymia, impulsivity and negative affect to variance in internet addiction symptoms in 116 internet-using female university students. Participants completed the following instruments online: demographics, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, Internet Addiction Test and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21. Results Measures were significantly intercorrelated in expected directions. Hierarchical regression indicated that although both alexithymia and impulsivity were highly significant predictors of internet addiction symptoms after controlling for demographic covariates, the contribution of alexithymia became nonsignificant after adding impulsivity to the model. The final model explained 37% of variance in internet addiction symptoms. Multiple mediation modelling indicated that both impulsivity and negative affect fully mediated the association of alexithymia with internet addiction symptoms. Conclusions Impulsivity and negative affect may account for the link between alexithymia and internet addiction symptoms in young women at university. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Alexithymia and impulsivity have been linked to a variety of addictive behaviors including internet addiction. Alexithymia and impulsivity have been reported to independently predict excessive alcohol use in regression models. Alexithymia may reflect deficient interoception and corresponding poor internal awareness of overconsumption cues in alcohol use. What this topic adds: In female university students, alexithymia, impulsivity, and negative affect were significant positive predictors of internet addiction symptoms in a regression model. Alexithymia was no longer significant after adding impulsivity to the model. Multiple mediation modelling indicated that impulsivity and negative affect fully mediated the association of alexithymia with internet addiction symptoms.

Excessive and pathological Internet use – Risk-behavior or psychopathology?

Pathological Internet use (but only with respect to gaming) is classified as mental disorder in the ICD-11. However, there is a large group of adolescents showing excessive Internet use, which may rather be considered adolescent risk-behavior. The aim was to test whether pathological and excessive Internet use should be considered as “psychopathology” or “risk-behavior”.A representative, cross-sectional sample of 11.110 students from 10 European Union countries was analyzed. Structural equation models, including the factors “risk-behavior” and “psychopathology” and the variables excessive and pathological Internet use, were tested against each other.“Risk-behavior” was operationalized by several risk-behaviors (e.g. drug abuse, truancy, etc). “Psychopathology” included measures of several mental disorders (e.g. depression, hyperactivity, etc). Excessive Internet use was assessed as the duration and frequency of Internet use. Pathological Internet use was assessed with the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire (i.e., presence of addiction criteria).Excessive Internet use loaded on “risk-behavior” (λ = 0.484, p < .001) and on “psychopathology” (λ = 0.071, p < .007). Pathological Internet use loaded on “risk-behavior” (λ = 0.333, p < .001) and on “psychopathology” (λ = 0.852, p < .001). Chi-square tests determined that the loadings of excessive Internet use (χ2 (1) = 81.98, p < .001) were significantly stronger on “risk-behavior” than “psychopathology”. Vice versa, pathological Internet use loaded significantly stronger on “psychopathology” (χ2 (1) = 107.10, p < .001).The results indicate that pathological Internet use should rather be considered as psychopathology. Excessive Internet use on the other hand, should be classified as adolescent risk-behavior.

Impact of Internet in school-going adolescents

Introduction: Internet addiction is an online-related, compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones, and one’s work environment. The addiction behavior becomes unmanageable, completely dominates the addict’s life, and impacts relationships and work. Aim: To identify the level of Internet addiction among school-going adolescents and its associated factors. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among school-going adolescents of age 13–19 years in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Stratified random sampling was adopted, and 602 students were enrolled. Individual interview and Internet addiction test (IAT), a self-report 20-item tool for adolescents and adults, were used. The content validity and reliability of the tool were established, and a pilot study was conducted. Results: Approximately 19.77% of students had full control of his or her usage; 67.11% of students experience frequent problems because of excessive Internet use, and 13.12% of students had significant problems because of Internet use. About 99.8% had used the Internet before, and 61.0% had their devices such as laptops (59.1%), tablets (26.1%), and cell phones (4.0%). In total, 59.5% use the Internet for entertainment and 10.3% for relieving loneliness. There was a significant association between IAT outcome and age group such that with an increase in age developed the risk of getting Internet addiction (P = 0.003). Conclusion: We observed that 13.12% had significant problems because of Internet use. The factors significantly associated with IAT outcome were age group, medium of education, a device to access the Internet, and whether parents know about student’s Internet activities.