Severity Of Internet Addiction Research Articles

Psychological Characteristics of Adolescents with Varying Degrees of Tendency to Internet Addiction

Introduction. This article is dedicated to studying psychological characteristics of modern adolescents with different severity of the tendency to Internet addictive behavior. In the course of the study, theoretical and empirical material concerning the problem of deviant behavior was generalized. Also, individual psychological characteristics of adolescents and the influence of varying degrees of severity of Internet addiction on young people’s meaning of life orientations were identified. The novelty of this study lies in the fact that for the first time, a set of psychological diagnostic techniques aimed at studying the meaningful orientations of adolescents with Internet addiction was formulated and tested.Purpose. Studying psychological characteristics of adolescents with varying degrees of tendency to Internet addiction. Materials and Methods. As part of the empirical study, the following standardized methods were used: the questionnaire “Behavior on the Internet” by A. E. Zhichkina, the methodology “Questionnaire for studying the level of aggressiveness of Bass-Darka”, “Test of meaningful life orientations (SMO)” by D. A. Leontiev, the methodology “Self-assessment of mental states” by G. Eysenck. Mathematical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The data was processed using the computer program “SPSS” 17.0 for Windows”.Results. The respondents were 120 teenagers studying in general education institutions of the city of Rostov-on-Don. As a result of the study, it was found that the indicators of aggression are least pronounced in adolescents prone to Internet addiction. In respondents without a tendency to addictive behavior, anxiety and frustration were found to be the least.Discussion. In the group of Internet-dependent adolescents, almost all the main aspects of personality show low indicators, which reflects negative impact of the Internet on formation of individual psychological characteristics of adolescents. The hypothesis of adolescents’ tendency to Internet addiction being associated with peculiarities of meaningful life orientations has been confirmed.

Altered local intrinsic neural activity and molecular architecture in internet use disorders

BackgroundInternet gaming disorder (IGD) is mainly characterized by its core dysfunction in higher-order brain cortices involved in inhibitory control, whose neurobiological basis remains unclear. Then, we will investigate local intrinsic neural activity (INA) alterations in IGD, ascertain whether these potential alterations are related to clinical characteristics, and further explore the underlying molecular architecture. MethodIn this study, we performed the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to explore the impact of IGD on local INA. Correlation analysis revealed the relationship between ReHo and fALFF in terms of group differences and clinical characteristics. Moreover, correlations between fALFF, ReHo, and PET- and SPECT-driven maps were investigated to elucidate the specific molecular architecture alternations in IGD. Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was used to show the potential abilities of fALFF and ReHo in distinguishing individuals with IGD (IGDs) from healthy controls (HCs). ResultCompared with HCs, IGDs revealed increased ReHo and fALFF in the prefrontal cortex. Significantly decreased ReHo was observed in the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and cerebellum. In addition, the ReHo values in the cerebellum_7b_R were positively correlated with internet addiction severity. ROC curve analysis showed that ReHo and fALFF-altered brain regions could effectively distinguish IGDs from HCs. More importantly, cross-modal correlations revealed local INA changes in brain regions associated with the monoamine neurotransmitter system and the less studied cholinergic/GABAergic system. ConclusionThese results suggest that local functional impairments are shown in the audiovisual and inhibitory control circuits in IGDs. This may be associated with underlying neurotransmitter system alterations. Therefore, this study provides the possibility of GABAergic receptor agonists and cholinergic receptor inhibitors for the treatment of IGD.

Sleep Quality in Medical Students and its Association with Internet Usage- A Cross-Sectional Study.

To examine sleep quality and its association with internet usage in undergraduate medical students. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 181 undergraduate medical students from January 2019 to March 2019. A predesigned, pretested, semistructured self-administered questionnaire including information on sociodemographic profiles and lifestyle questions was utilized. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scale were applied. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Students with moderate to severe internet addiction showed a total mean score of 6.76 ± 2.45, while those with mild internet addiction had a total mean PSQI score of 6.58 ± 2.57. An increasing severity of internet addiction was associated with poor quality of sleep (22.45%) (P < 0.01). Scores of IAT were assessed in relation to sleep quality, showing that with an increased average total score of internet addiction (39.93 ± 10.36), there was an increasing occurrence of poor sleep quality (P < 0.05). Excessive internet use was linked to poor sleep quality (11.04 ± 1.99) and was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Internet usage among young adults has become an alarming public health concern. Practicing caution in its use can help mitigate its negative impacts on both physical and psychological health. Healthy living requires maintaining a balance through participation in sports, education, culture, and other engaging activities.

Family-based therapy for internet addiction among adolescents and young adults: Ameta-analysis.

Internet addiction (IA) has been identified as a major public health problem that is more prominent in adolescents and young adults. Some researchers have indicated certain advantages of family-based therapy over other treatments in participants with IA, but no conclusive evaluation has been reported. The present meta-analysis aims to review the efficacy of family-based therapy on Internet addiction in adolescents and young adults. Relevant articles published from 1996 to February 15th, 2024, were searched from 14 databases, including three Chinese databases. A total of 19,590 articles were identified using a combination of three sets of search terms (Internet addiction, family therapy, and adolescents). Only RCTs and nonrandomized controlled trials were included. 18 studies, most of which were conducted in Asian countries, were included in the final data analysis. The overall severity of Internet addiction in the family-based therapy group was significantly lower than that in the control group. However, significant heterogeneity was detected. Subgroup analysis showed a beneficial effect of family-based therapy when compared with non-intervention and when added to another psychological or behavioural therapy in psychiatric patients with co-medication. Few studies have examined secondary outcomes or follow-up effects. Family-based therapy is most effective in reducing the severity of Internet addiction when combined with other therapies, especially medication treatments in psychiatric patients. It might also be helpful to relieve depression and enhance family functions, which needs further evidence. More studies following up on the post-intervention effects are recommended in the future.

White matter integrity of right frontostriatal circuit predicts internet addiction severity among internet gamers.

Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self-control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self-control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self-control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self-control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC-right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self-control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC-left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self-control on the relationship between FA of the dACC-right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC-right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self-control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self-regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction.

Internet addiction and its relationship with food choice motives and the risk of eating disorders among young adults in Malaysia

The COVID-19 lockdown measures have dramatically altered the daily routines of young adults. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the relationships between internet addiction, food choice motives and the risk of eating disorders in young adults during the transition to the endemic phase of COVID-19. The Internet Addiction Test was utilised to evaluate the presence and severity of internet addiction among young adults. The Food Choice Questionnaire was employed to assess the food choice motives of young adults, while the risk of eating disorders was determined using the Eating Attitude Test-26. The relationships between internet addiction, food choice motives, and the risk of eating disorders were assessed using model 4 of the PROCESS macro for SPSS. The findings indicated that 29.0% of young adults experienced moderate-to-severe internet addiction, whereas 32.6% were at risk of eating disorders. Young adults were highly valued for the price, sensory appeal, and mood when deciding food choices. The relationship between internet addiction and the risk of eating disorders was partially mediated by convenience (b = − 0.211, SE = 0.140, − 0.548 to − 0.016) and familiarity (b = 0.219, SE = 0.122, 0.019 to 0.494). A significant direct effect was also observed between internet addiction and the risk of eating disorders (B = 0.793, p = 0.017). There is an urgent need to implement intervention strategies aimed at reducing problematic internet use, promoting healthier food choices, and fostering healthy eating habits among young adults.

Genetic polymorphism in HTR2A rs6313 is associated with internet addiction disorder.

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has grown into public health concern of global proportions. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with IAD may exhibit altered levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are known to play crucial roles in depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and addiction. Therefore, polymorphisms in the receptors that mediate the effects of serotonin and dopamine and affect their functional states as well as their activities are suspect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between IAD and rs6313 (T102C) polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene, (HTR2A). Twenty patients with IAD and twenty healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Barratt Impulse Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess the severity of internet addiction, mental status, impulsive traits, sleep quality, and social support. Genotyping was performed to identify rs6313 polymorphisms in the HTR2A gene of all participants. The frequencies of the C and T alleles of HTR2A T102C were 28% and 72% in the IAD group and 53% and 47% in the HCs group, respectively, indicating that the differences between these two groups were significant. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes of HTR2A gene T102C between the IAD and the HCs groups. Additionally, there was no difference in the distribution of the frequencies of the HTR2A gene T102C CC and CT+TT genotypes between the two groups. However, the distribution between the TT and CC+CT genotypes showed an apparent statistical difference in the HTR2A gene T102C between the two groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the IAT score was positively correlated with the Y-BOCS and BIS scores for the CC+CT genotype in patients with IAD. Moreover, the IAT score was positively correlated with the PSQI score in patients with IAD carrying the TT genotype. The present study demonstrates that rs6313 in HTR2A is associated with IAD, and that the T allele of rs6313 in HTR2A may be a risk factor for IAD.

Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Medical Students in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Internet addiction has been studied extensively worldwide and shown to have adverse social, psychological, and functional consequences. It has become a global health issue, particularly among young adults. Unfortunately, few studies have been conducted among medical students in Sudan. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of internet addiction and determine its associated risk factors among medical students in Sudan. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students using a systematic sampling technique. An online structured questionnaire was used, which included sociodemographic data and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) to assess the presence and severity of internet addiction, as well as the Kessler Questionnaire to assess psychological distress. Results Among the 307 medical students who participated in this study, 63.8% (n=196) were female. The majority 78.5% (n=242) were aged 18-22 years, and the prevalence of internet addiction was 75.5% (n=232). The addiction levels were as follows: mild, 39.7% (n=122); moderate, 33.2% (n=102); and severe, 2.6% (n=8). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that being a female medical student was associated with a 1.9 times higher risk of internet addiction (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.87, p = 0.033). Psychological distress was associated with a 6.368-fold higher risk of internet addiction compared to non-distressed students (AOR = 6.368, p < 0.001). Additionally, students in the clinical years had a lower risk of internet addiction, specifically in the fourth and fifth years (AOR = 0.325, p = 0.010; AOR = 0.398, p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusions This study found a high prevalence of internet addiction among medical students at the National University, Khartoum, Sudan, which was strongly associated with mental distress. Effective awareness programs, potentially initiated by educational authorities, are required to educate students on limiting excessive internet usage and addressing associated risk factors. Future research should include longitudinal and multi-university studies to obtain more generalizable results and toinvestigate the relationship between internet addiction and mental distress more robustly.

The association between internet addiction and sleep quality among medical students in Saudi Arabia

Background Sleep is one of the fundamental human needs, essential for maintaining a high quality of life and mental and physical well-being across all age groups. Poor sleep quality often stems from negative lifestyle habits, including excessive internet usage. Therefore, it is important to determine the prevalence of internet gaming disorder among youth in Saudi Arabia and to examine the relationship between internet addiction levels and sleep quality. Methods Data were collected from 338 medical students in the southern region of Saudi Arabia (mean age = 21.2 years, standard deviation = 3.29 years). Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data analysis employed iterations, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and ANOVA. Results The results revealed that 21% of the participants exhibited severe internet addiction, while 31% displayed moderate internet addiction. Furthermore, the findings indicated a positive correlation between sleep quality and the severity of internet addiction. Sleep quality symptoms explained 75% of the variance in Internet addiction scores, even after controlling for demographic variables. Additional bivariate analyses revealed that individuals who spent six or more hours online daily were more likely to experience symptoms of poor sleep quality and exhibit a higher severity of internet addiction. Additionally, Men were more susceptible to developing internet addiction compared to women. Moreover, students with internet addiction tended to have lower academic achievements. Conclusion These findings, while exploratory, offer valuable insights into potential interventions, strategies, and programs for mitigating internet addiction and enhancing sleep quality among medical college students.

Prevalence and correlates of internet addiction among undergraduate health sciences students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

The internet is an essential aspect of our daily life, and its binge has resulted in internet addiction. Students are vulnerable to internet addiction, since they utilize it for academic and extracurricular objectives. Problematic internet use can predispose individuals to mental illnesses. We aim to determine the prevalence of internet addiction among undergraduate health sciences students at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study, using a multistage sampling technique. The Young Internet Addiction Test was used to obtain the data, which was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 for Windows. The frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to summarize the data. A chi-square was used to compare the categorical variables, and a p-value &lt;0.05 was considered significant. A total of 294 students were interviewed, with a mean age and standard deviation of 24±2.9 years, and a male-to-female ratio of 2.3:1. Approximately, 42% of the students had mild internet addiction, and 13% had moderate internet addiction. A significant association was found between the severity of internet addiction and time spent on the internet per day. More than half of the students had mild to moderate internet addiction, which was associated with the time spent on the internet. Internet addiction among health sciences students is common and requires prompt intervention.

Effectiveness of online integrative trans-diagnostic treatment on internet addiction and high-risk behaviors in female adolescents with borderline personality disorder with comorbid depressive disorder.

Based on research, borderline personality disorder is associated with many behavioral and emotional problems, including Internet addiction and high-risk behaviors. On the other hand, integrative trans-diagnostic treatment, by targeting trans-diagnostic factors in emotional pathology, is considered a suitable treatment for comorbid psychological pathologies. Also, since in adolescence, the opinion of others about oneself is more important, online therapy has the advantage of protecting them from the fear of stigma and shame in the face of others' judgments. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to investigate the effectiveness of online integrative trans-diagnostic treatment on the internet addiction and high-risk behaviors in adolescents with borderline personality disorder. The current research was applied and quasi-experimental in a pre-test-post-test manner with a control group. The research sample included 40 female adolescents with borderline personality disorder who were randomly divided into two groups of 20 people, experimental and control groups. The criteria for entering the research included the age range of 12 to 18 years, female, confirmation of the disease by a psychologist, not receiving other psychological treatments in the last 3 months, and having a smartphone to participate in the online group. Substance abuse, any serious mental and physical illness/disorder that interferes with treatment, and failure to attend more than two sessions in therapy sessions were some of the exclusion criteria.The participants were tested on the scales of internet addiction and high-risk behaviors. Then, the treatment plan based on online integrative trans-diagnostic group therapy was presented to the participants of the experimental group online in 9 two-hour sessions. The control group was placed on the waiting list until the completion of the treatment sessions and the post-test implementation, and after the post-test implementation, they received the treatment. Then, their scores were measured, after completing the treatment, and a three-month follow-up period. Descriptive statistics and covariance test were used to analyze the data. Patients showed a clear improvement in the severity of internet addiction and high-risk behavior symptoms. So that the scores of internet addiction and high-risk behaviors in the experimental group after receiving the treatment, as well as after a three-month follow-up period, were significantly reduced (p < 0.001). These results show that online integrative trans-diagnostic therapy can be an effective treatment option for reducing some symptoms of risky behaviors and internet addiction in adolescents with borderline personality disorder and should be studied further. It is noteworthy that the limitations of this study were the available sampling method, the use of a unisex sample of female patients, and the short-term follow-up period, which makes it difficult to generalize the results.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence and Severity of Internet Addiction: Current and Future Public Health Challenges

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic altered the lifestyle of a substantial number of individuals who were compelled to undergo quarantine in their residences. Consequently, they relied heavily on the Internet for studying, online teaching, official meetings, communication, entertainment, conferences, and work. There is a possibility that the pandemic has led to a greater inclination towards internet addiction compared to both pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Internet addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by excessive and compulsive internet use that interferes with daily life activities. The prevalence of internet addiction has been a concern for several years, with an increasing number of people spending considerable amounts of time online. Several studies provide evidence that the occurrence of internet addiction varies significantly across countries and cultures, with certain regions demonstrating higher rates than others. This review reveals a substantial surge in the prevalence of internet addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most notable discovery is that internet addiction has undergone an almost threefold increase during the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to its occurrence in the previous decade. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria had the highest recorded prevalence rate of internet addiction, reaching 88.1%. In contrast, Turkey had the lowest observed rate of internet addiction at 4.8%. Accordingly, we stress the importance of enhancing our awareness to recognize internet addiction as a novel global syndrome arising from progressively complex public health and psychosocial circumstances.

Investigating the Effectiveness of Modifying the Parent-Child Interaction Pattern Based on Filial Play Therapy on Internet Addiction, Sleep Quality, and Self-efficacy in 9-12-Year-Old Children.

Despite all the positive features of the internet, the risk of addiction threatens users. Sleep disorders and the negative effects on self-efficacy are important risks of this technology. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of modifying the parent-child interaction pattern based on play therapy (filial therapy) on internet addiction, sleep quality, and self-efficacy in 9-12-year-old children. This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all 3617 boys and girls aged 9-12 years studying in selected schools in Kerman, Iran (12 elementary schools) in the academic year 2020-2021. A total of 72 students were randomly selected from among the children who met the benchmark score of internet addiction and were not under medical and psychological treatment. The participants were divided into two experimental and control groups (36 students each). A demographic information questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS), the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The mean scores of internet addiction in the pre-test and post-test were 86.67 and 86.23 in the control group and 88.14 and 75.14 in the experimental group, respectively, which showed a decrease in internet addiction. The scores of sleep quality in the pre-test and post-test were 1.81 and 1.78 in the control group and 1.75 and 0.5 in the experimental group, respectively. Moreover, the overall scores of self-efficacy in the pre-test and post-test were 63.64 and 63.94 in the control group and 62.08 and 81.75 in the experimental group, respectively. The results indicated an improvement in the overall quality of sleep and selfefficacy. The results showed that the severity of internet addiction in children decreased after the treatment based on modifying the parent-child interaction, and this treatment was also effective on self-efficacy and sleep disorders.

Mental health problems, perceived stress, and internet addiction among undergraduate college students of Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction: The global burden of disease due to mental health problems is on a rise. One of the vulnerable groups are college going youths. The objective of the current study was to examine the frequency and pattern of mental health problems, perceived stress, and internet addiction and explore their relationship with each other among students reporting voluntarily during stress management program. Material and method: A cross-sectional study among 139 undergraduate students was conducted as a part of a program titled "Stress, drugs and internet among college students" during orientation program for undergraduate students of a management college in Kathmandu Valley. Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MHS), Young's Internet addiction test (YIAT), perceived stress scale (PSS) were used for mental health problems, internet addiction and stress respectively. Results: As per mental health screening questionnaire, 64.7% (90/139) and 7.2% (10/139) participants reported somewhat difficulty and very much or extreme difficulty. There was mild internet addiction among 45.3% and moderate internet addiction among 18.7%. There was significant positive correlation of the MHS score (indicative of number of mental health problems) with the total YIAT score (ρ= 0.404, p&lt; 0.01) and PSS scores (ρ= 0.301, p&lt; 0.01). Also, severity of internet addiction and perceived stress levels were positively associated with each other (ρ= 0.303, p&lt; 0.01). Conclusion: There is significant burden of mental health problems, stress and problematic internet use among the undergraduate students in Nepal. There is also a significant positive correlation of the MHS score (indicative of number of mental health problems) with the Young’s internet addiction test score and perceived stress scale scores.

Validation of the Revised Chen Internet Addition Scale for Chinese Older Adults

Purpose: This study aimed to revise the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R) among older adults in China. Method: 1,107 participants were recruited through an online survey. The factorial structure, reliability, and validity of the CIAS-R were tested. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to distinguish individuals’ Internet addiction membership. Results: The first-order five-factor model was demonstrated to best explain the underlying structure of the CIAS-R among the elderly in China. Time spent online, sense of loneliness, and depression provided evidence for the criterion validity of the CIAS-R. The magnitude of the correlation coefficients indicated Internet addiction may lead to psychological problems. LPA analysis showed the elderly could be clustered into four types based on their Internet addiction severity. Conclusion: The CIAS-R is a reliable and valid measure of Internet addiction among the elderly. This study offers a feasible way to intervene in the addicted aged for social workers and clinicians.

Association between internet addiction, brain structure, and social capital in adolescents

ABSTRACTOf late, internet addiction among adolescents has become a serious problem, with increased internet use. Previous research suggests that the more people become addicted to the internet, the more they isolate themselves from society. Conversely, it has been suggested that abundant social capital (the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society) protects people from becoming addicted to the internet. This study focused on the brain structure of typical adolescents (10–18 years of age) and hypothesized that the size of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), which is thought to be associated with self-control ability, is associated with both internet addiction and social capital. Voxel-based morphometry analysis indicated that left DLPFC volume was negatively correlated with the severity of internet addiction and positively correlated with social capital. Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated that the severity of internet addiction and social capital were negatively correlated. The statistical association between them was no longer significant when left DLPFC volume was used as a control variable. These results suggest that the left DLPFC may mediate the relationship between social capital and internet addiction in adolescents.

Extent and Severity of Internet Addiction in Persons with Common Mental Disorders

Abstract Background: There is a scarcity of literature about Internet addiction (IA) in common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders. Early identification of IA in CMDs can help in better management of both disorders. Aims: To assess the extent and severity of IA in persons with CMDs. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, single-group, exploratory study conducted at the Department of Psychiatry of tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. Patients aged 18 years and above and diagnosed with CMDs (Neurotic and stress-related disorders, Depressive Disorder, and substance use disorder) as per the ICD-11 criteria were included in the study after taking written informed consent. The severity of CMDs was assessed on Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Yale-Brown Obsessive-compulsive Scale, Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire and Severity of Opioid Dependence Questionnaire. The level of IA was assessed using Young’s IA Test. Results: A total of 150 patients diagnosed with CMDs were included. Males were slightly more than females (56% v/s 44%), most were younger than 40 years of age (55.3%), married (66.7%) and from urban (65.3%) background. Out of 150, 84 (56%) had depressive disorder, 45 (30%) had anxiety disorder, 15 (10%) had OCD and only 6 (4%) had substance use disorders. 69 (46%) participants had IA (36 mild and 33 moderate) and none had severe IA. A significant association was found between IA and CMDs (P &lt; 0.05). Age, marital status, and type of residence were independent predictors or risk factors for IA. Conclusion: The index study concludes that there is a strong association between CMDs and IA. About half of persons with CMDs have IA.

Problematic use of the internet, smartphones, and social media among medical students and relationship with depression: An exploratory study.

Students in sub-Saharan African countries experienced online classes for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some individuals, greater online engagement can lead to online dependency, which can be associated with depression. The present study explored the association between problematic use of the internet, social media, and smartphones with depression symptoms among Ugandan medical students. A pilot study was conducted among 269 medical students at a Ugandan public university. Using a survey, data were collected regarding socio-demographic factors, lifestyle, online use behaviors, smartphone addiction, social media addiction, and internet addiction. Hierarchical linear regression models were performed to explore the associations of different forms of online addiction with depression symptom severity. The findings indicated that 16.73% of the medical students had moderate to severe depression symptoms. The prevalence of being at risk of (i) smartphone addiction was 45.72%, (ii) social media addiction was 74.34%, and (iii) internet addiction use was 8.55%. Online use behaviors (e.g., average hours spent online, types of social media platforms used, the purpose for internet use) and online-related addictions (to smartphones, social media, and the internet) predicted approximately 8% and 10% of the severity of depression symptoms, respectively. However, over the past two weeks, life stressors had the highest predictability for depression (35.9%). The final model predicted a total of 51.9% variance for depression symptoms. In the final model, romantic relationship problems (ß = 2.30, S.E = 0.58; p<0.01) and academic performance problems (ß = 1.76, S.E = 0.60; p<0.01) over the past two weeks; and increased internet addiction severity (ß = 0.05, S.E = 0.02; p<0.01) was associated with significantly increased depression symptom severity, whereas Twitter use was associated with reduced depression symptom severity (ß = 1.88, S.E = 0.57; p<0.05). Despite life stressors being the largest predictor of depression symptom score severity, problematic online use also contributed significantly. Therefore, it is recommended that medical students' mental health care services consider digital wellbeing and its relationship with problematic online use as part of a more holistic depression prevention and resilience program.

OBILJEŽJA KORIŠTENJA SNAPCHATA KOD ZAGREBAČKIH SREDNJOŠKOLACA

CHARACTERISTICS OF »SNAPCHAT« USE AMONG ZAGREB HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABSTRACT In the last decade, social networks have become one of the most important »technological tools« in the lives of people around the world, used mainly by adolescents (especially girls). Currently, the most widely used ones are Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. This paper aims to explore the characteristics of Snapchat use among high school students in the City of Zagreb, mainly due to its great popularity, the amount of time spent on this social network, and possible psychosocial risks, mainly due to its great popularity, but also due to the lack of domestic literature in this field. A total of 825 students participated in the study (NB=404; NG=418; 3 students did not provide gender information), and the age range was from 14 to 20 years (Mage=16.65; SDage=1.208). The results show that over 80% of high school students use Snapchat, and the differences in frequency of use were found in terms of gender, age, i.e., grade, and type ofschool. Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok are the most popular social networks among Zagreb high school students, and the use of one of these networks is moderately related to the use of the others, so the resultsspeak offor a preferred and dominantsocial network that is used more often than others. In conclusion, no differences in the severity of Internet addiction were found in relation to the frequency of Snapchat use. The results obtained allow a better understanding of the characteristics of the use of thissocial network among high school students and are interpreted in the context of the current challenges of scientific research and the possibility of developing psychosocial interventions. Key words: Snapchat; social networks; adolescents; high school students; Internet addiction.

PREVALENCE OF INTERNET ADDICATION AMONG A SAMPLE OF TRIPOLI UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Due to the excessive use of internet among university students academically and socially, this may make them to become addicted to it. This study aimed at assess the prevalence of Internet addiction among University students. Exploring whether there are differences in the prevalence of Internet addiction among university students according to gender, and knowing whether there are differences in the level of severity of Internet addiction according to gender. The study sample consisted of 265 students (158 male, 107 female). The results indicated that the prevalence of Internet addiction was 68.08%, most of participants (51.06%) had a mild addiction, while 17.02% had a moderate addiction, and 36.17% did not have Internet addiction. The results also showed that the prevalence of Internet addiction among males was 72%, most of them (56%) had a slight degree of addiction, while 16% had a medium degree. The prevalence of Internet addiction among females was 54.54%, most of them had a slight degree of addiction (36.36%), and 13.63% had a medium degree. There were no significant differences between males and females in the percentage of individuals suffering from Internet addiction. There were no significant differences in the level of Internet addiction, according to gender.