Cyber-Addiction among University Students: Insights and Implications from a Web-based Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noomen Guelmami ◽  
Wen Chen ◽  
Nasr Chalghaf ◽  
Fairouz Azaiez ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
French Language ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analyses ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Widespread Phenomenon ◽  
Overall Reliability

BACKGROUND Cyber-addiction has become a particularly serious problem among students around the world. However, few researches have investigated cyber-addiction and its impact on Tunisian university students. OBJECTIVE Our study aimed to assess the presence and severity of internet addiction among Tunisian university students. METHODS . We sampled 540 students from Sfax, Tunisia (191 males, 35.4% and 349 females, 64.6%) aged from 18 to 30 years, with a mean age of 21.72 ± 1.93 years. They were administered the French version of the "Internet Addiction Test” (IAT), initially developed by Young and validated in French language by Khazaal and colleagues. This questionnaire consists of 20 items scoring on a Likert scale from 1 to 5 (never, rarely, occasionally, often, and always). RESULTS Mean IAT score resulted 65.02 ± 19.71 (median 68). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses enabled to discover a 1-factor structure. Overall reliability proved excellent, as shown by the Cronbach’s alpha (0.93) and by the test-retest correlation (0.73). Almost half of the students (42.8%) were found to be cyber-addicted, with females being much more affected than males (respectively 30.9% versus 11.9%). Together with gender, age was found to be another determinant of cyber-addiction, with students aged less than 20 years exhibiting a higher risk than students aged 20 years and older. Furthermore, there was a relation between the academic studies chosen and the cyber-addiction score, with students pursuing studies in the field of physical education and sports having a higher risk of cyber-addiction. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the IAT proved to be a reliable instrument that can be administered to Tunisian students. Moreover, our results showed that cyber-addiction has become a widespread phenomenon also among Tunisian university students.

scholarly journals Prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: a community university-based cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Online Games ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Khat Chewing ◽  
Current Alcohol

Abstract Background 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. 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. Objectives Main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among University Students in Ethiopia. Methods A 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. Results The 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. Conclusions The 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.

scholarly journals Internet Addiction and its Associated Factors Among Dilla University Undergraduate Students, Dilla, Ethiopia, 2019: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nebiyu Mengistu ◽  
Desalegn Tarekegn ◽  
Wondwosen Molla ◽  
Seid Shumye
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background: Internet addiction is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupation, urges or behavior regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. Globally, it has been found that the occurrence rate of internet addiction among university students ranges from 0.8% to 47.7%. Despite, there are multiple challenges that related with internet addiction which remains under-recognized and largely ignored by stakeholders and also not well known especially in low income countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted aimed to assess the magnitude of the internet addiction and its associated factors among undergraduate students. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed from May 1st to June 1st 2019. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to get a total of 846 undergraduate Students. Data was collected by using self-administered structured questionnaires of Young’s Internet Addiction Test. The collected data was coded and entered into EPIDATA 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 22, Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with internet addiction and statistically significant was considered at P-value <0.05. Results: A total of 846 study participants, giving a response rate were 761 (90%) and the prevalence of internet addiction was 19.4%. Multiple logistic regression model revealed that being male [AOR=1.69, 95% CI: (1.80, 6.41)], probable depression [AOR =3.61, 95% CI (2.40, 5.43)] and khat or caffeinated drinks [AOR=1.86, 95%CI: (1.21, 2.87)] were significantly associated with internet addiction.Conclusion: This study revealed that a high prevalence of internet addiction among Dilla university students and there were various factors associated with increased prevalence of problematic internet use. Therefore, students need to be educated about safe, valuable, and healthy practice of internet use and better to counsel on substance use and its consequences and also psychiatric evaluation (referring for mental health services) to overcome the anticipated increase in internet addiction

Internet addiction, headache, and insomnia in university students: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tathiana Corrêa Rangel ◽  
Maria Cristina Falcão Raposo ◽  
Pedro Augusto Sampaio Rocha-Filho
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Prevalence and related factors of internet addiction among undergraduate university students, Northeastern Ethiopia. A community university-based cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Khat Chewing ◽  
Current Alcohol

Abstract Background: Globally, more than three billion persons using the Internet daily, with the common being youths and young persons. Internet addiction among university students in Ethiopia has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the magnitude and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students in Ethiopia.Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and related factors of internet addiction among Wollo University students, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2019.Methods: A community university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Wollo University students from April 10 to May 10, 2019, G.C. A total of six hundred three students were participated in the study using a pretested and self-administered structured questionnaire. The Young’s Internet Addiction Test instrument was used to assess the level of internet addiction. Results: Generally, the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) among the current internet users was 85 % (n=466) with 55.7 %( n=305) mild internet addiction, 27.9% (n=153) moderate internet addiction and 1.5% (n= 8) severe internet addiction. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, using the internet greater than five hours daily, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing and current alcohol use were positively related to internet addiction. Using the internet for more than twelve months and using the internet by mobile internet were negatively related to internet addiction.Conclusions: The current study documents a high prevalence of internet addiction among Wollo University students. Factors independently associated with internet addiction were using the internet greater than five hours daily, having mental distress, playing online games, current khat chewing and current alcohol use.

scholarly journals Effect of Internet Addiction on Dietary Behavior and Lifestyle Characteristics Among University Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (S) ◽  
pp. 836-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafsa Kamran ◽  
Asma Afreen ◽  
Zaheer Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Balanced Diet

AbstractWith increased use of internet in daily lives, its negative effects are also being observed on physical, psychological and social health of individuals.Objective: To determine the effect of internet addiction (IA) on dietary behavior and lifestyle characteristics among university students.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were students selected from four universities in Lahore, Pakistan through two-stage sampling (n = 322). Levels of Internet Addiction (IA) were assessed using Young Internet Addiction Test and demographics, dietary behavior and lifestyle factors using self-reportedquestionnaire.Results: Severe and moderate IA was present in 9.6% and 41.9% of population respectively. High prevalence was found among males, Private Sector University and engineering students. Frequent breakfast skipping, increased meal size and habit of snacking while using internet was found associated with IA. Internet Addicts were also used to eat less than recommended daily servings of dairy and fruit and more servings of meat group than their no internet addict counterparts (p < 0.05). Fast food and fried items were most consumed snacks, while carbonated beverages were most consumed beverages among internet addicts. IA was found associated with lesser physically activity, shorter duration of physical activity, disorganized sleep pattern and less duration of sleep (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Unhealthy dietary behavior and lifestyle habits were exhibited by internet addicts. University students should be educated regarding importance of balanced diet and healthy lifestyle for effectual primary prevention of numerous chronic diseases

scholarly journals Using of licensed and unlicensed anti-obesity medications among the university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 01-09
Author(s):  
Nour Elsahory
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Medication Consumption ◽  
The University ◽  
Knowledge Usage

Background: Obesity is one of the most serious problems worldwide. Using anti-obesity medications have gained growing interest among adults as a shortcut for bodyweight management practice. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, knowledge, usage determinants, intake pattern and experienced effects of anti-obesity medications, licensed and unlicensed, among university students in Jordan. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured web-based questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. Results: 418 students with a mean age of 21.5 responded to the questionnaire. The prevalence of anti-obesity medication intake was 11%. The majority (67.2%) had scored poor knowledge regarding these medications. The intake patterns indicated that 78.3% of the consumers were self-administrated without prescription and 76.1% of the consumers used licensed type. Despite being perceived as useful in weight reduction, vomiting, and nausea, were very common adverse events (65.2%). Besides being obese, students with excellent knowledge demonstrated higher odds (OR=24.38 (95%CI: 8.12-73.19) and 10.48 (95%CI: 4.03-27.26), respectively) for medication consumption compared with other, p < 0.0005. Conclusion: Using anti-obesity medications among university students is of concern, particularly due to using unlicensed types and the lack of clinical prescription. With the reported poor knowledge, it becomes crucial to launching awareness campaigns and tailored programs for this age group and the general population.

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