Authors
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Currently, the use of the internet is one of the most important tools, which may
lead to negative or positive impact on college or school students. The excessive use of electronic
media may lead to change in the mood, an inability to resist internet usage, a diminishing social
life, withdrawal symptoms while unengaged, affecting self‑esteem, and adverse work or academic
consequences. The main objective of this study is to explore Internet use and its impact on selected
psychological parameters such as depression and insomnia among undergraduate (UG) nursing
students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 385 college students selected by purposive sampling
technique were included in the study. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (YIAT20) for Internet
addiction (IA) assessment, and Beck’s depression inventory Scale to assess level of depression,
and insomnia severity index (ISI) scale to measure insomnia were used.
RESULTS: Among 385 participants, 175 and 210 were male and female, respectively. Demographic
variables such as pursuing course, study year, use of Internet/day; and the purpose of Internet
use such as social networking, games, entertainment, pornography, and news were significantly
associated with IA. Depression and insomnia were found to be correlated with IA.
CONCLUSION: Internet usage more than the normal limit has a profound effect on college or school
students, in particular, depression and insomnia. At times, it ends up in problems in their social and
family relationship.
Keywords
1. Kumar M, Mondal A. A study on Internet addiction and its
relation to psychopathology and self‑esteem among college
students.Ind Psychiatry J 2018;27: 61‑6.
2. Winkler A, Dörsing B. Reif W. Shen Y. Julia A. Glombiewski.
Treatment of Internet Addiction Disorder: A Meta‑Analysis.
Clinical Psychology Review 2013; 33: 317 ‑29. doi.org/10.1016/j.
cpr.2012.12.005
3. Cash H, Rae CD, Steel AH, Curr AW. Internet addiction:
A brief summary of research and practice. Psychiatry Rev.
2012;8:292‑8.
4. Chakraborty K, BasuD, Kumar KV. Internet addiction: Consensus,
controversies, and the way ahead. East Asian Arch Psychiatry
2010;20:123‑32.
5. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The Indian Telecom
Services Performance Indicators. New Delhi. 2017.
6. Cheng C, Li AYL. Internet addiction prevalence and quality
of (real) life: A meta‑analysis of 31 nations across seven world
regions. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 2014;17:755‑60.
7. Carli V, Durkee T, Wasserman D, Hadlaczky G, Despalins R,
Kramarz E, et al. The association between pathological internet
use and comorbid psychopathology: A systematic review.
Psychopathology 2013; 46:1‑13.
8. Ho RC, Zhang MW, Tsang TY, Toh AH, Pan F, Lu Y, et al.
The association between internet addiction and psychiatric
co‑morbidity: A meta‑analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2014;14:183. doi:
10.1186/1471‑244X‑14‑183.
9. TeWildt BT, Steinbuchel T, Dieris‑Hirche J, Bottel L, Bielefeld M,
Hillemacher T, et al. OP‑113: Co‑morbid personality disorders in
patients with internet addiction. J Behav Addict 2017;6:54‑5.
10. Dieris‑Hirche J, Bottel L, Bielefeld M, Steinbüchel T, Kehyayan A,DierisB, et al. Media use and internet addiction in adult depression:
A case‑control study. Comput Hum Behav 2017;68:96‑103.
11. Sharma MK, Rao GN, Benegal V, Thennarasu K, Thomas D.
Technology addiction survey: An emerging concern for raising
awareness and promotion of healthy use of technology.Indian J
Psychol Med 2017;39:495‑99.
12. Yadav P, Banwari G, Parmar C, Maniar R. Internet addiction and
its correlates among high school students: A preliminary study
from Ahmedabad, India.Asian J Psychiatr 2013;6:500‑5.
13. Vyjayanthi S, Makharam S, Afraz M, Gajrekar S.Gender
differences in the prevalence and features of internet addiction
among Indian college students. MedicaInnovatica 2014;3:65‑70.
14. Krishnamurthy S, Chetlapalli SK. Internet addiction: Prevalence
and risk factors: A cross‑sectional study among college students
in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Indian J Public Health
2015;59:115‑21.
15. Goel D, Subramanyam A, Kamath R. A study on the prevalence
of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology
in Indian adolescents. Indian J Psychiatry 2013;55:140‑3.
16. Gedam SR, Shivji IA, Goyal A, Modi L, Ghosh S. Comparison of
internet addiction, pattern and psychopathology between medical
and dental students. Asian J Psychiatr 2016;22:105‑10.
17. Megan Hull. Internet addiction facts and statistics. The
recovery village. Availabe from: https://www.
therecoveryvillage.com/process‑addiction/internet‑addiction/
internet‑addiction‑statistics/.
18. Arthur Zuckerman. 46 internet addiction statistics: 2020/2021
data, facts & predictions. Compare camp. 2020. Available from:
https://comparecamp.com/internet‑addiction‑statistics/.
19. Guo W, Tao Y, Li X, Lin X, Meng Y, Yang X, et al. Associations of
internet addiction severity with psychopathology, serious mental
illness, and suicidality: Large‑sample cross‑sectional study. J Med
Internet Res 2020;22:e17560.
20. Tran BX, Huong LT, Hinh ND, Nguyen LH, Le BN, Nong VM,
et al.A study on the influence of internet addiction and online
interpersonal influences on health‑related quality of life in young
Vietnamese. BMC Public Health 2017;17:138.
21. Dong H, Yang F, Lu X, Hao W. Internet addiction and related
psychological factors among children and adolescents in china
during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) epidemic. Front
Psychiatry 2020;11:00751. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00751.
22. Jain A, Sharma R, Gaur KL, Yadav N, Sharma P, Sharma N, et al.
Study of internet addiction and its association with depression
and insomnia in university students.J Family Med Prim Care
2020;9:1700‑6.
23. Černja I, VejmelkaL, Rajter M. Internet addiction test: Croatian
preliminary study. BMC Psychiatry 2019;19:388.
24. Kang Y, Guo W, Xu H, Chen Y, Li X, Tan Z, et al. The 6‑item
Kessler psychological distress scale to survey serious mental
illness among Chinese undergraduates: Psychometric properties
and prevalence estimate. Compr Psychiatry 2015;63:105‑12.
25. Apuke OD, Iyendo TO. University students’ usage of the
internet resources for research and learning: Forms of access and
perceptions of utility. Heliyon 2018;4:e01052.
26. ZenebeY, Kunno K, MekonnenM, Bewuket A, BirkieM, Necho M,
et al. Prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among
undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: A community
university‑based cross‑sectional study. BMC Psychol2021;9:4.
27. Ahmed A, Bukar M. Appraisal of internet usage for educational
purposes by social and management science students in public
universities and polytechnics in Adamawa state. Int J Soc Sci
Humanit Rev 2016;6:138‑47.
28. Otunla, Aderonke O. Internet Access and Use among
Undergraduate Students of Bowen University Iwo, Osun State,
Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e‑journal). 2013; 964
29. Agboola IO. Use of print and electronic resources by agricultural
science students in Nigerian universities. Libr Inf Sci Res
2010;32:62‑5.
30. Taymur I, Budak E, Demirci H, Akdağ HA, Güngör BB,
Özdel K. A study of the relationship between internet addiction,
psychopathology and dysfunctional beliefs. Compu Hum Behav
2016;61:532‑6.
31. Lin MP, Ko HC, Wu JY. Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors
associated with internet addiction in a nationally representative
sample of college students in Taiwan.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc
Netw 2011;14:741‑6.
32. Siomos K, Floros G, Fisoun V, Evaggelia D, Farkonas N,
Sergentani E, et al. Evolution of internet addiction in Greek
adolescent students over a two‑year period: The impact of
parental bonding. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012;21:211‑9.
33. Yu X, Tam WW, Wong PT, Lam TH, Stewart SM. The patient
health questionnaire‑9 for measuring depressive symptoms
among the general population in Hong Kong. Compr Psychiatry
2012;53:95‑102.
relation to psychopathology and self‑esteem among college
students.Ind Psychiatry J 2018;27: 61‑6.
2. Winkler A, Dörsing B. Reif W. Shen Y. Julia A. Glombiewski.
Treatment of Internet Addiction Disorder: A Meta‑Analysis.
Clinical Psychology Review 2013; 33: 317 ‑29. doi.org/10.1016/j.
cpr.2012.12.005
3. Cash H, Rae CD, Steel AH, Curr AW. Internet addiction:
A brief summary of research and practice. Psychiatry Rev.
2012;8:292‑8.
4. Chakraborty K, BasuD, Kumar KV. Internet addiction: Consensus,
controversies, and the way ahead. East Asian Arch Psychiatry
2010;20:123‑32.
5. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The Indian Telecom
Services Performance Indicators. New Delhi. 2017.
6. Cheng C, Li AYL. Internet addiction prevalence and quality
of (real) life: A meta‑analysis of 31 nations across seven world
regions. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw 2014;17:755‑60.
7. Carli V, Durkee T, Wasserman D, Hadlaczky G, Despalins R,
Kramarz E, et al. The association between pathological internet
use and comorbid psychopathology: A systematic review.
Psychopathology 2013; 46:1‑13.
8. Ho RC, Zhang MW, Tsang TY, Toh AH, Pan F, Lu Y, et al.
The association between internet addiction and psychiatric
co‑morbidity: A meta‑analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2014;14:183. doi:
10.1186/1471‑244X‑14‑183.
9. TeWildt BT, Steinbuchel T, Dieris‑Hirche J, Bottel L, Bielefeld M,
Hillemacher T, et al. OP‑113: Co‑morbid personality disorders in
patients with internet addiction. J Behav Addict 2017;6:54‑5.
10. Dieris‑Hirche J, Bottel L, Bielefeld M, Steinbüchel T, Kehyayan A,DierisB, et al. Media use and internet addiction in adult depression:
A case‑control study. Comput Hum Behav 2017;68:96‑103.
11. Sharma MK, Rao GN, Benegal V, Thennarasu K, Thomas D.
Technology addiction survey: An emerging concern for raising
awareness and promotion of healthy use of technology.Indian J
Psychol Med 2017;39:495‑99.
12. Yadav P, Banwari G, Parmar C, Maniar R. Internet addiction and
its correlates among high school students: A preliminary study
from Ahmedabad, India.Asian J Psychiatr 2013;6:500‑5.
13. Vyjayanthi S, Makharam S, Afraz M, Gajrekar S.Gender
differences in the prevalence and features of internet addiction
among Indian college students. MedicaInnovatica 2014;3:65‑70.
14. Krishnamurthy S, Chetlapalli SK. Internet addiction: Prevalence
and risk factors: A cross‑sectional study among college students
in Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Indian J Public Health
2015;59:115‑21.
15. Goel D, Subramanyam A, Kamath R. A study on the prevalence
of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology
in Indian adolescents. Indian J Psychiatry 2013;55:140‑3.
16. Gedam SR, Shivji IA, Goyal A, Modi L, Ghosh S. Comparison of
internet addiction, pattern and psychopathology between medical
and dental students. Asian J Psychiatr 2016;22:105‑10.
17. Megan Hull. Internet addiction facts and statistics. The
recovery village. Availabe from: https://www.
therecoveryvillage.com/process‑addiction/internet‑addiction/
internet‑addiction‑statistics/.
18. Arthur Zuckerman. 46 internet addiction statistics: 2020/2021
data, facts & predictions. Compare camp. 2020. Available from:
https://comparecamp.com/internet‑addiction‑statistics/.
19. Guo W, Tao Y, Li X, Lin X, Meng Y, Yang X, et al. Associations of
internet addiction severity with psychopathology, serious mental
illness, and suicidality: Large‑sample cross‑sectional study. J Med
Internet Res 2020;22:e17560.
20. Tran BX, Huong LT, Hinh ND, Nguyen LH, Le BN, Nong VM,
et al.A study on the influence of internet addiction and online
interpersonal influences on health‑related quality of life in young
Vietnamese. BMC Public Health 2017;17:138.
21. Dong H, Yang F, Lu X, Hao W. Internet addiction and related
psychological factors among children and adolescents in china
during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) epidemic. Front
Psychiatry 2020;11:00751. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00751.
22. Jain A, Sharma R, Gaur KL, Yadav N, Sharma P, Sharma N, et al.
Study of internet addiction and its association with depression
and insomnia in university students.J Family Med Prim Care
2020;9:1700‑6.
23. Černja I, VejmelkaL, Rajter M. Internet addiction test: Croatian
preliminary study. BMC Psychiatry 2019;19:388.
24. Kang Y, Guo W, Xu H, Chen Y, Li X, Tan Z, et al. The 6‑item
Kessler psychological distress scale to survey serious mental
illness among Chinese undergraduates: Psychometric properties
and prevalence estimate. Compr Psychiatry 2015;63:105‑12.
25. Apuke OD, Iyendo TO. University students’ usage of the
internet resources for research and learning: Forms of access and
perceptions of utility. Heliyon 2018;4:e01052.
26. ZenebeY, Kunno K, MekonnenM, Bewuket A, BirkieM, Necho M,
et al. Prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction among
undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: A community
university‑based cross‑sectional study. BMC Psychol2021;9:4.
27. Ahmed A, Bukar M. Appraisal of internet usage for educational
purposes by social and management science students in public
universities and polytechnics in Adamawa state. Int J Soc Sci
Humanit Rev 2016;6:138‑47.
28. Otunla, Aderonke O. Internet Access and Use among
Undergraduate Students of Bowen University Iwo, Osun State,
Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice (e‑journal). 2013; 964
29. Agboola IO. Use of print and electronic resources by agricultural
science students in Nigerian universities. Libr Inf Sci Res
2010;32:62‑5.
30. Taymur I, Budak E, Demirci H, Akdağ HA, Güngör BB,
Özdel K. A study of the relationship between internet addiction,
psychopathology and dysfunctional beliefs. Compu Hum Behav
2016;61:532‑6.
31. Lin MP, Ko HC, Wu JY. Prevalence and psychosocial risk factors
associated with internet addiction in a nationally representative
sample of college students in Taiwan.Cyberpsychol Behav Soc
Netw 2011;14:741‑6.
32. Siomos K, Floros G, Fisoun V, Evaggelia D, Farkonas N,
Sergentani E, et al. Evolution of internet addiction in Greek
adolescent students over a two‑year period: The impact of
parental bonding. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012;21:211‑9.
33. Yu X, Tam WW, Wong PT, Lam TH, Stewart SM. The patient
health questionnaire‑9 for measuring depressive symptoms
among the general population in Hong Kong. Compr Psychiatry
2012;53:95‑102.
)