Suicide-related Internet use among university students

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S404-S404
Author(s):  
V. Voros ◽  
P. Osvath ◽  
Z. Szabo ◽  
Z. Nagy ◽  
S. Fekete

IntroductionNowadays, mobile and Internet communication is widely used and has a special role in mental health prevention. Besides, websites targeting suicide prevention, pro-suicide contents (methods for suicide, suicide pacts) are also easily available, which may increase the risk for suicide in vulnerable people.AimsOur aim was to assess the relation between Internet use and suicidal behaviour among university students and also to assess online activity regarding suicidal contents and help-seeking behaviour.MethodsSelf-administered questionnaires were completed by university students.ResultsMost of the 101 students who completed the survey use the Internet 3 hours or more a day. They are facing suicidal contents numerous times. Professional websites providing information and the common popular sites were mainly visited, sites providing help were less screened (10%). More than quarter of the students felt discomfort when looking at sites dealing with suicide. Almost one-third of the subjects had suicidal thoughts during their lives and 15% already planned suicide. In case of suicidal thoughts, subjects would seek help mainly from friends and family, but online help-seeking was not preferred.ConclusionsDespite of the extensive Internet use, students rarely seek help for emotional problems on the Internet. Development of websites controlled by professionals is essential, especially for those who would not benefit from traditional psychological/psychiatric care. Future research is needed regarding the characteristics of Internet use and the potentials and limits of help-seeking via the Internet in order to prevent people from pro-suicide websites and to improve professional websites.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (38) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nimra Nawaz

It is impossible to ignore the fact that the internet is the basic need of today’s technological world. Different research shows that individuals across the globe are using information and communication technologies (ICTs) to get the most up-to-date information from the internet. Similarly, university students also spend a lot of time on the internet researching and collecting material relevant to their research topics. Although different research has been conducted on the usage of the internet in different countries, research about Pakistani students is still limited. The major goal of this research was to see how internet usage affects students' academic performance particularly when it comes to increasing their grades. The objective of this research was to determine the type of internet use and the impact of the internet on students' academic achievement. Arts faculty from the University of Punjab Pakistan was selected as the universe of the study and 5 departments of arts were selected by simple random sampling and a sample of 100 students was taken through systematic sampling. The study adopted a survey research design. A questionnaire was developed by the researchers as a tool for data collection. The data was analyzed statistically, which led to the acceptance of the alternative hypothesis. Statistical results are also presented and discussed, and implications for future research are also provided. According to the findings, internet use has a positive impact on student's academic achievement.


Author(s):  
Kristina Adorjan ◽  
Simon Langgartner ◽  
Maximilian Maywald ◽  
Susanne Karch ◽  
Oliver Pogarell

AbstractThe last 2 decades have seen an increase in the number of reports of excessive internet use. Therefore, this study aimed to examine internet use among university students to gain more insight into the novel phenomenon of addictive internet use (AIU). Data were collected by the means of an online questionnaire sent to 4391 students. Approximately 10% of the 4391 students could be included in the statistical analysis. Of those 483 students, almost all (99.2%) used the internet, and a quarter (24.8%) showed AIU. The students used the internet mostly for information searches, random browsing, social networking, and online shopping; however, AIU was seen most often in the areas of social networking, random browsing, information searches, gaming, and pornography. One in four of the respondents showed addictive behavior in at least one area of internet use. Students with AIU in the area of random browsing were significantly less far advanced in their studies than those without AIU, and well-being was significantly poorer across AIU groups than in those who did not show AIU. The study confirms the importance of AIU, as reflected in the high prevalence of AIU among the students and the significantly lower level of well-being in those with AIU. Undifferentiated consideration of AIU does not do justice to its various facets, and future research should consider all areas of internet use, with the aim to increase understanding of the underlying mechanisms of AIU and develop more differentiated treatment approaches.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S566-S567
Author(s):  
M. Abdelghani ◽  
G. Salah El-Deen

BackgroundInternet use has increased broadly worldwide. There are growing concerns about problematic Internet use (PIU) among youth. Among undergraduate students, excessive Internet use can adversely affect their interpersonal relations and academic achievements.AimTo estimate the prevalence of PIU among Zagazig university students, and to identify the possible associations between sociodemographic and Internet-related factors and PIU.MethodsA cross-sectional study included a total of 732 undergraduate students, aged 17–34 years, from various colleges in Zagazig University. Participants were randomly selected and assessed for their internet use and abuse using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), along with a semi-structured questionnaire for sociodemographic and Internet-related factors.ResultsMaladaptive Internet use was found in 37.4% of respondents, and addictive Internet use was found in 4.1% of respondents. Logistic regression showed the predictors of PIU were: using the Internet throughout the day (OR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.75, 6.38), the number of hours spent daily using the Internet (OR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.25), the number of days/week using the Internet (OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.58), accessing the Internet using multiple devices (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.98), and accessing the Internet both indoors and outdoors (OR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.19).ConclusionThis is the first prevalence study of PIU at an Egyptian university. PIU was common among university students. Addressing this issue and its predictors could eventually help to enhance academic performance and achievement among those students.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


First Monday ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petter Bae Brandtzaeg ◽  
Marika Lüders

No studies we are aware of have explored youth’s experiences of the association between their Internet use and well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown. To fill this void, we used survey data of a representative sample (N = 734) of young Norwegians (16–26 years) collected a few weeks into the lockdown in May 2020. Findings show a substantial increase in use of several Internet activities—in particular, video calls and streaming services. Snapchat and Messenger were the most important services to keep in touch with friends. Online social support significantly predicts higher well-being, while heavy Internet use during a regular lockdown day significantly predicts low well-being, particularly among the older females. Analysis of free text responses shows that excessive Internet use during lockdown has led to poor well-being among many, both mentally (38 percent) and physically (17 percent). Many describe purposeless online scrolling or interactions as problematic. We conclude that future research on online well-being should focus more on perceived level of meaningful online activity.


2022 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Kyle Crichton ◽  
Nicolas Christin ◽  
Lorrie Faith Cranor

With the ubiquity of web tracking, information on how people navigate the internet is abundantly collected yet, due to its proprietary nature, rarely distributed. As a result, our understanding of user browsing primarily derives from small-scale studies conducted more than a decade ago. To provide an broader updated perspective, we analyze data from 257 participants who consented to have their home computer and browsing behavior monitored through the Security Behavior Observatory. Compared to previous work, we find a substantial increase in tabbed browsing and demonstrate the need to include tab information for accurate web measurements. Our results confirm that user browsing is highly centralized, with 50% of internet use spent on 1% of visited websites. However, we also find that users spend a disproportionate amount of time on low-visited websites, areas with a greater likelihood of containing risky content. We then identify the primary gateways to these sites and discuss implications for future research.


Author(s):  
M. Mizanur Rahman ◽  
M. Taha Arif ◽  
Fready Luke ◽  
Santha Letchumi ◽  
Fatin Nabila ◽  
...  

Background: The internet has become an indispensable tool for communication, academic research, information and entertainment. However, heavy users of the internet lead to less confidence in social skills and the tendency to be isolated. The study aimed to assess the pattern of internet use and factors affecting problematic internet use among university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among the students of a university in Sarawak, Malaysia. A multistage cluster sampling technique was adapted to select the participants. Data were collected from 463 students by self-administered questionnaire. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis was done to determine the potential factors for problematic internet use.Results: The mean age of the students was 22 years, with a standard deviation of 1.6 years. Two-fifths (61.8%) of the students had no problematic internet use. However, 35.4% had moderate and 2.8% had severe problematic internet use. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis found that age of the students, year of study, duration of daily internet use and use of social networking like Skype appeared to be potential predictors of problematic internet use (p<0.05).Conclusions: This study was conducted in only one university, thus did not depict the overall scenarios of the country. The implications of the findings are still worth noting in the process of designing internet addiction studies among university students. Overall, this study has unearthed some useful insights which can serve as a guide to more elaborate studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S326-S326
Author(s):  
Ronald W Berkowsky

Abstract Previous work focusing on the relationship between Internet use and quality of life among older adults (aged 65+) has found evidence of various positive impacts. This project expands upon this work by examining the relationship between Internet use and measures of psychological well-being (PWB) including autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. The analytic sample is derived from two waves of data (Time 1 = 2004, Time 2 = 2011) taken from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and includes a sample of older adults aged~65 at Time 1 (N = 4943). Participants were separated into four categories: those who did not use the Internet at Time 1 or 2, those who used the Internet at Time 1 only, those who used the Internet at Time 2 only, and those who used the Internet at both Time 1 and 2. Regression analyses were performed with the Time 2 PWB measures as the outcomes and the Internet use categories as the primary predictors. Results indicate that while continuous Internet users typically reported higher PWB scores compared to non-users, those who stopped use between Time 1 and 2 also reported higher scores and those who started use between Time 1 and 2 reported lower scores. These results generally held when introducing Time 1 PWB measures as controls, suggesting changes in Internet use may affect PWB but not necessarily in the predicted directions. Additional control variables, potential explanations, and implications for future research are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 891
Author(s):  
Teghan Leech ◽  
Diana S. Dorstyn ◽  
Wenjing Li

ObjectiveYoung adults aged 18–24 years often delay or avoid seeking help for their mental health concerns. eMental health, the use of the Internet to deliver mental health information, services and care, offers a low-cost, easy-access option. However the factors that influence online help-seeking among this cohort remain unclear. MethodsAndersen’s healthcare utilisation model was adapted to examine correlates of eMental health use among Australian youth. In all, 161 young adults completed an online survey comprising sociodemographic questions, online feature preferences, the Actual and General Help-seeking Questionnaires, Berkman–Syme Social Network Index, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Service Obstacles Scale and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. ResultsAlmost 70% of young people reported having previously accessed some form of online support for their personal or emotional problems. This included informal information via social media and formalised counselling services. Notably, perception of service satisfaction was low. Hierarchical logistical regression identified two significant predisposing factors to subsequent online help-seeking: prior face-to-face service use and living or cohabitating with others. ConclusionseMental health is accessed by young people in Australia, yet more needs to be done to better integrate this service model into the healthcare system. This includes training and education for consumers and professionals about existing, effective programs. What is known about this topic?eMental health platforms can bridge the gap between technology and conventional mental health care. Despite its rapidly expanding evidence base, the implementation of eMental health into the Australian healthcare system remains slow. More work needs to be done to elucidate the factors underlying preferences for online help-seeking. What does this paper add?Young adult perspectives on the delivery of mental health information, services and care via the Internet are examined in accordance with a major conceptual model, namely Andersen’s behavioural model of health services use. The majority of those surveyed reported having accessed some form of online support for an emotional issue, although dissatisfaction with the quality of this support was expressed. Andersen’s model can guide future research in this area and potentially help target eMental health initiatives to individual service users’ needs. What are the implications for practitioners?eMental health interventions offer an alternative for young adults who have difficulty accessing traditional mental health care services, but are also an adjunct to those experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness. Practitioners can introduce young adults to eMental health by discussing the benefits and limitations and by providing information about available and secure online programs delivered by trusted service providers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosliza A.M. ◽  
Ragubathi M.N. ◽  
Mohamad Yusoff M.K.A ◽  
Shaharuddin M.S.

Introduction: Internet addiction is an increasingly worrying phenomena affecting people globally especially the youths. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of internet addiction among undergraduate students in a Malaysian public university and its associated factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 322 undergraduate students, identified through cluster sampling was conducted using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire includes socio-demography, use of information technology gadgets and internet usage. Internet Addiction test (IAT) was used to identify internet addiction. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: From 322 respondents, 25 (7.8%) were categorised as addictive internet users, while 182 (56.5%) were problematic internet users. The commonest online activity includes social networking (86.6%), entertainment (77.3%) and educational purposes (77.0%). From multivariate analysis, problematic and addictive internet use was significantly more common among male students (AOR=2.47, 95% CI [1.43, 4.26]), those who received study loan (AOR=1.93, 95% CI [1.10, 3.39]) and other types of funding (AOR=3.95, 95% CI [1.59, 9.80]) compared to those on scholarships, and those who spent between four to ten hours a day accessing the Internet (AOR=2.43, 95% CI [1.13, 5.23]) compared to those using the Internet for two hours or less a day. Conclusion: The prevalence of problematic and addictive internet use among respondents were higher compared to previous researches among Malaysian adolescents. It is recommended that an awareness programme on responsible use of the internet be conducted to prevent students from becoming addicted which may impact negatively on their educational performance and social life.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1091
Author(s):  
Francesca Licata ◽  
Silvia Angelillo ◽  
Alessandra Oliverio ◽  
Aida Bianco

The study aims were to investigate knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotics and antibiotic resistance (ABR), and to assess the extent of practices regarding antibiotic consumption and Internet use among university students in Southern Italy. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire from 1 April to 14 April 2021. The eligibility criteria for the study were: (i) age between 18 and 30 years and (ii) registered as an undergraduate student at the university. Among the 1051 sampled students, only 7.4% gave the correct answer to all 7 knowledge statements about antibiotics and ABR. The main determinants of knowledge were being younger and attending to medical or life sciences majors. Almost two-thirds took an antibiotic in the previous 12 months and 24.6% reported having self-medicated with antibiotics. More than half of the sample used the Internet to seek information about antibiotics and/or ABR, and it was the strongest predictor of self-medication with antibiotics. The study findings highlighted gaps in knowledge, considerable antibiotic consumption, sometimes without prescription, together with an extensive Internet use to seek health-related information. To facilitate the health-promoting use of the Internet in conjunction with health care providers, we could make young adults aware of the rational use of antibiotics.


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