The relationship between internet addiction and risky health behaviors in university students: A cross‐sectional study in Turkey

Author(s):  
Emine Özarıcı ◽  
Seda Cangöl Sögüt
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Zenebe ◽  
Kunuya Kunno ◽  
Meseret Mekonnen ◽  
Ajebush Bewuket ◽  
Mengesha Birkie ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nebiyu Mengistu ◽  
Desalegn Tarekegn ◽  
Wondwosen Molla ◽  
Seid Shumye

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


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (04) ◽  
pp. 336-341
Author(s):  
ümit Yalçın

Introduction: Anxiety, depression and other mental problems are one of the important health problems on university campuses. The anxiety created by the exams in the students negatively affects the students' attitude and success towards the lessons. The studies carried out, the understanding the relationship between exercise, depression and anxiety, and positive results obtained were satisfying and also increased the value given to this issue. In our study, we examined the relationship between university students' physical activity level and exam anxiety. Material-Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 175 volunteer university students who did and did not do sports. The International Physical Activity Assessment Questionnaire (IPAQ) Long Form was used to measure the level of physical activity and the Exam Anxiety Inventory to determine the level of anxiety. Results: The rate of female patients was significantly higher in the inactive group than the minimally active and active group (p ˂ 0.05). In the inactive group, the test anxiety score was significantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) than the minimally active and active group. Conclusion: As a result, our research revealed that the physical activity levels of university students are quite low, especially in female students, and there is a relationship between the level of physical activity and anxiety.


Author(s):  
Tathiana Corrêa Rangel ◽  
Maria Cristina Falcão Raposo ◽  
Pedro Augusto Sampaio Rocha-Filho

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