DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i10.081

Pages: 4072-4079

With the development of online learning, communication and entertainment, the internet has become an indispensable tool for students. However, it can prove to be problematic owing to its dysfunctional use. The American Psychiatric Association has included Internet Gaming Disorder in the appendix of updated version of DSM-5.Internet Addiction (IA) has yet not been officially recognized as a disorder. This research was aimed to study the pattern of internet use and factors associated with it, to estimate the prevalence of internet addiction and to study the relationship between internet addiction and quality of sleep among medical undergraduates. Study was carried out on MBBS students studying in C. U. Shah medical college, Surendranagar in a single session after permission of Ethics Committee. Students were explained about the procedure, consent was taken and then they were subjected to self-administered socio-demographic data sheet, information regarding patterns of internet use , Young’s Internet Addiction Test(IAT) and quality of sleep questionnaire. The data was analyzed by statistical methods using SPSS version 16.Study included 197 students, of which 102 were male. Mean age of the participant was 20. The prevalence of IA was found to be 19.2 %. Male gender, hours of internet use per day, permanent login status, online friendships, online gaming, searching information online, and watching adult content were found to be significantly associated with IA. Internet use for online friendships was found to be a significant predictor of IA and searching information was found to be protective against IA on logistic regression. There was significant association between Internet Addiction and poor quality of sleep. With the rapidly increasing internet use among adults and adolescents, IA is soon likely to emerge as a global health issue. Characteristics of internet usage associated with IA needs to be considered while developing strategies for interventions.