The association between internet addiction, social phobia and depression in medical college students

Authors

  • Karthikeyan Elavarasan Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Thirunaaukarasu Dhandapani Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Prasan Norman Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Vidya D. C. Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Geetha Mani Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20183973

Keywords:

Internet addiction, Social phobia, Depression

Abstract

Background: Internet has become an integral part of day-to-day life of the university students. It has become indispensable. It gives unlimited access to information; it keeps you updated with the latest techniques and drugs. But internet usage is known to lead to addictive behavior, and Internet addiction threatens to develop into a major public health issue in the near future in a rapidly developing country like India.

Methods: A study was conducted in a medical college of 600 students, of which 489 gave consent to participate. They were evaluated using a questionnaire which included an internet addiction scale to assess internet addiction, social phobia inventory to assess social phobia and depression and somatic scale to assess depression.

Results: Of the 489 students who participated, 54.4% were females.63.8% had mild internet addiction and only 0,4% had severe addiction. Of those suffering from internet addiction 52.5% of the students were suffering from social phobia. It was found that students with internet addiction had three times the risk of developing social phobia, four times the risk of developing depression when compared with students without internet addiction.

Conclusions: Excessive use of internet affects the academic achievements of students. Students addicted to internet are more involved in it and spend more time online than their studies which invariably affects their grades. Seminars and media can play an important role in making people aware of causes and effects of internet addiction.

Author Biographies

Karthikeyan Elavarasan, Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant professor

Department of Community Medicine

Thirunaaukarasu Dhandapani, Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant professor

Department of Community Medicine

Prasan Norman, Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant professor

Department of Community Medicine

Vidya D. C., Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant professor

Department of Community Medicine

Geetha Mani, Department of Community Medicine, Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India

Assistant professor

Department of Community Medicine

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Published

2018-09-24

How to Cite

Elavarasan, K., Dhandapani, T., Norman, P., D. C., V., & Mani, G. (2018). The association between internet addiction, social phobia and depression in medical college students. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(10), 4351–4356. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20183973

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Section

Original Research Articles