Impact of Addiction to Internet on a Number of Psychiatric Symptoms in Students of Isfahan Universities, Iran, 2010

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact ofinternet addiction on some psychiatric symptoms among universitystudents.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 250students selected via quota sampling from universities in Isfahan,Iran. Participants completed demographic questionnaire, YoungDiagnostic Questionnaire, Internet Addiction Test and SymptomChecklist‑90‑Revision (SCL‑90‑R). Finally, the means of psychiatricsymptoms of internet addicted and non‑addicted subjects werecompared. Also, t‑test and multivariate analysis of covariance wereused through SPSS16 software for data analysis.Results: The mean±standard deviation (SD) of psychiatric symptomssuch as somatization, obsessive–compulsive disorder, interpersonalsensitivity, depression, anxiety, aggression (hostility), phobic anxiety,paranoid ideation and psychoticism in the addicted group were11.27 ± 6.66, 14.05 ± 7.91, 10.5 ± 6.20, 15.61 ± 8.88, 10.77 ± 5.52,6.77 ± 4.88, 6.05 ± 4.47, 7.61 ± 4.28, and 9.66 ± 6.87, respectively, andin the non‑addicted group were 6.99 ± 6.42, 7.49 ± 5.23, 5.46 ± 4.95,9.27 ± 7.92, 6.35 ± 6.69, 3.57 ± 3.35, 2.41 ± 2.79, 5.47 ± 4.1, and5.29 ± 4.95, respectively. There were significant differences betweenthe means of psychiatric symptoms in all SCL‑90‑R subscales andGlobal Severity Index, Positive Symptom Distress Index, PositiveSymptom Total in the addicted and non‑addicted individuals (P<0.05).Also, internet addiction (with controlling sex variable) seemed to affectpsychiatric symptoms.Conclusion: Psychiatrists and psychologists involved in the fieldof mental health need to be well informed about mental problemsdue to internet addiction, such as anxiety, depression, aggression,and job and educational dissatisfaction.Keywords: Addictive behavior, internet, symptoms, students