Investigating the state of internet addiction and how to use it among students of Gilan University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2011-2018

Dissertation for Master's Degree in Nursing Education

(Community Health Orientation)

Abstract

Introduction:

Internet, the new powerhouse of technology, has covered countless audiences all over the world. Internet addiction is a new issue that has been noticed in recent years as a behavior-oriented addiction. The widespread penetration of the Internet has made many people, especially students, face the negative consequences of Internet addiction. rtl;"> 1391-92.

Materials and methods:

In this descriptive analytical study, 583 students of Gilan University of Medical Sciences were selected by stratified random sampling method in 2011. The data were collected using the demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Young Internet Addiction Test. The data were analyzed using software SPSS16 software and Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation and rank logistic regression tests were performed.

Results:

Mild addiction to the Internet was 5.7% among students and 44% were at risk of Internet addiction. Age (p=0.001), gender (p0.0001), marital status (p=0.0001), degree (p=0.001), field of study (p=0.016), student's place of residence (p=0.014), student's employment status (p=0.001), mother's education (p=0.02), history of mental illness and addiction (p=0.0001), goals Internet use (P = 0.001), the part used on the Internet (P = 0.001) had a statistically significant relationship. The most important purposes of students in using the Internet were recreational (29.2%), scientific (27.7%) and communication (24.3%), and the most used parts on the Internet were scientific research (22.07%), using Facebook (20.5%) and downloading (14.92%). Age, medical history Spirituality, addiction and the part used on the Internet were among the predictors of Internet addiction.

Conclusion:

Since nearly half of the students in the study were at risk of Internet addiction, it is necessary to pay attention and focus on the predictors of Internet addiction (young age, male gender, celibacy, history of addiction to smoking and other substances and the part of the Internet used) To design educational and prevention programs.

Keywords: Internet, medical students, Internet addiction, how to use

Statement of the problem

We are in a moment of time. which has no resemblance to the past. Life is full of speed and speed. The production of information, inventions, knowledge, technology and progress have an amazing speed. One of the technologies of today's world is the Internet (1). Undoubtedly, the Internet is the vanguard of the industrial revolution of the new era. With the daily arrival of thousands of new members and about 200 million users around the world, the Internet is forming a communication, social and economic revolution. Currently, the Internet is at the peak of the digital industrial revolution, and any new revolution undoubtedly creates new problems and troubles (2). Today, the Internet has become a necessity of life in many societies, because without it, the possibility of planning, development and productivity in all personal and social fields will not be possible. Although these features are considered to be one of the capabilities of the Internet, they are also considered one of its disadvantages (3,4). The unique features of the Internet include: ease of access [1] (millions of sites are available 24/7), low cost and cost [2], anonymity in the virtual space [3] has made people all over the world welcome it (5).

In fact, the Internet is no longer a tool that only scientists use. The various and many functions of the Internet have led to the widespread use of this technology by people. The expansion of the use of the Internet in all aspects of life, including: schools, workplaces, services and businesses.The expansion of the use of the Internet has been integrated with all aspects of life, including: school, workplace, services, and business (6). The most important changes brought about by this technology have been summarized by Marshall McLuhan in one phrase, and that is the transformation of the world into a global village. This means that people in different parts of the world, as a village, have the opportunity to communicate with each other and learn about global news and events (7).

Internet addiction is an interesting and new topic that has been considered as a behavior-oriented addiction in recent years (4). "Internet addiction" as a separate disorder was first proposed in 1995 by New York psychiatrist Evan Goldberg, developed by Yang in 1996 and attracted the attention of psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists (8). This disorder has different titles such as: "behavioral addiction to Internet[4], "morbid use of the Internet[5]", "problematic use of the Internet[6]", "abuse of the Internet[7]", "cyber addiction[8]" and "virtual addiction[9]" have been mentioned, but the most common term that is used more than other titles in various researches is Internet addiction (9,10,11).

There are at least five specific types of Internet addiction: pornography addiction sex, virtual communication and making friends, business and shopping, searching for information and internet games. There are several definitions for Internet addiction, but one of the most complete is the definition that Young provided in 1996: "Internet addiction can be considered a type of Internet use that leads to psychological, social, educational and professional problems" (3).

Today, Internet addiction is The reason for the increase in the number of people suffering from it has become a growing concern at the global level, which puts it in the spotlight. The effects that can be listed for Internet addiction include: fatigue, insomnia, eating disorders, decreased academic and work performance, anxiety, periods of depression, sitting in the corner, lack of communication with family, friends, acquaintances, reduction of social connections, economic problems caused by: spending time on the Internet, loss of job and Unemployment, Internet costs and possibly Internet gambling are generally disorders of individual, family and social functioning (12). In fact, Internet addiction is a real addiction like drug addiction and other addictions. Although this type of addiction does not have the physical problems of chemical addictions, the social problems caused by it are similar to other addictions and with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, restlessness, obsessive thoughts, withdrawal, disorders. emotional and mental disintegration is associated (13).

Internet addiction causes drastic changes in people's lifestyles, which leaves a deep impact on a person's physical and mental health. Some of the effects of Internet abuse on health include: increasing insomnia, decreasing mobility, which in itself causes obesity and its complications, weakening the immune system and being more vulnerable to diseases, problems Vision such as: pain, redness, dry eyes, blurred and double vision that leads to reduced vision, fatigue and headache, nerve and muscle symptoms such as: numbness or burning sensation in the hands, back pain, neck and back pain, skin problems such as dry and sensitive skin, respiratory problems, damage to the mucous membrane of the nose and throat, and feeling weak and tired (14).

One ??of the groups in Students are at risk of Internet addiction. Despite the need for students to use the Internet to access libraries and databases, researchers emphasize that students are especially at risk of Internet addiction. One of the reasons is that adjusting to student life can be challenging and lead to loneliness, anxiety, and depression (5). style="direction: rtl;">Lack of parental control, more access to the Internet, flexible curriculum and having more unorganized time, encouragement from the university to use the Internet and lack of control over what they do on the Internet(15).

The prevalence of Internet addiction in the general population of the world is five to ten percent. About 54% of Internet addicts have a history of depression and 34% of them have a history of anxiety and worry(15).