Problematic internet use: a cross-sectional study on a model from university students in Egypt
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Ahmed Arafa
,
Shimaa Abo Saif
Abstract
Background
Problematic Internet use in the form of excessive Internet use, excessive social network sites (SNSs) use, and compulsive Internet use (CIU) has been increasing among young adults. However, the association between excessive Internet and SNSs use and CIU have not yet been confirmed. This study aimed to investigate this association and detect the risk factors of excessive Internet use, excessive SNSs use, and CIU among university students in Egypt.
Subjects and methods
A multi-stage random sampling approach was adopted to include university students representing medical and non-medical faculties from 3 universities in Egypt. The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) was used to measure the online addictive behaviors of students.
Results
The age of the 510 participating students was 20.84 ± 1.62 years, 28.2% were males, 36.9% were living in North Egypt, and 69.4% were registered in medical faculties. After adjustment for age, sex, residence, SNSs accounts, Internet payments, and academic gradings, having Sarahah account associated with excessive Internet use (p = 0.010), excessive SNSs use (p < 0.001), and CIU (p < 0.001) while having Instagram account associated with excessive Internet use (p = 0.019) only. CIU correlated positively with daily hours of Internet use (r = 0.303, p < 0.001) and daily hours of SNSs use (r = 0.356, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Excessive Internet use and excessive SNSs use are associated with CIU. Having Sarahah account is related to excessive Internet use, excessive SNSs use, and CIU.
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Funding: None.
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Conflict of interests: None.
References
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© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
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- Frontmatter
- Reviews
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- Educational interventions to improve menstrual health: approaches and challenges
- Improving gluten free diet adherence by youth with celiac disease
- Which HIV-infected youth are at risk of developing depression and what treatments help? A systematic review focusing on Southern Africa
- Original Articles
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- Food safety knowledge and self-reported practices among adolescents in rural secondary schools in Nigeria
- Anthropometric evaluation of school-going native highlanders (4–19 years of age) from the Leh-Ladakh region in India
- Predictors of behaviour change for unhealthy sleep patterns among Indian dental students
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