BACKGROUND: Internet Addiction (IA) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) may provide significant challenges for medical students as it is linked to sleep and mental health can obstruct academic pursuits, affect long-term professional aspirations and yield extensive adverse effects on society at large.
OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of IA, IGD, insomnia and depression amongst medical undergraduates and to examine their correlation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mixed-methods study was conducted amongst 402 undergraduate medical students at a rural medical college. Data were gathered by a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire encompassing socio-demographic information, the Young Internet Addiction Test, the short form of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS-SF), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Focus group discussions were done with 56 students chosen for their high scores in IA and IGD. Thematic analysis was employed to discern patterns and themes within the qualitative data. Data triangulation was conducted to interpret and elucidate the quantitative results using qualitative observations.
RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 20.39 ± 1.43 years. IA was present in 41.04%, gaming disorder in 20.89%, insomnia in 36.56% and depression in 14.42% participants. Year of study and hostel stay had a statistically significant association with all (P < 0.002). There was a strong and statistically significant association found between IA and IGD with depression and insomnia (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was found between scores and grades of IA and IGD; and insomnia and depression.
CONCLUSION: Internet usage amongst medical students was notably high (40%) and showed a significant association with insomnia and depression. Hence, early identification of students at risk for IA and IGD is crucial, as these addictions often overlap with other psychological issues.
