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Prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors in students

Prevalência de adicção em internet e fatores associados em estudantes

Abstract

Objective:

A cross-sectional study that estimated the prevalence of Internet Addiction and associated factors among High School and College students in Montes Claros - Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods:

Internet Addiction was evaluated through the Internet Addiction Test, and demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors, as well as internet usage profile characteristics, were examined. Descriptive analysis and the Poisson regression model were applied.

Results:

Of the 2,519 participants, 52.3% were considered with Internet Addiction Problems. In High School, the following factors were identified: are women and girls, age over >16, class C, alcohol consumption, impaired sleep, frequent use of social networks, and time spent connected. In Higher Education, the following factors: are women and girls, age over >23, paid activity, class C and D/E, alcohol consumption, impaired sleep, imbalanced diet, frequent use of social networks, and time spent connected.

Conclusion:

There was an expressive prevalence of Internet Addiction Problems, an outcome associated with the demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and internet use characteristics.

Keywords:
Behavior, addictive; Epidemiologic studies; Internet; Student health

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br