Year: 2025 | Month: December | Volume: 15 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 252-259
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20251231
Internet Addiction and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression in Undergraduate Medical Students - A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Kumud Jain1, Sachin Wasudeorao Patil2, Priyanka Jain3
13rd MBBS Medical Student, Community Medicine, American International Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan,
2Professor and Head, Community Medicine, American International Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan,
3Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Vidya Bhawan Gandhian Institute of Educational Studies Ramgiri, Badgaon, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Corresponding Author: Kumud Jain
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The advent of the internet has undeniably revolutionized modern society, transforming how we communicate, access information, and conduct daily activities. The number of active internet users worldwide exceeds 2.5 billion, the majority being adolescents and young adults. In India, the surge is even more remarkable, with around 751.5 million users. The demanding nature of medical education requires focused study and effective time management, making the integration of the internet into medical practice indispensable. However, overuse or the misuse of internet (internet addiction) can lead to procrastination,
reduced academic performance, and heightened stress levels, which are particularly detrimental in a field that requires precision and continuous learning.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among 1st, 2nd and 3rd MBBS professional years undergraduate medical students. The present study assesses the prevalence of Internet addiction and Young’s Internet Addiction and the DASS-21 scale was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress.
Results: 127 responders (48.74%) were found addicted to the internet, 48.5% were females and 135 (51.5%) males. Students spent maximum time on social media. 92% participants also reported to use the internet for educational purposes with mostly (61.5%) spending around 1-3 hours for it. The majority of participants (56.9%) mentioned using 1-3 Gb/day with monthly expenses for data (37.4%) being 300-500 Indian rupees.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students and a significant positive correlation between Internet addiction and depression, anxiety, and stress. These findings emphasize the urgent need for structured mental health support and awareness programs aimed at promoting balanced Internet use.
Key words: Internet addiction, medical students, medical education, internet users.