The association between Internet addiction and sleep quality among Sohag University medical students

Abstract

Abstract Background Internet addiction (IA) is a growing issue with multiple impacts on psychological functions, including sleep. Consequently, the present study aimed to assess the correlation between IA as well as the quality of sleep among medical students. A total of 525 students from Sohag University were included in the study. Young Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) was utilized in order to evaluate IA. Demographic information, university-related factors, and Internet usage patterns of the participants were documented. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was utilized so as to evaluate the quality of sleep. Results The prevalence of IA was 4.95% for severe addiction and 39.62% for moderate addiction. About 81.62% of subjects who suffer from IA significantly had poor quality of sleep. Young age, male gender, low academic performance, computer presence at home, Internet presence at home, using the Internet for chatting and gaming, and poor sleep quality are strong predictors of Internet addiction. Conclusions The prevalence of IA and its impact on the quality of sleep have been found to be substantial among medical students. There is a need for programs to raise awareness towards IA as well as its impact on sleep among university medical students.