Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39070066›Full record

ArticlePsychology research and behavior management2024

Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Its Association with Psychological Disorders Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.

Amani M Alqarni, Leila A Boubshait, Dana Ahmed Alnufaily, Sajidah J Alalwan, Hassn Reda Al Fardan, Marwah Foud Alabdulmhsin, Malak Abdulrahman Alotaibi, Nadeen A Boubshait

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychology research and behavior management, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Amani M AlqarniFamily and Community Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-0674-5949
Leila A BoubshaitFamily and Community Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Dana Ahmed AlnufailyCollege of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Sajidah J AlalwanCollege of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Hassn Reda Al FardanCollege of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Marwah Foud AlabdulmhsinCollege of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Malak Abdulrahman AlotaibiPopulation Health Management, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nadeen A BoubshaitCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Internet addiction is increasing worldwide. Internet addiction (IA) refers to excessive Internet usage in an uncontrolled and time-consuming manner, causing loss of time and disruption of daily life. However, the prevalence of IA may vary according to age, sex, and ethnicity, and is more prevalent among college students. There is a strong link between problematic Internet usage and an increased risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD and depression symptoms. Medical students were chosen for this study due to their unique stressors, including rigorous academic demands, extensive study hours, and clinical practice requirements. It is critical to address behavioral addictions and their psychological effects in this group, as they are linked to the future quality of healthcare provision compared with their non-medical peers. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) in medical students and explore their correlation with the medical students' PTSD and Patient Health Questionnaire -9 (PHQ9) scores. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted including 506 medical students in the second year of medical school up to internship year at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU) between June 2021 and January 2022. The questionnaire consisted of consent forms, sociodemographic data, and screening tools for PTSD, the GPIU, and PHQ-9. Results: The prevalence of problematic internet usage (PIU) was 30.6% in the sample group. Students with moderate-to-moderately severe PTSD were 1.7 times more likely to have PIU OR (95% CI): 1.7 (1.091, 2.879). Students with moderate to severe depression were 2.2 times more likely to have PIU OR (95% CI); 2.2 (1.333, 3.950).Having a Saudi nationality, lower income, and being single was significantly associated with PIU. Conclusion: Single Saudi medical students with lower income are at risk of developing more problematic internet use. Especially those who score moderate to high on PTSD and PHQ-9 scales.

Indexed as

academic performanceinternet addictionmental healthuniversity students

Identifiers

PMID39070066
PMCPMC11277962

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.