Internet addiction and nomophobia among medical undergraduates of a tertiary care teaching institute in Patna, Eastern India

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excess use of the internet and gadgets for learning, gaming, and socialization has resulted in addictive behavior and nomophobia, especially among college‑going students. Thus, this study was designed to find out the proportion and predictors of internet addiction and nomophobia among medical undergraduates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study conducted on 367 medical undergraduates of a teaching hospital was carried out using a standard tool: the Internet Addiction Test Short Form for screening internet addiction and the Nomophobia Questionnaire for nomophobia. Results were tabulated and multivariable binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to find out the predictors of internet addiction and nomophobia. RESULTS: A total of 116 (31.6%, 95% CI: 27%–36.5%) students were addicted to the internet and 247 (67.3%, 95% CI: 62.3%–71.9%) were screened to have moderate‑to‑severe nomophobia. The age of the student (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.83 [0.69–0.99]), male gender (AOR: 2.24 [1.33–3.79]), screen time (AOR: 1.24 [1.14–1.34]), checking the phone first in the morning (AOR: 1.98 [1.107–3.54]), non‑leisure time usage of phone (AOR: 2.07 [1.25–3.4]), and altered reading habit (AOR: 2.51 [1.26–5.01]) were independent predictors of internet addiction. Increased screen time (AOR: 1.103 [1.016–1.23]), checking the phone first in the morning after waking up (AOR: 1.68 [1.05–2.81]), altered academic performance (AOR: 1.99 [1.079–3.68]), and presence of internet addiction (AOR: 8.17 [3.56–18.76]) were independent predictors of moderate‑to‑severe nomophobia among medical students. CONCLUSION: One and two out of every three medical students were found to have internet addiction and moderate‑to‑severe nomophobia, respectively. Increased screen time, altered academic performance, and the presence of internet addiction were independent predictors of moderate‑to‑severe nomophobia.