Correlation of internet addiction with anxiety, depression and personality traits –Upper Egypt study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship of Anxiety, Depression and personality traits with Internet addiction (IA) in university students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of 588 students selected from four faculties in Sohag University. IA was assessed by the 20-item Young Internet Addiction Test (YIAT). Information was also collected on socio-demographics, university-related factors and Internet usage patterns. Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ) used for Assessment of the personality traits. Taylor’s Manifest Anxiety Scale was used as a general indicator of anxiety. Beck depression inventory was used for measuring the existence and the severity of depression. Results: Findings showed that the prevalence of problematic internet use (PIU) among the studied population was 35.2%.  About 86.9% of Students with PIU significantly had anxiety also, 85.02% of Students with PIU significantly had Depression . PIU significantly had high score in Psychoticism and Neuroticism and low score in Lie and Extraversion. Conclusion: PIU prevalent disorder among undergraduate university students in Sohag. Clinicians and health professionals should be aware of the risk of PIU in students with Anxiety ,Depression and abnormal personality triats.