Prevalence of Internet Addiction and its Impact on Psychological Health and Sleep Quality: A Descriptive Study on Nursing Students of Western U.P, India

Internet has had a profound impact on nearly every aspect of modern life. Internet addiction can have serious consequences for individuals’ physical health, mental health, academic or work performance, and social life.

To find prevalence of internet addiction and its association with depression, sleep, anxiety and sleep quality among nursing students.

It was a descriptive web-based survey. Data has been taken from 451 nursing students. Standardized tool Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used.

76.7% participants had internet addiction. 49.9% participants had mild addiction, 24.8% have moderate and 2% have severe Internet addiction. 36.2% participants had mild to extremely severe depression, 53.5% had mild to extremely severe anxiety and 38 % had mild to extremely severe stress. More than half of participants (53.9%) had poor sleep quality. The Odds of sleep quality was 1.78 times, depression 0.87, anxiety 1.21 and stress is 1.22 with internet addiction.

Students had internet addiction and it influences their psychological health. Awareness program should be organized to teach students about responsible internet use and the potential risks of excessive screen time.