ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Internet is one of the most advanced new communication means. Despite the positive uses of it, occurrence of excessive behaviors and detrimental effects of internet addiction particularly in adolescents has attracted everyone's regard. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of this problem among Birjand intermediate school students and its relationship with their anxiety, stress, and depression
Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 2014 on 400 male and female intermediate students of Birjand who were selected through cluster sampling. In addition to employing a demographic variables questionnaire, other data collection was carried out using Young's Internet addiction test and DASS-21 stress, anxiety, and depression scale questionnaire. Then, the final obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software [V:18] and a= 0.05 was taken as the significant level
Results: It was found that 73.8% of the students were normal users, 20.5% had low addiction and 5.7% had a severe addiction to internet. The findings showed that the mean scores of stress, anxiety, and depression in students addicted to internet were significantly higher than normal users' [P<0.001]
Conclusion: Results indicated a high prevalence of internet addiction in the students and had significant relationships with anxiety, stress, and depression. This is something that necessitates interventions aiming at preventing various harms to them