Objective@#Excessive
internet use has been associated with various psychiatric symptoms and
psychosocial factors. This study aimed to investigate the
prevalence of
internet addiction (IA) and its
associations with clinical (
depression/
social anxiety) and psychosocial (
self-esteem/
perceived social support) factors in
medical students. @*
Methods@#In total, 408
medical students at one
university in
Korea were included in this study. IA symptoms were assessed with Young’s
Internet Addiction Test, and scores of 50 or higher were considered to indicate IA. Participants were asked to complete the Beck
Depression Inventory,
Social Phobia Inventory, Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale, and Duke-
University of
North Carolina Functional
Social Support Questionnaire. A
logistic regression model was constructed to examine the impact of clinical and
psychosocial factors on IA. @*Results@#Forty-seven participants (11.5%) were identified as having IA.
Self-esteem was associated with a lower
risk of IA, whereas
depression and
social anxiety were associated with a higher
risk of IA.
Depression,
social anxiety, low
self-esteem, and low
perceived social support were found to be significant correlates of IA. Young’s
Internet Addiction Test score positively correlated with Beck
Depression Inventory and
Social Phobia Inventory scores, but negatively correlated with Rosenberg
Self-Esteem Scale and Duke-
University of
North Carolina Functional
Social Support Questionnaire scores. Furthermore, the
prevalence of IA was highest in first-year
medical students. @*Conclusion@#This study revealed the possible
risk and
protective factors of IA. Our findings indicate that strengthening
self-esteem and reducing
depression and
social anxiety may contribute to the prevention and management of IA in
medical students.