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Internet Addiction in Greek Medical Students: an Online Survey

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Abstract

Objective

The authors investigated the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) in undergraduate medical students to identify possible associations with sociodemographics and Internet habits.

Methods

All students at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Greece, were invited to complete the online Internet Addiction Test (IAT) along with sociodemographics and preferences on Internet activities.

Results

The authors received 585 responses after three reminders (23.5 % response rate). Mild IA was found in 24.5 %, moderate in 5.4 %, and severe in 0.2 %. In multivariable analysis, the odds to develop IA were increased with visits in Internet cafes (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.49, 95 % Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.45, 8.46), the use of Facebook (OR 2.43, 95 % CI: 1.35, 4.38), Twitter (OR 2.45, 95 % CI: 1.37, 4.39), and online games (OR 1.95, 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.94). Using e-mails seemed to be protective against IA (OR 0.59, 95 % CI: 0.37, 0.94).

Conclusion

This is the first IA prevalence study in a European medical school. Early-detection systems and other ways to help students with pathological behaviors should be developed.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our students who participated in this study.

Disclosure

No competing financial interests exist, and no funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Zoi Tsimtsiou, Anna-Bettina Haidich, Dimitris Spachos, Stamatia Kokkali, Panagiotis Bamidis, Theodoros Dardavesis & Malamatenia Arvanitidou

Authors
  1. Zoi Tsimtsiou
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  2. Anna-Bettina Haidich
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  3. Dimitris Spachos
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  4. Stamatia Kokkali
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  5. Panagiotis Bamidis
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  6. Theodoros Dardavesis
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  7. Malamatenia Arvanitidou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zoi Tsimtsiou.

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Tsimtsiou, Z., Haidich, AB., Spachos, D. et al. Internet Addiction in Greek Medical Students: an Online Survey. Acad Psychiatry 39, 300–304 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-014-0273-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-014-0273-x

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