Islam Md Rabiul, Hasan Apu Md Mehedi, Akter Rabeya, Tultul Papia Sen, Anjum Ramisa, Nahar Zabun, Shahriar Mohammad, Bhuiyan Mohiuddin Ahmed
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Farmgate, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
Heliyon. 2023 Feb;9(2):e13340. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13340. Epub 2023 Feb 1.
Internet addiction (IA) by children and adolescents is a concern for parents. The intensity of this problem has increased in the context of COVID-19 pandemic across the world. Here we aimed to evaluate internet usage patterns, addiction to internet use, and mental health among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted this cross-sectional study among 502 school-going adolescents. Pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to demographics and the internet usage pattern. We assessed the prevalence of IA and loneliness using the internet addiction test (IAT) scale and UCLA-3 loneliness scale. The prevalence of IA and loneliness among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents were 88.25% and 72.51%, respectively. Individuals with English-medium education, higher classes, high economic status, mobile internet connection, online gaming habits, and living without family showed significantly higher levels of IA. Moreover, a high proportion of loneliness was observed among individuals with high financial conditions, mobile internet connection, and who watch movies on the internet. The present study findings suggest a strong association between demographics, internet usage patterns, IA, and the mental health of adolescents. These results would have practical inferences in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and related fields. Based on this finding, the healthcare authorities and professionals can develop an inclusive interventional approach for adolescents who suffer from IA and mental health disorders.
儿童和青少年的网络成瘾问题是家长们所关心的。在全球新冠疫情的背景下,这一问题的严重程度有所增加。在此,我们旨在评估新冠疫情期间孟加拉国在校青少年的互联网使用模式、网络成瘾情况以及心理健康状况。我们对502名在校青少年进行了这项横断面研究。使用预先构建的问卷收集与人口统计学和互联网使用模式相关的信息。我们使用网络成瘾测试(IAT)量表和加州大学洛杉矶分校孤独感量表(UCLA - 3)评估网络成瘾和孤独感的患病率。孟加拉国在校青少年中网络成瘾和孤独感的患病率分别为88.25%和72.51%。接受英语中等教育、年级较高、经济状况良好、使用移动互联网连接、有在线游戏习惯以及与家人分开居住的个体网络成瘾水平显著更高。此外,在经济状况良好、使用移动互联网连接以及在网上看电影的个体中观察到较高比例的孤独感。本研究结果表明人口统计学、互联网使用模式、网络成瘾与青少年心理健康之间存在密切关联。这些结果将在临床心理学、心理治疗及相关领域具有实际的参考价值。基于这一发现,卫生保健当局和专业人员可为患有网络成瘾和心理健康障碍的青少年制定一种全面的干预方法。