Venugopal Lalitha, R Priyadharsini, Murugaiyan Sathishbabu, I Harini
Physiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, IND.
Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 8;16(9):e68953. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68953. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Today's internet is an unavoidable component of educational sources, the entertainment field, and telecommunication processes. Internet usage is more likely among adolescents and young adults in the form of surfing, chatting, playing games, and fulfilling their social needs. The present study has been planned to assess the effect of internet addiction (IA) on sleep quality in school children.
This cross-sectional school-based study was conducted among school students in Pondicherry. A total of 350 school students of both genders studying in grades six to 10 and having access to at least one device with internet for more than one year were recruited from government and private schools located in five randomly selected communes in Pondicherry by convenient sampling method. Assessment of IA was done using Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) questionnaire assessed the participants' sleep quality. All the data was tested for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Chi-square and unpaired t-tests were used for analysis.
The average age of the participants is 13 years. 49 (26.1%) are children and 139 (73.9%) are adolescents. The majority of them are females belonging to the adolescent age group (169, 89.4%). Around 17 (19.5%) children and 70 (80.5%) adolescents reported mild IA. Thirteen (59.1%) children and nine (40.9%) adolescents reported moderate IA. There is no significant difference in sleep quality between children and adolescents (4±2.33 vs. 3.62±2.61, p=0.37) but there is a considerable difference in their levels of IA (32.98±21.06 vs. 25.6±15.08, p=0.01). Conclusion: This study found a significant relationship between IA and poor sleep quality among adolescents. Thus, adolescents, parents, school authorities, and researchers should understand the importance of regulating internet usage and encouraging sleep hygiene. Thus, appropriate measures should be taken to address the effects of IA on sleep quality.
如今，互联网已成为教育资源、娱乐领域及电信流程中不可或缺的一部分。青少年和年轻人更倾向于通过上网冲浪、聊天、玩游戏以及满足社交需求等方式使用互联网。本研究旨在评估网络成瘾（IA）对在校儿童睡眠质量的影响。
这项基于学校的横断面研究在本地治里的在校学生中开展。采用方便抽样法，从本地治里五个随机选取社区的政府和私立学校中，招募了总共350名六至十年级、拥有至少一台可上网设备且使用时间超过一年的男女在校学生。使用杨氏网络成瘾测试（YIAT）评估网络成瘾情况。匹兹堡睡眠质量指数（PQSI）问卷用于评估参与者的睡眠质量。所有数据均使用柯尔莫哥洛夫-斯米尔诺夫检验进行正态性检验。采用卡方检验和非配对t检验进行分析。
参与者的平均年龄为13岁。49名（26.1%）为儿童，139名（73.9%）为青少年。其中大多数是青少年女性（169名，89.4%）。约17名（19.5%）儿童和70名（80.5%）青少年报告有轻度网络成瘾。13名（59.1%）儿童和9名（40.9%）青少年报告有中度网络成瘾。儿童和青少年的睡眠质量无显著差异（4±2.33对3.62±2.61，p = 0.37），但他们的网络成瘾程度存在显著差异（32.98±21.06对25.6±15.08，p = 0.01）。结论：本研究发现青少年的网络成瘾与睡眠质量差之间存在显著关联。因此，青少年、家长、学校当局和研究人员应认识到规范互联网使用和倡导睡眠卫生的重要性。因此，应采取适当措施来应对网络成瘾对睡眠质量的影响。
