Determinants of internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determinants of Internet addiction among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, Morocco.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca between October and March 2020. An online questionnaire was administered to students to collect data and internet addiction was assessed by the Young questionnaire. A score threshold ≥ 50 was adopted to define addiction. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with internet addiction.

Results

Out of a total of 4 093 FMPC students enrolled in the 2020‒2021 academic year, 506 agreed to participate in this study, including 303 females and 203 males. The mean addiction score assessed on the Young scale was (49.08 ± 16.11). The prevalence of Internet addiction was 44.5% (225/506, 95% CI: 40% to 49%). Multiple regression analysis showed that being older than 20 years (OR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.64), being female (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.04 to 2.78), being in the dissertation year (6th year) (OR = 5.17, 95% CI: 2.23 to 11.44), having a history of psychiatric consultation (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.34 to 5.21), having divorced parents (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.05 to 5.87), use of sleeping medication (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.05 to 3.70), sleep disorders (OR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.79), sleep deprivation (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.39 to 3.65), excessive daytime sleepiness (OR = 5.39, 95% CI: 2.19 to 13.24), anxiety disorders (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18 to 2.30), duration of internet connection (> 4 h) (OR = 11.43, 95% CI: 4.85 to 27.66), and having frequent conflicts with parents (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.49 to 3.79) and friends (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.65) were independently associated with internet addiction.

Conclusion

The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca remains high. Targeted action on the determinants would be of great value in prevention.