Evaluation of internet addiction disorder among undergraduate students of different streams in Udaipur city

Background: The Internet has become an important tool for education, entertainment, and communication. Internet addiction in adolescence can have a negative impact on identity formation and may negatively affect cognitive functioning. Aims and objectives: the present study was carried out in undergraduate students of four streams i.e. MBBS, BDS, B Com., B Tech. to evaluate the pattern of internet addiction and the factors affecting internet addiction among them in Udaipur city, Rajasthan. Material and methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2015 to December 2015. Total 400 students were evaluated by a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire to collect data regarding socio-demographic characteristics and family harmony. To collect information on Internet addiction inter personal interviews were performed using a standardized ‘Internet Addiction Test’ developed by Dr. Kimberly S. Young in 1998. Results: majority (54.7%) was identified as normal users of the Internet, 25.5% moderately and 15.7% severely addicted. Majority of severely internet (39.7%) addicts were doing B.Tech. Majority (36.5%) belonged to Class II and 28.6% were from class I. Conclusion: The findings are suggestive of rising internet dependence among students. Effective IEC activities should be carried out to increase awareness regarding overuse of internet. Key words: Internet, Addiction, Udaipur, Students, Kimberley Young scale