Is Internet Becoming the New Opioid Crisis? An Inter-Institutional Exploration of Internet Addiction & It’s Effect on Paramedical & Medical Undergraduate Students

BACKGROUND: The internet has become an integral part of our lives, especially for adolescents who use it extensively for various purposes such as socializing, entertainment, and education. However, excessive and unmonitored internet use can negatively affect adolescents' health. Sleep is a vital component of health, but nowadays, adolescents and youth often neglect sleep due to social media and binge-watching. Excessive exposure to expansive internet content can contribute to negative impacts and may lead to poor mental health. OBJECTIVES: To study the level of internet usage among young adults.To assess their mental health status and sleep quality. To find the relationship between internet usage, general mental health, and sleep quality.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This multicentric study was conducted on medical and paramedical students from three universities in three states. After obtaining scientific and ethical committee clearance, self-administered pre-tested and pre-validated questionnaires (Internet Addiction Test, General Mental Health-5, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality questionnaire) were used. RESULTS:2.55% of males and 1.19% of females have severe internet addiction, while 24.45% of males have normal internet usage and 35.41% females have normal internet usage. Only 6.88% of students reported having good-quality sleep, 66.55% reported poor-quality sleep, and 26.55% reported moderate-quality sleep. There was significant correlation between internet addiction, mental health, and sleep quality. CONCLUSION: This inter-institutional study provides valuable insights into the prevalence of internet addiction among students and its impact on mental health and sleep quality. Promoting a healthy balance between online and offline activities is imperative, thereby safeguarding future healthcare professionals' well-being.