A Cross-Sectional Study on Internet Addiction among Medical Students in Udaipur, Rajasthan

Background: The internet has become an indispensable tool for education, communication, and entertainment.However, excessive use may lead to internet addiction, particularly among youth and students in demandingacademic environments like medical colleges. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and pattern of internetaddiction among medical students in Udaipur, Rajasthan.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of internet addiction among medical students using Young’s InternetAddiction Test (IAT), and to assess its association with sociodemographic and behavioural factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 undergraduate medical students from agovernment medical college in Udaipur. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling. Data werecollected using a semi-structured questionnaire and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Statistical analysiswas performed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests were used to determine associations between addictionlevels and selected variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Out of 392 participants, 23.5% had normal internet use, 44.1% had mild addiction, 28.3% hadmoderate addiction, and 4.1% were found to have severe addiction. Male students, hostel residents, and thoseusing the internet for more than 4 hours daily were significantly more likely to show moderate to severe levelsof addiction (p < 0.05). Non-academic usage was also associated with higher IAT scores. No significantassociation was found between year of study and internet addiction levels.Conclusion: Internet addiction is highly prevalent among medical students, with nearly one-third showingmoderate to severe addiction. Risk factors include male gender, excessive usage time, and hostel residence.Institutions should implement targeted awareness, digital hygiene programs, and provide psychological supportto prevent the adverse effects of excessive internet use