The Relationship between general health and internet addiction

The Relationship between General Health and Internet Addiction Nastiezaie Nasser Background: Internet is a neutral tool on its own. However, excessive use of internet poses the risk of being addicted to it. This study was performed to investigate the association between general health and internet addiction. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study a total number of 375 students (189 female and 186 male) were randomly selected from Sistan and Baluchestan University between 2007 to 2008. Using the internet addiction test (IAT), the students were divided into two groups: ordinary users and addicted users of internet. The general health questionnaire (GHQ) was used to compare these two groups. The SPSS software and t test were used to analyze the data and P<0.01 was significant. Results: The general health of internet-addicted users in comparison with ordinary users was at a higher risk (P<0.01). But the difference between two groups in general health and disorders of social function were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were common in internet addicted users and it was correlated to the amount of time that they were allocating to it.