Internet addiction among students of Islamic Azad University

Background and Purpose: Today, the increasing demand of computer technology & the vast internet technology penetration
despite its plentiful benefits has exposed most people especially college goers to disorder in their psychological health & social
communications due to being afflicted to computer addiction .Thus regarding the contradictory results of the studies conducted
in this field, the present research has been done with the goal to investigate the Internet Addiction (IA) level in Sari Islamic Azad
University students in 2013.
Methods: In the present research, the descriptive method has been applied .The statistical community consists of all students of
Islamic Azad University located in Sari in 2013. Out of the statistical community, based on sample size determination table from
the community size or korjesi-Morgan table, 261 individuals have been selected by random stratified sampling. To collect data,
a two-part questionnaire of demographic characteristics & IA test have been applied. To analyze data, descriptive –inferential
statistics such as ANOVA & independent t have been employed by SPSS software.
Results: According to the study findings, the students' mean age & standard deviation have been 24.3±3.7. 17.6% of the students
have been included in average to severe IA range. The internet addiction in various ages has been meaningful among the students.
Among girl & boy students, IA is meaningful at P=0.05. Based on the students using the internet, IA is significant at P=0.05.
Conclusion: According to the present research findings, the internet addiction is common among the students and in order to
prevent its dangers & complications in the students, it seems necessary to pay attention to the health & therapeutic considerations.