Fatigue and pain related to internet usage among university students

[Purpose] This study was performed to assess fatigue and pain levels related to internet usage among university students. The dominant regions of fatigue and pain in the body were examined, as well as differences in fatigue and pain levels among students. [Subjects and Methods] The study used a descriptive survey and a convenience sample of 378 students from a single university. The data were collected from January 1 to June 31, 2015. Fatigue and pain levels were measured using a visual analog scale. [Results] The average reported by the participants 4.7 and 3.7 levels of fatigue and pain, respectively. The regions with the highest fatigue scores were the eyes, followed by the neck, and shoulders. The regions with the highest pain scores were the neck, followed by the shoulders, and the waist. The results show that participants’ fatigue and pain levels depended on the duration of their internet use per day. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that control of internet usage time is needed to maintain the well-being of university students who use the internet.