Internet addiction theory-based intervention among university students: A case of health belief model

BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of Internet addiction has increased due to the delay between Internet technology and the culture of using it. According to the high prevalence of Internet addiction among students and its associated complications, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of education based on the health belief model on Internet addiction status among students in Tehran, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this interventional study, two dormitories were divided into two groups of control and intervention in a completely random manner using the random cluster sampling method from a total of eight dormitories. Then 134 girls in each group answer two questionnaires of Young (about Internet addiction) and health belief model-based scale. After the need assessments of the primary results, intervention was performed in the experimental group in a way that a textbook based on the health belief model and ten educational text messages were sent to the students’ E-mail. Two months later, questionnaires were again given to both groups. The results were analyzed with the help of independent t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann–Whitney test, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression with repetitive measures with GEE approach. RESULTS: The average scores of knowledge (P < 0.001), perceived susceptibility (P < 0.001), perceived severity (P = 0.006), perceived barriers (P < 0.001), and self-efficacy (P = 0.002) between the two groups, had a significant difference after the intervention. The average scores of perceived benefits (P = 0.6), Internet addiction behavior (P = 0.11), and the frequency of Internet addiction (P = 0.63) after intervention did not have a significant difference in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show the effectiveness of educational intervention design based on the structures of health belief model on reducing the frequency of Internet addiction and adopting preventive behaviors.