Study of prevalence and correlates of Internet Addiction: A cross sectional study in a cantonment in Western Maharashtra

INTRODUCTION: • Use of Internet is increasing day by day; • Rising concern for pathological compulsive internet use and addiction especially amongst the adolescents. OBJECTIVES: • 1. To estimate prevalence of Internet Addiction among adolescents aged 10-19 years; • 2. To determine the correlates of Internet Addiction. METHODS: • Cross sectional study conducted on 1325 adolescents in a cantonment in Western Maharashtra. • Young’s Internet Addiction test was used, which has 20 items and is scored 0-5 for each item; • Participants with score of 70 and above were diagnosed as having Internet Addiction. RESULTS: • The mean age 13.99 years; • 57.4% of the participants being males. • 70.8%: normal use of internet; • 26.7%: possible internet addiction. • The prevalence of Internet Addiction: 2.5%. • Factors associated with Internet addiction: • male sex; • access to internet in bedroom; • feeling loneliness at home. • Reasons for initiation of internet use were; • gaming, • staying connected with friends and • social media. CONCLUSION: • Internet addiction was found to be more common in adolescent males as compared to females.