Prevalence of internet addiction in tunisian adolescents

INTRODUCTION: Internet addiction (IA) is a significant public health issue among adolescents. There is considerable evidence that IA is associated with various psychosocial harms. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of internet addiction among secondary school. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 students enrolled in secondary school. The participants had filled the Internet Addiction Test of Young and a data file regarding the socio-demographic information, physical and information about the internet access and use. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 90 males and 62 females with a mean age of 13.14 ± 1.2 years. The majority of participants had their own smartphone (83.6%). The average duration of connection among participants was 5.3 hours per day. The prevalence of IA was 14,5%. Results showed that 46,8% feel their internet use significantly hinders their family relationships. Twenty participants (13,2%) reported that they connected to the internet while they were in classroom. The prevalence of IA was higher among boys than girls (p= 0.018). There was, also, a significant relation between IA and having academic difficulties (p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IA is elevated in Tunisia. Many negative consequences are identified. Urgent measures should be taken to counter the problem.