title: Factors associated with internet addiction among school-going adolescents in Vadodara.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The internet is an important modern means of obtaining information and communicating with others which has converted the world into a global village. At the same time, increasing internet use among adolescents is also likely to pose a major public health concern that is internet addiction (IA). The aim was to assess the prevalence of IA among school-going adolescents and factors associated with IA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was designed to survey adolescents studying in 8th to 11th standard of five schools of Vadodara. Information regarding sociodemography and various patterns of internet use were obtained using survey forms. IA test (IAT) was used to screen for IA. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and logistic regression were done to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven hundred and twenty-four participants that completed IAT were analyzed. Internet use prevalence was 98.9%. Prevalence of IA was 8.7%. Male gender, owning a personal device, hours of internet use/day, use of smartphones, permanent login status, use of internet for chatting, making online friends, shopping, watching movies, online gaming, searching information online and instant messaging were found to be associated significantly with IA in univariate analysis. Internet use for online friendships was found to be a significant predictor of IA (odds ratio [OR] =2.4), and internet use for searching information was found to be protective (OR = 0.20) against IA on logistic regression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IA is prevalent in the adolescent population and requires awareness and intervention. Characteristics of internet usage found to be associated with IA needs to be considered while developing strategies for interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pramukhswami Medical College, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: M C Anusha
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Prabhakaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pramukhswami Medical College, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: V Rajvee
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Central Research Services, Pramukhswami Medical College, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: D Jaishree
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ganjiwale
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Pramukhswami Medical College, Charutar Arogya Mandal, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: M Somashekhar
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nimbalkar
keywords: Adolescent; internet addiction; school