engleski

Internet addiction in the Croatian student population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims: During the COVID-19 pandemic university students commonly used the internet for different purposes and prolonged time spent online during the pandemic posed itself as a significant risk factor for the development of internet addiction. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and features of internet addiction in Croatian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: In April 2022 a cross- sectional study that employed a validated, anonymous questionnaire containing questions regarding demographic data, as well as Young’s Internet Addiction Test, was conducted in a cross- faculty representative student sample of the University of Osijek in Eastern Croatia. Results: The study sample included 792 university students, the median age was 21 years (interquartile range 20-22), 40.3% males, and 59.7% females. The overall prevalence of internet addiction was 71.7%. There were 48.7%, 20.7%, and 2.3%, students with mild, moderate, and severe internet addiction, respectively. The main reasons for internet usage were learning and faculty assignments (23.2%), social networking and entertainment (72.0%), and online gaming (4.8%). There were no statistically significant differences in internet addiction considering students' gender, faculty subject area, type of student housing, and students’ status of employment (p=0.574 ; p=0.070 ; p=0.864 ; and p=0.121, respectively). However, there was a statistically significant difference in internet addiction regarding the main reason for internet usage, where online gaming was much riskier in that sense in comparison to other observed reasons for internet usage (p<0.001). Conclusion: Internet addiction is a significant public health issue among Croatian university students, and the COVID- 19 pandemic made this problem even more prominent in this vulnerable population. To be able to adequately respond to this challenge with appropriate preventative measures a better understanding of risk factors for internet addiction among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic is needed.

internet addiction ; university students ; risk factors ; COVID-19 pandemic ; Croatia

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