Evaluating the Relationship Between the Internet Addiction and Academic Performance of Medical and Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Background: The internet is essential for social interaction, information acquisition, and entertainment. However, indiscriminate use of the internet by individuals, especially students, has harmed their social and psychological well-being as well as their education. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between internet addiction and academic performance of medical and pharmacy students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2019 - 2020. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 149 medical and pharmacy students, who were selected by convenience sampling method. The samples were examined using two questionnaires, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Educational Performance Test (EPT). The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between the IAT and some subscales of the EPT. In addition, more than 81.20% of the sample had mild (51.00%), moderate (29.53%), and severe (0.67%) dependence on the internet. Conclusions: According to the results, the internet addiction negatively affected students’ academic performance. Failure to take critical steps to control internet addiction may significantly affect the future.