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.