Prevalence and Determinants of Internet and Social Media Addiction among Medical Undergraduates in Warangal, Telangana

Abstract

Background: Medical students face intense academic pressure and often turn towards internet and social media as coping mechanisms. This increasing dependence could result in addiction, which would impact mental health, sleep, and academic performance of the students. Assessing their digital addiction is important to prevent consequences and promote healthy digital habits. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at government medical college, Warangal, from February to April 2025 among 370 undergraduate medical students. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, Young’s Internet Addiction Test, and Bergen’s Social Media Addiction Scale was used to evaluate Internet Addiction and Social Media Addiction respectively and analysed using SPSS version 26. Results: The prevalence of internet addiction was found to be 55.4%, out of which 44.9% had mild, 10% had moderate and 0.5% had severe internet addiction. Factors like loss of sleep, academic underperformance, social media overuse, urban residence were found to be significantly associated with internet addiction. Prevalence of Social media addiction was found to be 18.9%. Conclusion: Internet addiction among medical students is an emerging concern that calls for early recognition, awareness, and targeted institutional strategies. Integrating digital wellness programs within the academic environment can help reduce dependence and encourage healthier online habits, ultimately supporting student’s mental well-being and academic performance.

Keywords: Internet Addiction, Medical students, Social Media Addiction