Association of Internet Addiction with Adolescents’ Lifestyle: A National School-Based Survey

Chan Ying Ying, S Maria Awaluddin, Lim Kuang Kuay, Cheong Siew Man, Azli Baharudin, Ling Miaw Yn, Norhafizah Sahril, Mohd Azahadi Omar, Noor Ani Ahmad and Normala Ibrahim
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Chan Ying Ying: Centre for Family Health Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
S Maria Awaluddin: Centre for Burden of Disease Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Lim Kuang Kuay: Centre for Occupational Health Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Cheong Siew Man: Centre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Azli Baharudin: Centre for Nutrition Epidemiology Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Ling Miaw Yn: Centre for Non Communicable Diseases Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Norhafizah Sahril: Centre for Family Health Research, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Azahadi Omar: Sector for Biostatistics & Data Repository, Research Policy and Planning Division, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Noor Ani Ahmad: Director Office, Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Setia Alam, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Normala Ibrahim: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Internet addiction (IA) among adolescents is an issue of growing concern with adverse effects on adolescents’ health and social functioning. This study aims to determine the prevalence of IA among school-going adolescents in Malaysia and its associated factors—specifically, lifestyle factors. A nationwide cross-sectional school-based health survey was conducted in 2017 among 27,497 students from 212 randomly selected secondary schools. Information regarding sociodemography, lifestyle, and internet use was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. IA was measured using the Malay Version of Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT). The prevalence of internet addiction was 29.0%. A multivariable logistic analysis revealed that inadequate fruit and vegetable intakes, consumed carbonated soft drinks at least once a day, consumed fast food at least three days/week, sedentary behavior, current E-cigarette users, and ever/current alcohol drinkers were lifestyle factors significantly associated with IA. Adolescents from urban schools, of higher school grade, and those whose parents are married but living apart were also found to have a greater risk for internet addiction. A positive association was found between IA with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors among adolescents. The modification of lifestyle factors needs to be considered while developing strategies and interventions for awareness-raising and prevention of IA among adolescents.

Keywords: internet addiction; adolescents; lifestyle; prevalence; Malaysia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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