The Worldwide Prevalence of Internet Addiction among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Zhandos Salpynov, Zhanar Kosherova, Antonio Sarría-Santamera, Yerbol Nurkatov, Arnur Gusmanov and Yuliya Semenova ()
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Zhandos Salpynov: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
Zhanar Kosherova: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
Antonio Sarría-Santamera: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
Yerbol Nurkatov: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
Arnur Gusmanov: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
Yuliya Semenova: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The internet helps us obtain necessary information, facilitates social communication, and provides access to entertainment content. The internet can also lead to the behavioral addictive condition termed internet addiction (IA) if used excessively. As active internet users, medical students are susceptible to IA, which is known to lead to depression and improper medical care delivery, poor academic performance, worse sleep quality, and undesirable financial issues. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess medical students’ pooled IA prevalence. Methods: The analysis included thirteen cross-sectional studies involving 4787 medical students. Cumulative, subgroup, and meta-regression meta-analyses were applied, using the random-effects model and the restricted maximum likelihood method. Results: The cumulative meta-analysis revealed a rise in the proportion of IA from 0.08 to 0.29, with minor fluctuations between 2015 and 2022. The IA prevalence in lower-middle-income countries was approximately three times higher than in high-income ones. Age and gender were not associated with IA among medical students. Conclusions: The worldwide prevalence of IA was 0.29, with a 95% CI between 0.19 and 0.41. Considering negative IA implications for medical students’ well-being, policymakers and all stakeholders should pay special attention to addressing IA within the medical student community.

Keywords: internet addiction; compulsive internet use; behavioral addiction; medical students; problematic internet use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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