The Relationship between Internet Addiction and Sleep Disorders in Students

Nowadays, using of internet for academic and non-academic activities is an integral part of student's life. Studies show that overuse of electronic media has negative impacts on physical and mental health. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between internet addictions and sleep problems in students of Islamic Azad University of Karaj. This descriptive-analytical study was done over 500 students, which were selected by convenience sampling from Karaj Islamic Azad University in 2010. Data were collected by self-report method. Data collection instruments used for this study were: Internet Addiction Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Sleep Disorder Index and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed by SPSS v.18 and using descriptive statistics, t- test, ANOVA, and linear regression. The mean PSQI score was 5.04 ±2.93. 132 people (26.4%) had worse sleep quality. Mean sleep disturbances score was 5.50 ±3.96 and insomnia was the most common sleep disturbance. Mean daytime sleepiness score was 6.19 ±3.35 and 219 people (43.8 %) had mild daytime sleepiness. Mean score of internet addiction was 31.95 ±9.10 and 26 people (5.2 %) were at risk for internet addiction. There were significant relation between internet addiction with sleep quality (p=0.005) and daytime sleepiness (p=0.005). Excessive use of the internet was related to high daytime sleepiness and low quality of sleep. Choosing correct pattern in use of the internet helps to reduce sleep problems in students.