Internet addiction and its relationship with social anxiety and depression of female university students: A cluster analytic approach

The aim of this study was to determine the number of Internet dependency clusters and then compare different groups in social anxiety and depression. The present study population consisted of undergraduate female dormitory students of Shiraz University. 370 female students were selected using the multi-stage cluster random sampling method. For gathering data, of Young internet addiction test (IAT), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and social anxiety Liebowitz questionnaire (LSAS) were utilized. Data were analyzed by cluster analysis and MANOVA. The results of cluster analysis showed three clusters with the mind, moderate and severe degrees of internet addition (P≤ 0/001). Also, significant differences among 3 profiles were found in depression (P≤ 0/001) and social anxiety (P≤0/01). Mild Internet addiction clusters experience the least amount of depression. According to the results, it's necessary to examine internet addiction as a psychological problem and cultural educational and family systems plan to solve this problem.