Relationship between Pathological Compulsive use of Internet and Incidence of Anxiety and insomnia symptoms among the Academic Members of Yazd University

The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between pathological internet use and incidence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms. This research conducted with a survey and cross-sectional design. Statistical society in this research were 305 the Academic Members of Yazd University which in conducting research time were teaching in that university. Ninety-six Academic Members were selected by using proportional stratified sampling. Instruments of data gathering were: Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS); and short form of Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (28 items) (GHQ-28). Data were analyzed by using zero-order Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. Generally Significant positive correlation were found between pathological use of internet, and the incidence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms (P < 0.01); and moments of pathological internet use, such as preoccupation (P<.0.01); conflict (P<.0.01); and coping (P<.0.01); and incidence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms. Multiple linear regression analysis with hierarchical method showed that socio-demographic variables (step 1) explained for %5.3; and components of pathological internet use (step 2) explained for %17.5 of the variance of incidence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms among the academic members of Yazd University. Pathological and compulsive use of internet is a powerful risk factor for incidence of anxiety and insomnia symptoms of users. According to this result, in order to decrease of negative effects of pathological use of internet on mental health of users, attention to behavioral interventions, especially motivation to change the internet use pattern is seems necessary.