Depression, anxiety, and stress associated with Internet addiction in Iranian general population: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND:This study aims to comprehensively investigate the association between Internet addiction (IA) and mental health, focusing on depression, anxiety, and stress in the Iranian general population. By employing a cross-sectional design, we surveyed 2012 individuals using a validated questionnaire. Our primary objectives were to assess the prevalence of IA, identify demographic factors influencing addiction scores, and explore the interplay between addiction, depression, anxiety, and stress. The findings contribute to the understanding of IA's impact on mental health in the Iranian context. MATERIALS AND METHODS:In 2023, 2012 Iranian individuals were surveyed using convenience sampling. Participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, internet addiction (Internet Addiction Test), and mental health (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). Statistical analysis with SPSS 27.0 included normal distribution assessment, descriptive statistics, and group comparisons using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Multiple linear regression explored the relationships between mental health, problematic social media use, and overall social media use. Generalized Linear Models assessed the nuanced association between mental health and internet addiction, addressing collinearity. This comprehensive approach unveils the complex relationships in demographic factors, internet addiction, and mental health outcomes. RESULTS:The 2012 participants were predominantly men (60.3%), married (59.3%), and of age 26-35 (45.8%); the mean IA score was 45.67 (SD = 15.49). Notably, lower income (5-10 million tomans) correlated with reduced IA scores (P < 0.05). Multivariable models identified significant associations. Participants with Master's and Ph.D. degrees had higher IA scores (beta* = 2.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.75-4.43, P = 0.006). Increasing severity in depression and anxiety consistently correlated with higher addiction scores (P < 0.001), with substantial impact (beta* = 12.02 and 10.66, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between depression, anxiety, and stress (r = 0.747, 0.775, and 0.786, respectively). Variations in depression by marital status, anxiety by BMI, and stress by both income and BMI were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:The study highlights IA as a prevalent and significant issue in Iran, influenced by diverse psychological and demographic factors. The findings suggest that interventions targeting IA should take into account the roles of depression, anxiety, stress, education, income, marital status, and BMI. The study recommends further research to delve into the causal mechanisms and long-term consequences of IA in Iran.