To Study Association of Stress, Depression and Internet Addiction in Medical Students: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Stress can lead to physiological reaction and everyone feels it at some point in their lifetime and it is basically how we react when we feel threatened. Prolonged or unattended stress can lead to Depression, which is a very serious psychiatric disorder that negatively affects how a person feels, think and behave. Internet addiction is regarded as a kind of technological addiction. The present study was conducted in the Postgraduate Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Jammu over a period of one year from November 2020 to October 2021 (191 sample size). Tools included - Internet Addiction Test (IAT; Young, 1998), HAM D for Depression and Perceived stress scale (PSS) for Stress. A significant correlation was seen between average duration spent on internet usage and internet addiction with a p value of 0.00. A positive correlation was seen between stress and depression with a p value of 0.000. Increased time spent on the Internet may cause serious effects and strained human relationship. Resolving Internet addiction can definitely help reduce its negative consequences and ensure proper, safe and productive use of technology.