Misophonia and Internet Addiction Among Nursing, Midwifery, and Emergency Medical Services Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Background Misophonia is a sensory sensitivity condition characterized by intense emotional reactions (such as anger, anxiety, and avoidance) to everyday sounds, often impairing psychological well-being and social functioning. Internet addiction, a growing behavioral health concern among university students, has been linked to emotional dysregulation and various mental health problems. However, limited research has examined the association between misophonia and internet addiction, particularly in non-Western student populations. Objective This study aimed to examine the association between misophonia and internet addiction among nursing, midwifery, and emergency medical services students in Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among 277 students at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using the Misophonia Questionnaire (Wu et al., 2014) and the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, independent t-tests, and ANOVA were performed using SPSS. Results The mean internet addiction score was 41.45 ± 12.13, with 25.6% of participants classified as at risk of internet addiction. The mean misophonia score was 26.00 ± 12.59. Internet addiction showed a significant positive correlation with total misophonia scores (r = 0.377, p < 0.001), with a stronger association observed for the emotions/behaviors subscale (r = 0.410, p < 0.001) than for misophonia symptoms (r = 0.259, p < 0.001). Higher internet addiction scores were reported among male students, nursing students, and those in higher academic years. Conclusions These findings suggest that problematic internet use may be associated with heightened emotional reactivity to sensory stimuli among university students. The results highlight the importance of psychological screening and preventive interventions targeting both behavioral addictions and sensory sensitivities to support student mental health. Longitudinal studies are recommended to clarify causal pathways and underlying psychological mechanisms.