Assessment of Internet Addiction among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Socio-Demographic and Behavioral Factors

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Internet addiction and examine its association with socio-demographic and behavioral factors among university students in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to January 2024 involving 553 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students from various universities in Karachi. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising demographic details, lifestyle characteristics, and Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Internet addiction was defined as an IAT score ?50. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0, employing chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of Internet addiction was 20.3%. IA was significantly associated with lower monthly household income (p=0.001), smoking status (p=0.045), and a sedentary lifestyle (p=0.011). Students from households earning less than PKR 50,000/month had the highest prevalence (40%). Regular smokers were 1.8 times more likely to experience IA (AOR: 1.843, 95% CI: 1.028–3.304), whereas students with an active lifestyle were significantly less likely to be addicted (AOR: 0.498, p=0.003). Conclusion: Internet addiction is notably prevalent among university students in Karachi and is significantly influenced by socioeconomic status, smoking habits, and physical activity. Early identification and targeted interventions promoting balanced internet use are essential to safeguard the mental health of young adults.