Internet Addiction Among High School Students in Arada Sub City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Date
2025-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Internet addiction is defined as “excessive and uncontrollable use of the internet, resulting in psychological distress and functional impairment”. While internet offers numerous advantages that encourage frequent use, it can also lead to significant negative consequences, especially among adolescents. Adolescents are specifically exposed due to their developmental stage, increased accessibility to digital technology, and susceptibility to peer influence. Factors directly and indirectly related to the individual, including mental health status and family environment, may contribute to the risk of internet addiction. Despite the growing concern globally, there is limited data on the extent and related factors of internet addiction among adolescents in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of internet addiction and its associated factors among high school students in Arada sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 879 students enrolled in grade 9 to 11 in both public and private high schools. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics summarized the data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with internet addiction followed by multivariable logistic regression model. The overall prevalence of internet addiction was 53.1%. Among the students, 29.9% exhibited mild addiction, 21.8% moderate addiction, and 1.6% severe addiction. Additionally, 30% of the students were screened positive for depression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that being in Grade 10, daily internet use of 4–6 hours, using the internet during sleep and meal times, lack of parental control over the content accessed online, and the presence of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with internet addiction. The study highlights a high prevalence of internet addiction among adolescents. This study has some limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings. The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships between internet addiction and associated factors. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data may introduce reporting bias, as participants might underreport or over report their internet use and psychological symptoms. The study was also conducted in a single sub-city, which may limit the generalizability of the results to adolescents in other sub-city of Addis Ababa. The findings underscore the importance of addressing internet addiction as a public health concern among adolescents in Ethiopia. Targeted, context-specific interventions are urgently needed to reduce internet addiction and mitigate its psychological impacts. These may include school-based awareness programs, promoting healthy digital habits, enhancing parental supervision, and integrating mental health support services. Further research using longitudinal designs and broader geographic samples is recommended to explore causal relationships and inform evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the Ethiopian context.
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internet addiction, adolescents, high school students, prevalence, Addis Ababa, parental influence, psychological factors, Ethiopia