Identifying internet addiction among nursing students at the University of Palermo: a study utilizing the internet addiction test

Introductio. The implementa on of technology and the internet has brought many bene fits, but excessive and uncontrolled use of the internet has raised concerns about the emergence of addic ve behaviors. The aim of the study was to iden fy internet addic on among nursing students at the University of Palermo through the use of the Internet Addic on Test (IAT). Materials and methods. The study was carried out in April 2024. Its design is cross-sec onal. The study popula on is made up of first, second and third year nursing students at the University of Palermo (Italy) and Supplementary year students. The IAT was administered. An ordered logis c regression was performed, with dependent variable “internet addic on”, in order to evaluate the role of the variables of the ques onnaire. Results. 801 individuals filled out the ques onnaire. 9.74% of the sample are “Above average users/Internet use is very intense”. The ordered logis c regression shows the sta s cally significant covariates associated with the IAT: increasing age (aOR = 0.92), male gender (aOR = 2.59), not living with one’s family (aOR = 2.86), being single (aOR = 1.96), perceived health status medium (aOR = 2.19) and low (aOR = 13.35), having had sleep disturbances in the last two weeks (aOR = 2.77). Conclusions. Due to the increase in informa on technology availability, more and more individuals have a risky use of the internet which could lead to addic on. Informa on and training campaigns on the use of the internet and informa on technologies should be implemented among the general popula on to increase knowledge of the phe nomenon.