INTERNET ADDICTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS IN NORTHEAST INDIA- A MIXED METHOD STUDY

Background: The internet has become an integral part of daily life, with its usage growing exponentially. However, excessive use may lead to addictive behaviors and mental health challenges. Medical undergraduates are particularly susceptible due to their extensive engagement with online platforms. Aim: To estimate the prevalence and pattern of internet addiction among medical undergraduates and explore perceived reasons for excessive internet use. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study was conducted among 110 medical undergraduates across all academic phases between March and August 2024. Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to assess addiction levels, along with a structured questionnaire to collect related information. Qualitative open-ended question was included to gain deeper insights into students’ experiences with internet use. Quantitative data was analyzed by using proportions and chi square test. Thematic analysis was performed on transcribed qualitative responses, and a word cloud was generated to depict frequently occurring terms. Results: Among participants, 70.91% had mild addiction or were average users, 20.91% had moderate addiction and 8.18% were not addicted. Thematic analysis revealed six dominant themes driving excessive internet use: coping with stress and loneliness, entertainment dependency and information seeking, social validation and connection, unregulated access, compulsive use, and academic avoidance. Conclusion: The study reveals a high prevalence of internet addiction among medical undergraduates, influenced by an interplay of psychosocial and academic factors. This calls for institutional policies promoting healthy screen-time behaviour and psychosocial support systems including mentoring within medical institutions.