The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Sleep Disturbance Among Health Sciences Students From Two Universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Internet addiction (IA) is a compulsive-impulsive spectrum disorder with detrimental effects on social interactions, academic performance, energy levels, and sleep quality. This study aimed to examine the relationship between IA and sleep disturbances among health sciences students at King Saud University and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from April 2023 to October 2023, using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey included demographic questions, the Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The target sample size was 400 participants. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, as well as the Mann-Whitney U test. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The study found that 74.2% of normal internet users were poor sleepers compared to 88.5% of moderate-to-severe internet users. A chi-square test revealed a highly significant association between IA and sleep quality (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study highlight the importance of promoting healthy internet use habits and indicate the need for further research into other potential causes of sleep disturbances.