Prevalence and factors associated with internet gaming disorder amongst medical students in Kodagu District: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Internet usage amongst young adults and students has increased over the decades. Heavy internet use leads to addiction and internet gaming disorder (IGD) in them. Aims: The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with IGD amongst medical students of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri, Karnataka. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted amongst 516 medical students from June to July 2022. A universal sampling technique was implied in the study, and data were collected using a pre tested and validated questionnaire (IGD 20 scale). Data were extracted into Excel and analysed using Epi Info (version 7.2). Results: The prevalence of IGD amongst medical students was 23.25% (120). The IGD was higher amongst female players, 72 (60%), than the male players, 48 (40%) (P = 0.03). The students staying in the hostel had a high IGD, 112 (93.3%), compared to day scholars, 8 (6.7%) (P = 0.003). As socio economic status increased, the IGD amongst students also increased (P = 0.006). Conclusions: The prevalence of IGD amongst medical students was 23.25%. The female students, hostelites and students from the upper class were more prone to develop IGD.

Keywords

• addiction
• internet gaming
• internet gaming disorder
• internet gaming disorder-20 scale
• medical students