Association of internet addiction with different domains of cognitive function among undergraduate university students: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: To quantify the burden of Internet addiction among undergraduate students and to explore whether Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is associated with specific domains of cognitive performance. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students in Medical, Agriculture, Business Management and Law at a deemed-to-be university. Internet addiction levels were assessed using Young’s Internet Addiction Test through a self-administered questionnaire. The study used a random sample of 286 students who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Cognitive status and working memory were assessed using structured interviewer-administered instruments, including the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) as a global cognitive screening measure and digit span tasks (Forward and Backwards) to evaluate attention and short-term memory. Associations between internet addiction and cognitive domains were analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of internet addiction was 16.4% among the students surveyed. Although mean scores on the forward digit span, backwards digit span and MMSE were lower in students with PIU, these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Internet addiction among university students has increased from 13% to 16.4% over 5 years. However, no statistically significant association was found between internet addiction and cognitive function.