Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Hassan Yusufi, Abdul Aziz Azad, Ruholla Danishyar, Sharif Farin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Prevalence, Predictors, and Psychological Correlations of Internet Addiction Among Afghan Students Studying in Iranian Universities
Corresponding Author(s) : Mohammad Hassan Yusufi
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 2 No. 4 (2025): October
Abstract
In the era of information technology, internet use is inevitable for mankind. Internet use shows its negative impact when it becomes excessive. The present study intended to determine the prevalence, predictors and psychological correlates of internet addiction (IA) among Afghan students studying in Iranian universities. This study aimed to synthesize findings by assessing the prevalence of IA, psychological correlates of IA and predictors of IA in a sample of the Afghan students studying in Iranian universities. The current research was a descriptive correlational study that was conducted in the academic year of 2022-2023. A total of 268 people (159 boys, 109 girls), from Afghan students studying in Iranian universities, who were selected by stratified random sampling. Internet Addiction Test, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Barratt Impulsivity Scale were employed to collect related data. These measures were significantly higher in the IAD group compared to the N-IAD group. This study on a sample of Afghan students yielded a prevalence of 12.7% in Iranian universities. The measures of depression, anxiety and impulsivity are significantly correlated to IAD than N-IAD group. The study demonstrates the growing risk of excessive internet use and recommends early detection and preventive actions by mental health professionals
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- Angane, A. Y. Kadam, K. S. Ghorpade, G. S. & Unnithan, V. B. (2020). Unraveling the net of self-esteem, stress, and coping skills in the era of internet addiction. Annals of Indian Psych. https://doi.org/10.4103/aip.aip_80_19 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/aip.aip_80_19
- APA, A. P. A. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. The American Psychiatric Association. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117131
- Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 56(6), 893. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.56.6.893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006X.56.6.893
- Bisen, S. S., & Deshpande, Y. M. (2018). Understanding internet addiction: a comprehensive review. Mental Health Review Journal, 23(3), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-07-2017-0023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-07-2017-0023
- Bisen, S., & Deshpande, Y. (2016). An analytical study of smartphone addiction among engineering students: a gender differences. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(1), 70-83 https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25215/0401.128
- Boulianne, S., Koc-Michalska, K., & Bimber, B. (2020). Mobilizing media: Comparing TV and social media effects on protest mobilization. Information, Communication & Society, 23(5), 642-664. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1713847 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1713847
- Durkee, T., Kaess, M., Carli, V., Parzer, P., Wasserman, C., Floderus, B., ... & Wasserman, D. (2012). Prevalence of pathological internet use among adolescents in E urope: demographic and social factors. Addiction, 107(12), 2210-2222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03946.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03946.x
- Fernandes, B., Maia, B. R., & Pontes, H. M. (2019). Internet addiction or problematic internet use? Which term should be used?. Psicologia usp, 30. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020
- George, D., & Mallery, P. (2019). IBM SPSS statistics 26 step by step: A simple guide and reference. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765
- Ghamari, F., Mohammadbeigi, A., Mohammadsalehi, N., & Hashiani, A. A. (2011). Internet addiction and modeling its risk factors in medical students, Iran. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 33(2), 158-162. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.92068 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.92068
- Ghulami, H. R., Hamid, M. R. A., Ibrahim, M. R., Hikmat, A., & Aziz, H. (2018). Relationship between Internet addictions and academic performance among Afghan universities students. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies (IJIRSS), 1(4). Link DOI: https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v1i4.10
- Ibrahim, A. K., Fouad, I., Kelly, S. J., El Fawal, B., & Ahmed, G. K. (2022). Prevalence and determinants of Internet Addiction among medical students and its association with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 314, 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.007
- Ismail, N., Tajjudin, A. I., Jaafar, H., Nik Jaafar, N. R., Baharudin, A., & Ibrahim, N. (2021). The relationship between internet addiction, internet gaming and anxiety among medical students in a Malaysian public university during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211870
- Jones, S. (2008). Internet goes to college: How students are living in the future with today's technology. Diane Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.07.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.07.001
- Kim, K., Ryu, E., Chon, M. Y., Yeun, E. J., Choi, S. Y., Seo, J. S., & Nam, B. W. (2006). Internet addiction in Korean adolescents and its relation to depression and suicidal ideation: a questionnaire survey. International journal of nursing studies, 43(2), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.005
- Ko, C. H., Yen, J. Y., Yen, C. F., Chen, C. S., & Chen, C. C. (2012). The association between Internet addiction and psychiatric disorder: a review of the literature. European Psychiatry, 27(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.04.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.04.011
- Kumar, M., & Mondal, A. (2018). A study on Internet addiction and its relation to psychopathology and self-esteem among college students. Industrial psychiatry journal, 27(1), 61-66.https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fipj.ipj_61_17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_61_17
- Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Online gaming addiction in children and adolescents: A review of empirical research. Journal of behavioral addictions, 1(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1556/jba.1.2012.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.1.2012.1.1
- Lee, H. W., Choi, J. S., Shin, Y. C., Lee, J. Y., Jung, H. Y., & Kwon, J. S. (2012). Impulsivity in internet addiction: a comparison with pathological gambling. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 15(7), 373-377. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0063
- Lin, Y. J., Hsiao, R. C., Liu, T. L., & Yen, C. F. (2020). Bidirectional relationships of psychiatric symptoms with internet addiction in college students: A prospective study. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 119(6), 1093-1100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2019.10.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2019.10.006
- Montag, C., & Reuter, M. (2017). Internet addiction (pp. 143-150). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-46276-9
- Morgan, C., & Cotten, S. R. (2003). The relationship between Internet activities and depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6(2), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103321640329 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103321640329
- Pan, Y. C., Chiu, Y. C., & Lin, Y. H. (2020). Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiology of internet addiction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 118, 612-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.013
- Prizant-Passal, S., Shechner, T., & Aderka, I. M. (2016). Social anxiety and internet use–A meta-analysis: What do we know? What are we missing?. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 221-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.04.003
- Robbins, T. W., & Clark, L. (2015). Behavioral addictions. Current opinion in neurobiology, 30, 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005
- Salehi, M., Khalili, M. N., Hojjat, S. K., Salehi, M., & Danesh, A. (2014). Prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors among medical students from Mashhad, Iran in 2013. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.5812%2Fircmj.17256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.17256
- Sharma, N., Mishra, R., & Mishra, D. (2015). The fifth edition of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5): what is new for the pediatrician Indian Pediatr, 52(2), 141-3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-015-0589-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-015-0589-y
- Wang, L., Tao, T., Fan, C., Gao, W., & Wei, C. (2017). The association between Internet addiction and both impulsivity and effortful control and its variation with age. Addiction Research & Theory, 25(1), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1206082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1206082
- Widyanto, L., & McMurran, M. (2004). The psychometric properties of the internet addiction test. Cyberpsychology & behavior, 7(4), 443-450. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.443 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.443
- Yadav, S., Arora, S., Chaudhary, S., & Garg, R. (2022). Prevalence and Predictors of Internet Addiction among North India Health Science Students. Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 116-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S06.016
- Young, K. S. (1996). Psychology of computer use: XL. Addictive use of the Internet: a case that breaks the stereotype. Psychological reports, 79(3), 899-902. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1996.79.3.899 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1996.79.3.899
References
Angane, A. Y. Kadam, K. S. Ghorpade, G. S. & Unnithan, V. B. (2020). Unraveling the net of self-esteem, stress, and coping skills in the era of internet addiction. Annals of Indian Psych. https://doi.org/10.4103/aip.aip_80_19 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/aip.aip_80_19
APA, A. P. A. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. The American Psychiatric Association. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.117131
Beck, A. T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R. A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 56(6), 893. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.56.6.893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-006X.56.6.893
Bisen, S. S., & Deshpande, Y. M. (2018). Understanding internet addiction: a comprehensive review. Mental Health Review Journal, 23(3), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-07-2017-0023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-07-2017-0023
Bisen, S., & Deshpande, Y. (2016). An analytical study of smartphone addiction among engineering students: a gender differences. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 4(1), 70-83 https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056128 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25215/0401.128
Boulianne, S., Koc-Michalska, K., & Bimber, B. (2020). Mobilizing media: Comparing TV and social media effects on protest mobilization. Information, Communication & Society, 23(5), 642-664. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1713847 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2020.1713847
Durkee, T., Kaess, M., Carli, V., Parzer, P., Wasserman, C., Floderus, B., ... & Wasserman, D. (2012). Prevalence of pathological internet use among adolescents in E urope: demographic and social factors. Addiction, 107(12), 2210-2222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03946.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03946.x
Fernandes, B., Maia, B. R., & Pontes, H. M. (2019). Internet addiction or problematic internet use? Which term should be used?. Psicologia usp, 30. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-6564e190020
George, D., & Mallery, P. (2019). IBM SPSS statistics 26 step by step: A simple guide and reference. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765
Ghamari, F., Mohammadbeigi, A., Mohammadsalehi, N., & Hashiani, A. A. (2011). Internet addiction and modeling its risk factors in medical students, Iran. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 33(2), 158-162. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.92068 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.92068
Ghulami, H. R., Hamid, M. R. A., Ibrahim, M. R., Hikmat, A., & Aziz, H. (2018). Relationship between Internet addictions and academic performance among Afghan universities students. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies (IJIRSS), 1(4). Link DOI: https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v1i4.10
Ibrahim, A. K., Fouad, I., Kelly, S. J., El Fawal, B., & Ahmed, G. K. (2022). Prevalence and determinants of Internet Addiction among medical students and its association with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 314, 94-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.07.007
Ismail, N., Tajjudin, A. I., Jaafar, H., Nik Jaafar, N. R., Baharudin, A., & Ibrahim, N. (2021). The relationship between internet addiction, internet gaming and anxiety among medical students in a Malaysian public university during COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11870. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211870 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211870
Jones, S. (2008). Internet goes to college: How students are living in the future with today's technology. Diane Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.07.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.07.001
Kim, K., Ryu, E., Chon, M. Y., Yeun, E. J., Choi, S. Y., Seo, J. S., & Nam, B. W. (2006). Internet addiction in Korean adolescents and its relation to depression and suicidal ideation: a questionnaire survey. International journal of nursing studies, 43(2), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.005
Ko, C. H., Yen, J. Y., Yen, C. F., Chen, C. S., & Chen, C. C. (2012). The association between Internet addiction and psychiatric disorder: a review of the literature. European Psychiatry, 27(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.04.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.04.011
Kumar, M., & Mondal, A. (2018). A study on Internet addiction and its relation to psychopathology and self-esteem among college students. Industrial psychiatry journal, 27(1), 61-66.https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fipj.ipj_61_17 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ipj.ipj_61_17
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2012). Online gaming addiction in children and adolescents: A review of empirical research. Journal of behavioral addictions, 1(1), 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1556/jba.1.2012.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.1.2012.1.1
Lee, H. W., Choi, J. S., Shin, Y. C., Lee, J. Y., Jung, H. Y., & Kwon, J. S. (2012). Impulsivity in internet addiction: a comparison with pathological gambling. Cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking, 15(7), 373-377. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0063
Lin, Y. J., Hsiao, R. C., Liu, T. L., & Yen, C. F. (2020). Bidirectional relationships of psychiatric symptoms with internet addiction in college students: A prospective study. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 119(6), 1093-1100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2019.10.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfma.2019.10.006
Montag, C., & Reuter, M. (2017). Internet addiction (pp. 143-150). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-46276-9
Morgan, C., & Cotten, S. R. (2003). The relationship between Internet activities and depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6(2), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103321640329 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/109493103321640329
Pan, Y. C., Chiu, Y. C., & Lin, Y. H. (2020). Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiology of internet addiction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 118, 612-622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.013
Prizant-Passal, S., Shechner, T., & Aderka, I. M. (2016). Social anxiety and internet use–A meta-analysis: What do we know? What are we missing?. Computers in Human Behavior, 62, 221-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.04.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.04.003
Robbins, T. W., & Clark, L. (2015). Behavioral addictions. Current opinion in neurobiology, 30, 66-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005
Salehi, M., Khalili, M. N., Hojjat, S. K., Salehi, M., & Danesh, A. (2014). Prevalence of internet addiction and associated factors among medical students from Mashhad, Iran in 2013. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.5812%2Fircmj.17256 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.17256
Sharma, N., Mishra, R., & Mishra, D. (2015). The fifth edition of diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5): what is new for the pediatrician Indian Pediatr, 52(2), 141-3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-015-0589-y DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-015-0589-y
Wang, L., Tao, T., Fan, C., Gao, W., & Wei, C. (2017). The association between Internet addiction and both impulsivity and effortful control and its variation with age. Addiction Research & Theory, 25(1), 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1206082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2016.1206082
Widyanto, L., & McMurran, M. (2004). The psychometric properties of the internet addiction test. Cyberpsychology & behavior, 7(4), 443-450. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.443 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2004.7.443
Yadav, S., Arora, S., Chaudhary, S., & Garg, R. (2022). Prevalence and Predictors of Internet Addiction among North India Health Science Students. Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results, 116-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.47750/pnr.2022.13.S06.016
Young, K. S. (1996). Psychology of computer use: XL. Addictive use of the Internet: a case that breaks the stereotype. Psychological reports, 79(3), 899-902. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1996.79.3.899 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1996.79.3.899
Accepted 2025-10-25
Published 2025-10-31