Covid19 pandemic impacted ianternet use and anxiety among general public during covid19 pandemic in Pakistan

Authors

  • Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Malik Muhammad Hamza Khan 3rd Year MBBS Student, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Fauzia Basaria Hasnani Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Ghazal Peerwani Tabba Heart Institute, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Talha Nawaz 4th Year MBBS Student, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Ayesha Nasir Hameed 4th Year MBBS Student, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Meher Angez 4th Year MBBS Student, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Apsara Ali Nathwani Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Syed Iqbal Azam Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.8075

Keywords:

Internet addiction, Anxiety, Pandemic, COVID-19, Low-income countries

Abstract

Objective: To determine the association between internet use and anxiety among people during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted across Pakistan from January 14 to February 21, 2021, which was the active phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in Pakistan. The participants were aged at least 13 years having internet access regardless of gender or their location across Pakistan. The anonymous web-based survey was conducted using a questionnaire generated on Google Forms and disseminated through various social media platforms and WhatsApp groups. Anxiety symptoms were screened using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, while the Young Internet Addiction Test was used to evaluate symptoms of internet addiction. Data was analysed using STATA 16.

Results: Of the 1,145 subjects, 686(60%) were females and 459(40%) were males. A total of 257(22.5%) participants were found to have extremely severe anxiety and internet usage pattern was significantly associated with the level of anxiety (p<0.05). Age, gender, social class and marital status were not significantly different (p>0.05), while family income and area of living were significantly different (p<0.05) in terms of anxity levels. . The odd of addictive internet use was 10.2 (95% confidence interval: 5.7-18.5) times greater in extreme anxiety individuals compared to individuals having no anxiety after controlling for other sociodemographic, health-related, behavioral and environmental factors during the pandemic.

Conclusion: A significant association of anxiety was found with internet addiction during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Key Words: Internet addiction, Anxiety, Pandemic, COVID-19, Low-income countries.

Published

2023-12-24

How to Cite

Maryam Pyar Ali Lakhdir, Khan, M. M. H., Fauzia Basaria Hasnani, Ghazal Peerwani, Muhammad Talha Nawaz, Ayesha Nasir Hameed, Meher Angez, Apsara Ali Nathwani, & Syed Iqbal Azam. (2023). Covid19 pandemic impacted ianternet use and anxiety among general public during covid19 pandemic in Pakistan. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 74(1), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.8075

Issue

Section

KAP Study

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