Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Its Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Botswana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Internet Addiction (IA) is an emerging public health concern, especially among young adults. It has been associated with various psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety. Despite increasing internet access in Botswana, local data on IA and its psychological correlates remain limited....

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Publicado en:Inquiry (00469580) Vol. 63; pp. 1 - 9
Autores principales: Keutule, Lorato, Molebatsi, Keneilwe, Olashore, Anthony A.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Sage Publications Inc. 3/24/2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Its Associated Factors Among Undergraduate Students at the University of Botswana: A Cross-Sectional Study.
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        au:
          Keutule, Lorato
          Molebatsi, Keneilwe
          Olashore, Anthony A.
        affil: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
      su:
        Internet addiction
        Cross-sectional method
        Smartphones
        Portable computers
        Undergraduates
        Universities & colleges
        Multiple regression analysis
        Questionnaires
        Anxiety
        Descriptive statistics
        Social networks
        Inferential statistics
        Public health
        Social support
        Data analysis software
        Mental depression
        Botswana
      sug:
        subj:
          Botswana
          Internet addiction
          Cross-sectional method
          Smartphones
          Portable computers
          Undergraduates
          Universities & colleges
          Multiple regression analysis
          Questionnaires
          Anxiety
          Descriptive statistics
          Social networks
          Inferential statistics
          Public health
          Social support
          Data analysis software
          Mental depression
      keyword:
        anxiety
        depression
        internet addiction
        mental health
        university students
      ab: Internet Addiction (IA) is an emerging public health concern, especially among young adults. It has been associated with various psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety. Despite increasing internet access in Botswana, local data on IA and its psychological correlates remain limited. This study investigates the prevalence and patterns of internet addiction and its association with depression and anxiety among undergraduate students at the University of Botswana. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 undergraduate students from 5 randomly selected faculties. Participants completed the Young Internet Addiction Test (YIAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The mean age was 21.42 years (SD = 4.36); 52.2% were female. The prevalence of IA was 88.4%. Social networking was the most common reason for internet use (91.8%). High depression scores were observed in 64% of participants, and moderate anxiety levels in 47%. Depression (B = 0.26; P <.001), anxiety (B = 0.12; P <.02), and time spent online (B = 0.33; P <.001) were significant predictors of IA. IA is common among university students in Botswana and is linked to depression and anxiety. These findings underscore the importance of routine screening, education, and psychological support in universities.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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