Prediction of the general health of Internet user students based on the dependence on the Internet (Case Study: Tehran and Baku)

Purpose: Introduction: One of the most recent problems of the technology era is the use of extreme or addiction to the Internet, which has caused mental and social disorders, especially in young people. The present study aimed to investigate the degree of dependence, recognition of the relationship and the prediction of the mental health of Internet user students based on Dependence on the Internet Method: This research was a descriptive and correlational study. The population included students aged 14 to 18 years old in Baku and Tehran in 2015. The samples were selected by cluster sampling method. 250 students using the internet were selected from Baku and 250 students using the internet were selected from Tehran. To collect data, the Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were used and data analysis was performed at two descriptive (mean, percentage, standard deviation) and inferential levels ((Regression and Pearson). Findings: According to the level of Internet dependency, 43.4% were mild and 24.8% moderate and 23.4% were severe addicts and internet addicts. The level of internet dependency is a positive and significant predictor of general health (R2 = 0.38). Physical health (R2 = 0.32) is anxiety (R2= 0.43) and depression (R2 = 0.39), but between internet dependency and social function is not significant. Conclusion: The level of internet dependency predict mental health components (physical health, anxiety and depression) but is poor in explaining social functioning. There is a positive and significant relationship between the level of Internet dependency and physical health, anxiety and depression of Internet user students.