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Internet addiction in Gulf countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abdullah Murhaf Al-Khani1, Juliann Saquib1, Ahmad Mamoun Rajab1
1College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, P.O. Box 777, Bukairyah 51941, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
Background And Aims:
The prevalence of internet addiction (IA) varies widely in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (4%-82.6%). We aimed to assess the quality of IA studies from the GCC and pool their data to get an accurate estimate of the problem of IA in the region.
Methods:
A systematic review of available studies was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials were systematically searched; studies conducted in GCC countries (i.e., Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) with a validated instrument for internet addiction assessment were eligible. Ten studies were eligible for the systematic review, all of which were included in the meta-analysis. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment.
Results:
Nine out of ten of the included studies had either adolescent and/or young adult participants (age < 25). Two studies were of 'good' quality, six were of 'satisfactory' quality, and two were of 'unsatisfactory' quality. The pooled internet addiction prevalence was 33%; it was significantly higher among females than males (male = 24%, female = 48%, P = 0.05) and has significantly increased over time (P < 0.05).
Discussion And Conclusions:
One in every three individuals in GCC countries was deemed to be addicted to the internet, according to Young's Internet Addiction Test. A root cause analysis focusing on family structure, environment, and religious practices is needed to identify modifiable risk factors.
