Internet Addiction Among School Children: Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Internet use is increasing in Sri Lanka, raising concerns about potential addiction among adolescents.
• Limited data exists on internet addiction prevalence and contributing factors in Sri Lanka.
• A validated Sinhala tool is needed to accurately assess internet addiction in the Sri Lankan adolescent population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate and validate the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT) into Sinhala.
• To determine the prevalence of internet addiction among adolescents (15-19 years) in Sri Lanka's Western Province.
• To identify demographic and behavioral factors associated with internet addiction in this group.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase cross-sectional study was conducted in Colombo and Gampaha districts.
• Phase 1: Translation and validation of the Sinhala IAT using confirmatory factor analysis and test-retest reliability.
• Phase 2: Multistage stratified cluster sampling recruited 2835 students for self-administered questionnaires on internet use and addiction.

Main Results:

• The Sinhala IAT showed high reliability (Cronbach α=0.98, r=0.95).
• Internet addiction prevalence was 12.6% among 1803 internet users, with most cases being mild (8.2%) or moderate (3.5%).
• No significant associations were found with sex, age group, or parental education; common activities included entertainment, gaming, and social media.

Conclusions:

• This study presents the first systematic evidence of internet addiction among adolescents in Sri Lanka.
• The high prevalence of mild to moderate internet addiction indicates a critical window for early intervention strategies.
• The validated Sinhala IAT is a valuable tool for future research and clinical assessment in Sri Lanka.