Problematic internet use associated with depression, health, and internet-use behaviors among university students of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a growing behavioral health problem among university students globally. Data on PIU among university students in Bangladesh is scarce despite growing interest in the research topic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of PIU and its relationship with depressive symptoms, health, and internet-use behaviors among university students in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study among 404 students was conducted between February and March 2020 within two Bangladeshi universities residing in the southern territory of the country. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, health, and internet-use behaviors. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Beck Depression Inventory-21 scale were used to assess the risk of PIU and depressive symptoms of students. Among the study sample, nearly 44% (95% CI: 39.9-48.8) of the participants exhibited PIU. PIU was predicted by gender (p = 0.039), experiencing a breakup (p < 0.001), depressive symptoms (p = 0.010), and non-educational internet use (p = 0.010); particularly usage of chat rooms (p = 0.025), online gaming (p = 0.039), and watching YouTube videos (p = 0.024). Targeting populations that engage in these internet-use behaviors for enrollment in low-intensity online interventions may aid in the prevention and control of PIU among university students.