European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background:Nowadays, internet is being extensively used in all scientific, educational,
business,cultural, and political areas. But there is growing concern about the addictive nature
of the Internet and its side effects on cognitive functions.
Aims and Objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of mild to moderate level
of Internet addiction on cognition by using computerised „Victoria Stroop Test (VST)‟.
Materials and methods:This study was a cross- sectional study. Questionnaire for internet
addiction test (IAT) and sleep quality were administered among 100 healthy adults. They
were divided in two groups based on their internet use(45 subject with normal internet use
and 55 with mild or moderate level of internet addiction) and matched for distribution of Age,
Weight, Height, BMI and sleep quality.The Psychology ExperimentPEBL-Victoria Stroop
Test was used to evaluate cognitive function. The Stroop effect was compared by
independent t-test and multiple correlation analysis was performed for Stroop effect with all
components of IAT usingIBM SPSS (version 28.0).
Results:45% of subjects were using the internet normally whereas Mild and Moderate level
of Internet addiction was present in 39% and 16 % of subjects respectively. There were
significantly less Stroop effect (0.99±0.28) [P< 0.05] and less attempts (25.95±𝟐. 𝟎𝟗) [P<
0.05] made by subjects with mild to moderate Internet addiction than Normal level of internet
user. IAT Scores of all component of Internet addiction were negatively correlated with
Stroop effect except for „Neglect Social Life‟ (R=0.23, P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Participants with mild to moderate level of internet had better cognitive
performance than Normal level of internet user.