Exploring Associations Between Problematic Internet Use and Physical Symptoms Associated With Mental Disorders Among Students

Neuropsychopharmacol Hung. 2026 Jun;28(2):57-65.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is still insuffi cient data whether problematic internet use (PIU) is linked with physical symptoms associated with mental disorders, particularly among student demographics.

AIM: This study was conducted to determine whether problematic internet use (PIU) in adults is associated with physical symptoms linked to mental disorders.

METHODS: An anonymous online survey included the nine-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ-9) to measure PIU and the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) to measure physical symptoms associated with mental disorders. Depression symptoms were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms with the seven-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. The study included 207 students (mean age: 23 ± 3 years, 83.6% women).

RESULTS: Signifi cant correlations were identifi ed between PIUQ-9 scores and physical symptoms. Multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, and PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, revealed associations between PIU and physical symptoms: extremity/joint pain (β = 0.161, p = 0.019), sexual dysfunction (β = 0.145, p = 0.032), chest pain (β = 0.135, p = 0.047), and fatigue (β = 0.214, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS: High levels of PIU in young adults were associated with physical symptoms linked to mental disorders irrespective of age, sex, depression, and anxiety symptoms. (Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2026; 28(2): 57-65) Keywords: internet addiction disorder, anxiety, depression, medically unexplained symptoms, mental disorders.

PMID:42389854