The prevalence of internet addiction and its association with quality of life among clinically stable patients with major depressive disorder

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2022-10, Vol.314, p.112-116
• Main Authors: Yang, Juan-Juan, Bai, Wei, Guo, Tong, Zhang, Ling, Li, Yu-Chen, Liu, Huan-Zhong, Du, Xiangdong, Cai, Hong, Balbuena, Lloyd, An, Feng-Rong, Xiang, Yu-Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Internet addiction; Major depressive disorder; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.067

Internet addiction (IA) is associated with mental health problems but its impact on quality of life (QOL) is understudied. We examined the prevalence of IA and its association with QOL in clinically stable patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In a cross-sectional survey between September 2020 and July 2021, the Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief version scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were administered to 1267 patients with MDD. Logistic regression was used to examine the correlates of IA, while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine the association between IA and QOL." The prevalence of IA (IAT total scores ≥50) was 27.2 % (95 % CI: 24.7 %–29.6 %) in MDD patients. Compared to patients without IA, those with IA had lower QOL (F(1, 1267) = 19.1, P