Objective: An assessment of the scale of Internet addiction among young adults and seeking relationships between Internet addiction and chosen sociodemographic variables, perceived social support, prevalence of depressiveness, and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Patients and methods: The study was carried out using a diagnostic poll method with author's own questionnaire as well as standardized diagnostic tools: The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), as well as The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).
Results: The study was conducted on 567 individuals. Pathological Internet use was identified in 1.41% of the surveyed. Perceived social support was significantly lower in the group of respondents who pathologically used Internet in comparison with ones who used Internet in the proper way. Severity of depressiveness symptoms and daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in respondents who were addicted to Internet in comparison with not addicted individuals.
Conclusions: The scale of pathological Internet use among surveyed was low. Problematic Internet use refers to women and men to the same degree, as well as to single people and individuals in relationships. Persons who work and do not study as well as residents of large and medium cities more frequently use Internet in a more pathological way than individuals who study and live-in small cities and in the countryside. Internet addiction creates a significant relationship with the prevalence of more severe symptoms of depressiveness and excessive daytime sleepiness, whereas pathological pattern of Internet use more often concerns individuals whose perception of social support is low.