Prevalence and factors associated with digital addiction among students taking university entrance tests: a GIS-based study

Firoj Al-Mamun; Md Emran Hasan; Nahida Bintee Mostofa; Marzia Akther; Tahnin Mashruba; Mohammad Arif; Amatul Haque Chaahat; Anha Bushra Salam; Maksuda Akter; Md Al Asif Abedin; Md Imtiaj Ahmad Bulbul; Md Shoeb Adnan; Md Shafiul Islam; Mst Shauda Ahmed; Md Sultan Mahmud Shahin; Saiful Islam; Mumtaz Mohammed Hussain; Abdullah Al Habib; Moneerah Mohammad ALmerab; David Gozal; Mohammad Muhit; Nitai Roy; Mohammed A Mamun

doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05737-9

Prevalence and factors associated with digital addiction among students taking university entrance tests: a GIS-based study

BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Apr 25;24(1):322. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05737-9.

Authors

Firoj Al-Mamun^{1

2

3}, Md Emran Hasan^{4

5}, Nahida Bintee Mostofa^{4

6}, Marzia Akther⁷, Tahnin Mashruba⁴, Mohammad Arif^{4

8}, Amatul Haque Chaahat^{4

9}, Anha Bushra Salam¹⁰, Maksuda Akter¹¹, Md Al Asif Abedin¹², Md Imtiaj Ahmad Bulbul^{4

13}, Md Shoeb Adnan¹⁴, Md Shafiul Islam¹⁵, Mst Shauda Ahmed^{4

6}, Md Sultan Mahmud Shahin¹⁶, Saiful Islam¹⁷, Mumtaz Mohammed Hussain^{4

18}, Abdullah Al Habib^{4

19}, Moneerah Mohammad ALmerab²⁰, David Gozal²¹, Mohammad Muhit²², Nitai Roy²³, Mohammed A Mamun^{4

6

22}

Affiliations

¹ CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh. firojphiju@gmail.com.
² Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. firojphiju@gmail.com.
³ Department of Public Health, University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh. firojphiju@gmail.com.
⁴ CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh.
⁵ Software College, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.
⁶ Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁷ Department of Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁸ Department of Ayurvedic Medicine, Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
⁹ Dental Unit, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹⁰ Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹¹ Department of Marketing, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹² Dental Unit, Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal, Bangladesh.
¹³ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.
¹⁴ Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹⁵ Department of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
¹⁶ Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹⁷ Department of Public Administration, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh.
¹⁸ Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹⁹ Department of Government and Politics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
²⁰ Department of Psychology, College of Education and Human Development, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
²¹ Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 25701, Huntington, WV, USA. gozal@marshall.edu.
²² Department of Public Health, University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
²³ Department of Biochemistry and Food Analysis, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background: The surge in digital media consumption, coupled with the ensuing consequences of digital addiction, has witnessed a rapid increase, particularly after the initiation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite some studies exploring specific technological addictions, such as internet or social media addiction, in Bangladesh, there is a noticeable gap in research focusing on digital addiction in a broader context. Thus, this study aims to investigate digital addiction among students taking the university entrance test, examining its prevalence, contributing factors, and geographical distribution using GIS techniques.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional survey were collected from a total of 2,157 students who were taking the university entrance test at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. A convenience sampling method was applied for data collection using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 25 Version and AMOS 23 Version, whereas ArcGIS 10.8 Version was used for the geographical distribution of digital addiction.

Results: The prevalence of digital addiction was 33.1% (mean score: 16.05 ± 5.58). Those students who are attempting the test for a second time were more likely to be addicted (42.7% vs. 39.1%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Besides, the potential factors predicted for digital addiction were student status, satisfaction with previous mock tests, average monthly expenditure during the admission test preparation, and depression. No significant difference was found between digital addiction and districts. However, digital addiction was higher in the districts of Manikganj, Rajbari, Shariatpur, and Chittagong Hill Tract areas, including Rangamati, and Bandarban.

Conclusions: The study emphasizes the pressing need for collaborative efforts involving educational policymakers, institutions, and parents to address the growing digital addiction among university-bound students. The recommendations focus on promoting alternative activities, enhancing digital literacy, and imposing restrictions on digital device use, which are crucial steps toward fostering a healthier digital environment and balanced relationship with technology for students.

Keywords: Digital addiction; Digital media; Mental health; Social media addiction; Students.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Bangladesh / epidemiology
Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology
Behavior, Addictive / psychology
COVID-19 / epidemiology
COVID-19 / psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Geographic Information Systems*
Humans
Internet Addiction Disorder* / epidemiology
Internet Addiction Disorder* / psychology
Male
Prevalence
Students* / psychology
Students* / statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities
Young Adult