Sleep Med Psychophysiol.  2015 Dec;22(2):57-63. 10.14401/KASMED.2015.22.2.57.

Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Circadian Rhythm in Adults

• Kang DW
• Soh M
• Lee TK

• KMID: 2149866
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14401/KASMED.2015.22.2.57

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Internet addiction is an increasing problem in Korea. The previous studies in this area have targeted adolescents and young adults. This study was conducted to examine the risk of internet addiction in Korean adults and the effect of internet addiction on circadian rhythm.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
For this study, 508 subjects were chosen through population proportional sampling to represent the adult population in Korea, 325 of whom were included based on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Korea (Audit-K), Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), drug use in the past year, and suicide attempts. In these subjects, sociodemographic factors including age, gender, and residential area were analyzed, and Young's Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and an online survey examining sleep onset time on weekdays and weekends, wake-up time, and caffeinated drink intake were executed.
RESULTS
Of the 325 subjects, 136 (41.8%) belonged to a high-risk internet addiction group (IAS > or = 40), and 189 (58.2%) belonged to a normal group (IAS < 40). There was a high proportion of male subjects (p = 0.03) in the high-risk group compared to the normal group. There was a high proportion of younger subjects (p = 0.055) in the high-risk group compared to the normal group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Compared to the normal group, there was a high proportion of the evening type (MEQ < or = 41) in the high-risk group (p = 0.024), who also showed a high proportion of caffeinated drink intake (p < 0.001). Also, the high-risk group was found to go to bed and wake up late, but there was no statistically significant difference with the normal group.
CONCLUSION
This study showed that many adults have a high-risk of internet addiction, and there was a significant correlation between internet addiction and sleep in adult, as has been found in adolescents and early adults. In the future, a longitudinal study will be needed to verify the causal relationship between internet addiction and morningness-eveningness.

Keyword

Internet addiction; Adult; Circadian rhythm; Sleep

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult*
Circadian Rhythm*
Depression
Humans
Internet*
Korea
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Suicide
Young Adult