AUTHOR=Wang Song , Xia Lei , Wang Jiawei , Yuan Xiaoping , Shi Yudong , Wang Xixin , Li Xiaoyue , Hu Yu , Zhang Yulong , Yang Yating , Geng Feng , Liu Zhiwei , Chen Changhao , Wen Xiangwang , Luo Xiangfen , Gao Fei , Liu Huanzhong 

TITLE=Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Internet Addiction Symptoms and Their Association With Quality of Life in Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.819704

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.819704

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Abstract
Background: Internet addiction (IA) is pervasive among adolescents. However, far too little attention has been paid to IA in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study therefore aimed to examine the prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical correlates of IA in adolescents with MDD and its association with quality of life (QOL).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in four general and three psychiatric hospitals in Anhui Province, China from January to July 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Centre for Epidemiologic studies of Depression Symptom Scale (CES-D), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) were utilized to examine IA and depressive symptoms, and QOL, respectively.
Results: In a multicenter sample of 278 adolescents with MDD, the prevalence of IA in adolescents with MDD was 46.8% (95% CI: 40.9–52.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with more severe depressive symptoms (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.08), living in rural areas (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.15–3.27), and having poor academic performance (OR= 2.90, 95% CI: 1.42–5.95) were more likely to develop IA. After controlling for confounding factors, patients with IA had significantly poorer QOL in physical, psychological, and environmental domains than those without IA.
Conclusion: IA is common among adolescents with MDD. Socio-demographic and clinical factors, including living in rural areas and having more severe depressive symptoms, are closely associated with IA. More attention should be paid to the high rate of IA in adolescents with MDD in clinical practice.