The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Depression in the Iranian Users: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and aims: Internet is one of the new technologies whose users are increasing, and internetaddiction is defined as the excessive use of internet. One of the factors that influence internet addictionis depression. The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between internet addictionand depression in Iranian users using meta-analysis.Methods: In our systematic review and meta-analysis, a total of ۱۰ articles in Persian and English,published in local and international journals between ۲۰۰۸ and ۲۰۱۴ were selected through searchingin PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, Medlib, and Irandoc databases, and the informationwere analyzed using a method of meta-analysis (random effects model). I-square test was used toexamine heterogeneity. Data were analyzed by STATA version ۱۱.۲.Results: There were significant correlations between internet addiction and depression (P < ۰.۰۵).Hence the mean risk differentiating criteria were estimated to be ۰.۵۵ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۱۴ to ۰.۹۶). Subgroupanalysis showed that the value of a university student was ۰.۴۶ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۰۴ to ۰.۸۸) and of a highschool student was ۱.۱۲ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۹۰ to ۱.۳۴).Conclusion: Our results indicated positive significant correlation between internet addiction anddepression in adolescents and young adults in Iranian users. There was a positive correlation betweeninternet addiction and depression as one of the most important psychological disorders. This issuerequires further attention and study.

Keywords:

Internet addiction , Depression , Systematic review , meta-analysis