Prevalence of Internet Addiction Among Thai Pharmacy Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

The internet is increasingly embedded in daily life; however, excessive use may lead to internet addiction, adversely affecting health and academic performance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with depressive symptoms among pharmacy students at Mahasarakham University. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between 1 October and 31 December 2025 among undergraduate pharmacy students (years 1–6) aged ≥18 years who provided voluntary consent. Data were collected via street-based and online self-administered questionnaires validated for content and reliability. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, and binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. Among 396 participants, the mean internet use was 9 h 43 min per day. The prevalence of excessive use (risk) was 75.95%, while 17.47% met criteria for internet addiction. High to very high psychological problems were significantly associated with internet addiction (aOR = 3.89; 95% CI: 1.70–8.89; p = 0.001). Risk of depression (2Q) was also significantly associated (aOR = 2.67; 95% CI: 1.39–5.15; p = 0.003). Internet addiction is strongly associated with mental health factors, highlighting the need for targeted prevention and institutional mental health interventions.