The Impact of Internet Addiction on Self-Control and Sleep Quality in Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis

Background: Internet addiction is a growing concern among adolescents, adversely affecting their psychological and physiological well-being. This study investigates the impact of internet addiction on self-control and sleep quality, providing insights into these critical developmental aspects. Objective: To compare self-control and sleep quality between adolescents with internet addiction and their non-addicted peers. Methods: A causal-comparative study was conducted involving ۳۶۰ high school students from Babol, Iran, during the ۲۰۲۳-۲۴ academic year. Participants included ۱۸۰ internet-addicted adolescents and ۱۸۰ non-addicted adolescents, identified using Young's Internet Addiction Test. Data were collected using Tangney's Self-Control Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to analyze group differences. Results: MANOVA results revealed significant differences in self-control and sleep quality between the two groups (P<۰.۰۵). Internet-addicted adolescents exhibited significantly lower self-control scores and poorer sleep quality compared to their non-addicted peers (P<۰.۰۱). Group differences accounted for ۳۱% of the variance in these variables. Conclusion: Internet addiction significantly impairs self-control and sleep quality in adolescents. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, including parental guidance, counseling, and behavioral therapies, to mitigate these adverse effects and promote healthier developmental outcomes. Future research should expand to other regions and consider longitudinal designs to strengthen causal inferences. Keywords: Internet addiction, Self-control, Sleep quality, Adolescents, Behavioral interventions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Internet addiction ، Self-control ، Sleep quality ، Adolescents ، Behavioral interventions