Sleep quality is a relevant dimension with regards to sleep-wake functioning, and poor sleep quality has been found to be associated with poor academic achievement and health.

Internet use has been identified as having a detrimental effect on sleep patterns. Studies, however, on the relationship between Internet overuse and physical health or sleep problems have been rarely performed (5,6).

The aim of this study was to evaluate Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between problematic Internet use and sleep disturbance symptoms.

The study was conducted among 1956 students, aged between 14 and 18 years. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and a sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data.

The students with Internet addiction were more likely to have difficulty in falling asleep (p< 0.001) and night awakenings (p< 0.01). Problematic Internet users and Internet addicts were found to sleep significantly less than avarage Internet users (7.1±1.5 hr/d, 7.0±1.2 hr/d, 7.76±1.5, respectively; p< 0.05). A significant positive correlation between daily sleep duration and IAT (r = -0.132; p < 0.01) and weekly Internet use (r = -0.085; p < 0.01) was found. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant negative and independent association of IAT with daily sleep duration (r = 0.235; p < 0.001).

These results indicate an association between the Internet addiction and impaired sleep. Further studies are needed to describe the causality of this association.