The use of virtual communication tools, the frequency of internet addiction and musculoskeletal effects in HİGH school students

It is important for adolescent health to determine the addiction levels that develop due to internet use and to prevent the health problems it will cause. In this study, it was aimed to determine the use of virtual communication tools, the frequency of internet addiction in high school students and the effects of this addiction on the musculoskeletal system. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 986 high school students in 4 districts of Diyarbakır.Online questionnaire method was applied to the students with The Sociodemographic Information Form prepared by scanning the literature, The Young Internet Addiction Scale, The Nordic Musculoskeletal System Questionnaire and The Visual Analog Scale. 64.1% of the students participating in the study were women, and the mean age was found to be 15.65±1.40. The virtual communication tools used by the students were determined as 96.9% television, 31.3% their own computer/tablet, 47.1% their own mobile phone.It was determined that 26.2% of the students were internet addicted (17.2% mild addicted, 7.8% moderate addicted and 1.1% severe addicted).While neck pain was the leading musculoskeletal system problems of the students in the last 12 months with 61.3%, the waist was the most important region affecting the normal life activities of the individuals in this process with 31.2%.It was determined that the musculoskeletal pain experienced by the internet addicts in the last 1 year in all body parts and the musculoskeletal pain experienced in the last 7 days in all body parts except the elbows were statistically significantly higher than the non-addicted group (p<0.05). It has been determined that the use of virtual communication tools is common among students, internet addiction levels are high, and this addiction causes musculoskeletal pain and activity limitations in many body parts. In terms of adolescent health, internet addiction and musculoskeletal problems can be integrated into school health programs.