Problematic usage of the internet among Hungarian elementary school children: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) is perhaps one of the most frequently studied phenomena of the 21st century receiving increasing attention in both scientific literature and the media. Despite intensive research there have been relatively few meaningful studies among elementary school students in Hungary and worldwide, who may be considered as a high-risk population with regard to problematic internet use. The aim of our study was to carry out a complex research focusing on the prevalence and risk factors of PUI among elementary school children aged 10-15 years (Grade 5-8). METHODS: Demographics included were gender, age, place of stay, type of residence, family type, parental education, start of internet use, used devices, daily internet use, purpose of internet use, internet accounts, ways of keeping in touch with friends and sporting activities. PUI was evaluated using the paper-based version of the Potentially Problematic Use of the Internet Questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 2000 paper-based questionnaires were successfully delivered and the final analysis included 1168 responses (overall response rate 58.4%). Mean age was 12.55 ± 1.24 years. Female gender (OR = 2.760, p = 0,006, CI 95% 0.065 to 0.384), younger age (11-12 years) (OR = 3.812, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.747-4.731), early exposure to the internet (OR = 3.466, p = 0.001, 95% CI 1.535-5.446), living in a small village (OR = 1.081, p = 0.002, 95% CI 1.041-1.186) urgency to answer online (OR = 4.677, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 2.714-6.639), decreased frequency of personal contact with friends (OR = 2.897, p = 0.004, 95% CI: 1.037-1.681), spending more than 6 h online (OR = 12.913, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 10.798-14.892), morning and nighttime internet use (OR = 3.846, p < 0.001, CI 95% 1.886-5.810) and never doing any sports (OR = 2.016, p = 0.044, 95% CI: 1.050-3.354) were independently associated with problematic internet use. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of our questionnaire survey more than 10% seemed to be problematic users in our study population, which is a relatively high rate. Early exposure to the internet as well as younger age were strongly related to this phenomenon. Duration of being online as well as daily time interval of internet use are important predisposing factors. Scarcely studied social factors such as being online at the expense of personal relationships and the lack of physical activity should be payed more attention to prevent the development of PUI.

The prevalence and risk factors of burnout and its association with mental issues and quality of life among hungarian postal workers: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is one of the most extensively studied phenomena of the twenty-first century; which has been extensively studied among helping professions, although it can be broadened to several other types of occupation. Based on our knowledge and literature search, no similar studies have been carried out among postal workes to date. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based epidemiological study was carried out between May 2021 and January 2022 in five counties in Hungary with the recruitment of postal delivery workers focusing on (1) the prevalence of burnout among postal delivery workers; (2) including the role of demographic parameters, duration of employment as well as the presence of secondary employment; (3) and also analyzed the role of several risk factors and medical conditions; (4) and we also examined the possible association between depression, insomnia and quality of life and burnout. RESULTS: Overall 1300 questionnaires were successfully delivered and 1034 responses received (response rate of 79.5%). Three hundred sixty-eight males (35.6%) and six hundred sixty-six females (64.4%) participated in our study. The prevalence of burnout was 50.8% (525/1034) in this study population (mean score 2.74 ± 0.33). Logistic regression analysis showed that female gender [OR = 2.380, 95% CI: 1.731 to 2.554], first workplace [OR = 1.891, 95% CI: 1.582 to 2.162] and working more than 30 years [OR = 1.901, 95% CI: 1.608 to 2.326] have significantly increased the likelyhood of burnout as well as the history of muscoskeletal pain [OR = 1.156, 95% CI: 1.009 to1.342], current quality of life [OR = 1.602, 95% CI: 1.473 to 1.669] and the presence of sleep disturbance [OR = 1.289, 95% CI: 1.066 to 1.716]. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Hungary to investigate the prevalence of burnout among postal workers and to explore the relationship between burnout and mental health problems. Our study underlines the clinical importance of burnout and draws attention to the need for appropriate prevention and treatment strategies.

Internet addiction: the medical challenge of the 21st century? br / Internetfüggoség: a 21. század orvosi kihívása?

As a result of digitalisation and the increasing use of the internet, its problematic use is on the rise in the 21st cen-tury, with a predominant impact on minors and a potentially increasing challenge for health care systems in the fu-ture. The main risk factors for this phenomenon are age, inadequate social and family relationships, and can be as-sociated with mental problems such as depression and anxiety, somatic illnesses, often with additional dependencies. Imaging studies can detect abnormally functioning brain areas in the affected individuals, however, there is a signifi-cant heterogeneity among them. Similar to other addictions, extensive internet use negatively affects the individual in all areas of life. We do not have a high level of evidence for treatment yet, but it appears that treatments used in other (classic) addictive diseases may be effective.