Internet use has increased broadly worldwide. There are growing concerns about problematic Internet use (PIU) among youth. Among undergraduate students, excessive Internet use can adversely affect their interpersonal relations and academic achievements.

To estimate the prevalence of PIU among Zagazig university students, and to identify the possible associations between sociodemographic and Internet-related factors and PIU.

A cross-sectional study included a total of 732 undergraduate students, aged 17–34 years, from various colleges in Zagazig University. Participants were randomly selected and assessed for their internet use and abuse using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), along with a semi-structured questionnaire for sociodemographic and Internet-related factors.

Maladaptive Internet use was found in 37.4% of respondents, and addictive Internet use was found in 4.1% of respondents. Logistic regression showed the predictors of PIU were: using the Internet throughout the day (OR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.75, 6.38), the number of hours spent daily using the Internet (OR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.25), the number of days/week using the Internet (OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.58), accessing the Internet using multiple devices (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.98), and accessing the Internet both indoors and outdoors (OR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.19).

This is the first prevalence study of PIU at an Egyptian university. PIU was common among university students. Addressing this issue and its predictors could eventually help to enhance academic performance and achievement among those students.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.