Effect of Addiction to Computer Games on Physical and Mental Health of Female and Male Students of Guidance School in City of Isfahan

Abstract Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of addiction to computer games on physical and mental health of students. Methods: The study population includes all students in the second year of public guidance schools in the city of Isfahan in the educational year of 2009-2010. The sample size includes 564 students selected by multiple steps stratified sampling.  Dependent variables include general health in dimensions of physical health, anxiety and sleeplessness and impaired social functioning. Data were collected using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) scale and a questionnaire on addiction to computer games. Pearson's correlation coefficient and structural model were used for data analysis. Findings: There was a significant positive correlation between students' computer games addiction and their physical and mental health in dimensions of physical health, anxiety and sleeplessness There was a significant negative relationship between addictions to computer games and impaired social functioning. Conclusion: The results of this study are in agreement with the findings of other studies around the world. As the results show, addiction to computer games affects various dimensions of health and increases physical problems, anxiety and depression, while decreases social functioning disorder. Keywords: Addiction to computer games, Physical and mental health, Students of guidance school

Comparing the Social Skills of Students Addicted to Computer Games with Normal Students

Background: This study aimed to investigate and compare the social skills of students addicted to computer games with normal students. The dependent variable in the present study is the social skills. Methods: The study population included all the students in the second grade of public secondary school in the city of Isfahan at the educational year of 2009-2010. The sample size included 564 students selected using the cluster random sampling method. Data collection was conducted using Questionnaire of Addiction to Computer Games and Social Skills Questionnaire (The Teenage Inventory of Social Skill or TISS). Findings: The results of the study showed that generally, there was a significant difference between the social skills of students addicted to computer games and normal students. In addition, the results indicated that normal students had a higher level of social skills in comparison with students addicted to computer games. Conclusion: As the study results showed, addiction to computer games may affect the quality and quantity of social skills. In other words, the higher the addiction to computer games, the less the social skills. The individuals addicted to computer games have less social skills. Keywords: Computer games, Addiction to computer games, Social skills, Guidance school students

The Relationship between Mental Health and Addiction to Mobile Phones ‎among University Students of Shahrekord, Iran

Background: The risk of cell phone addiction is a social and psychological problem which has been proposed by ‎psychologists, psychiatrists, and educational supervisors. The present study aimed to investigate the ‎behavior of mobile phone addicts and mental health of university students of Shahrekord, Iran‎. Methods: This study was an applied research survey for the purposes of this study. The study population ‎consisted of all the students of Payame Noor University, Islamic Azad University, and University of ‎Medical Sciences. The study population consisted of 296 students who were randomly selected from ‎the target population. To collect data, two types of questionnaires were used, the Symptom Checklist-‎‎90-R (SCL-90-R) questionnaire, and the 32-point scale questionnaire of behavior associated with ‎mobile phone use (Hooper and Zhou, 2007). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, ‎statistical analysis, frequency distribution, mean, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and LSD (Least ‎significance difference)‎. Findings: The results showed that university students of Shahrekord, based on the six categories of mobile ‎addiction behaviors, were mostly placed in habitual behaviors (21.49%), addiction (21.49%), and ‎intentional (21.49%) categories. By reviewing mental health indicators, it was found that students ‎were affected with depressive disorder (17.30%), obsessive compulsive disorder (14.20%), and ‎interpersonal sensitivity (13.80%). The results showed that there was a significant inverse relationship ‎between mental health and habitual behaviors (r = -0.417), dependence (r = -0.317), addiction (r = -‎‎0.330), and incontinence (r = -0.309) in using mobile phone (P < 0.001)‎. Conclusion: Survey results showed that with increased and improved mental health, the student’s rate of cell ‎phone addiction reduced

Evaluation of Candida colonization index, molecular identification, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from critically ill pediatric patients: A singlecenter study in Iran

Background and Purpose: Given the high mortality rate of invasive candidiasis inhospitalized pediatric patients, it is crucial to establish a predictive system to achieveearly diagnosis and treatment of patients who are likely to benefit from early antifungal treatment. This study aimed to assess the Candida colonization index, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida strains isolated frompediatric patients with high Candida colonization index (CI)Materials and Methods: This study was carried out at the Children’s Medical Center inTehran-Iran. In total, 661 samples were collected from 83 patients. The Candida CI wascalculated according to the descriptions of previous studies. The isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. The Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute protocol M60 was used to conduct the antifungal susceptibility test.Results: A colonization index greater than 0.5 was confirmed in 29 cases (58% ofpositive samples) with two children developing candidemia. Candida albicans (n=53,49.5%) was the most common Candida species in patients with CI > 0.5. Except foracute lymphoblastic leukemia, no risk factors were linked to a high index in colonizedchildren (P > 0.05). Twelve isolates (7.01%) were multi-azole resistant with high MICsagainst both isavuconazole and ravuconazole and seven strains (4.09%) wereechinocandins resistant.Conclusion: In pediatric intensive care units, patients are at risk of fungal infection,particularly candidemia. In this study, more than half of the children with positive yeastcultures had CI > 0.5, and 6.8% developed candidemia