The Relations Among Internet Use Habits and Severity of Depressive-Anxiety Symptoms Among University Students
Abu Dayeh, Ahmad Najeh Mustafa |
Recenzentas / Reviewer | |
Komisijos pirmininkas / Committee Chairman | |
Komisijos narys / Committee Member | |
Komisijos narys / Committee Member |
Author name: Ahmad Najeh Mustafa Abu Dayeh Research title: The relations among internet use habits and severity of depressive-anxiety symptoms among university students. Aim: The research aimed at evaluating the relationship between internet use habits and anxiety and depressive symptoms severity among university students. Materials and methods: An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was sent out as a link in a batch e-mail to participants who are current students attending Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). 886 students were invited to participate in this study, however, only 110 responded to the survey. The survey included socio-demographic questions, compulsive internet use scale (CIUS), the use of several internet-based applications on a five-point Likert scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), which measured depression (PHQ-9), somatic symptom (PHQ-15) and anxiety (GAD-7). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, chi-square test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were carried out on SPSS based on the excel data transferred from the survey. Results: The final sample consisted of 31 males (28.2%) and 79 females (71.8%) with a mean age of 22.54 ± 2.84. Mean CIUS score was 24.23 ± 11.5 where 46% of the respondents were classified as problematic internet users (PIUrs). Internet use increase since COVID-19 outbreak was associated with a higher CIUS score (P = 0.002). The means of PHQ-9, PHQ-15, and GAD-7 scores among participants were 9.51 ± 6.5 (mild depression), 9.05 ± 4.8 (low somatic symptom severity), and 6.83 ± 5.5 (mild anxiety) respectively. Female gender and no living companions were significantly associated with a higher PHQ-15 score (P = 0.049 and P = 0.007). In addition, no living companions was associated with a worse overall PHQ score (P = 0.046). Snapchat and Twitter use were associated with PIU based on CIUS grouping (P = 0.013 and P = 0.011 respectively). Instagram use was associated with increased PHQ-9, PHQ-15, and GAD-7 severity (P = 0.005, P < 0.001, and P = 0.003 respectively). Correlation coefficients of CIUS score with PHQ score, PHQ-9, PHQ-15, and GAD-7 were 0.314 (P = 0.001), 0.48 (P < 0.001), and 0.369 (P < 0.001) respectively. Conclusions: The students who participated in this study had an average daily internet use time between 7 to 8 hours where nearly half of them were labelled as PIUrs. Student participants reported normal to mild depression and mild to moderate anxiety and somatic symptom severity. PIU, higher internet use during weekdays and weekends, internet use increase since COVID-19 and COVID-19 related events, use of the internet application Instagram, and internet gaming were significantly associated with worsening overall mental health and higher severity of depressive, anxiety and somatic symptoms.
Tyrimu siekiama įvertinti interneto vartojimo įpročių ir nerimo bei depresijos simptomų sunkumo santykį tarp universiteto studentų.