Internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with sociodemographic and psychological distress.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had tremendous implications for billions of adolescents worldwide due to school closures, forcing students to embrace internet usage for daily tasks. Uncontrolled use of the internet among adolescents makes them vulnerable to internet addiction (IA). This study aims to determine the prevalence of IA among adolescents and assess its association with sociodemographic factors, smartphone use, and psychological distress during the pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was conducted among students aged 13-17 from May 15th, 2021, until May 30th, 2021, using the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (MVIAT), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaires, as well as a sociodemographic information form. The data was analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. Results: A total of 420 adolescents participated in the survey. The majority of them (70.7%) were female, with a mean age of 15.47 years (±1.49 years old). About 45.5% of the respondents were classified as internet addicted users. The Chi-square test analysis showed that age (p = 0.002), smartphone usage (p = 0.010), rate of midnight use (p < 0.001), frequency (p < 0.001), duration (p < 0.001) of device usage, and presence of depression, anxiety, and stress (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with IA. Multiple logistic regression showed age (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.00-1.35], p = 0.048), smartphone usage (aOR =3.52, 95% CI [1.43-8.67], p = 0.006), mild or moderate depression (aOR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.36-4.34], p = 0.003), severe or extremely severe stress (aOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.18-18.82], p = 0.001) were significantly related to IA. Conclusions: Late adolescence, the use of smartphones, and the presence of psychological distress like depression, and stress were potentially associated with IA. Wise use of smartphones and early identification of any psychological distress among adolescents are warranted, especially during the pandemic.

Internet gaming disorder: The prevalence and associated gaming behavior, anxiety, and depression among 8-12-year-old children of private schools in Salem city, India.

BACKGROUND: The escalating concern over Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among children underscores the urgency of comprehending its determinants and links to mental health, particularly for interventions targeting school-aged children. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of IGD and its association with depression, anxiety, and behavior among 8-12-year-old children attending private schools in Salem city. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study involving 780 children aged 8-12 years from Salem district was conducted. Schools were randomly sampled, and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were gathered from children without genetic, systemic, or mental disorders and brain trauma. The questionnaire, adapted from Alhamoud M A et al. (2022), encompassed sections on sociodemographic characteristics, gaming behavior, and scales for assessing IGD, depression, and anxiety. Administration occurred during school hours with a 30-35 min completion time. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data analysis utilized SPSS v23.0, including descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Chi-square tests for intergroup comparisons, and Pearson's correlation coefficient to determine associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of IGD in Salem district was 1.2%, with higher rates of anxiety and depression observed among older children, particularly males. CONCLUSIONS: A positive correlation was evident between IGD, anxiety, and depression. Urgent preventive measures have to be warranted to curb the rising trend of IGD, such as limiting screen time and promoting outdoor activities to enhance children's overall health.

Co-occurrence of problematic facebook and video game use: prevalence and association with mental health disorders among adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid proliferation of technology and its impact on adolescents' lives have raised concerns about addictive behaviors and its potential consequences, including behavioral and mental health problems. This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors associated with the co-occurrence of Problematic Facebook Use and Problematic Video game Use among Tunisian adolescents. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the urban area of Sousse governorate in Tunisia during the 2018/2019 school year. We selected a representative sample of high school students enrolled in public educational institutions in Sousse. Data collection was performed through a self-administered structured questionnaire, which gathered information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and mental health disorders. Problematic Facebook Use was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the Bergen Scale, while Problematic Video Game Use was measured using the 21-point Lemmens Scale, which was translated into Arabic. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS program (version 20). RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 1342 high school students in our study, of whom, 63.2% were female with a mean age of 17.5 ± 1.44 years. The prevalence of Problematic Facebook Use and Problematic Video Game Use was  28.3% and  13% respectively. Regarding the co-occurrence of the two problematic behaviors, 31.3% of participants faced a singular addictive behavior, either related to problematic Facebook or video game use, while 5% had both addictive behaviors simultaneously. In a multivariate analysis, risk factors for the co-occurrence of Problematic Facebook and Video Game Use, in decreasing order of significance, included severe depression (AOR = 4.527; p = 0.003), anxiety (AOR = 4.216; p = 0.001), male gender (AOR = 4.130; p < 0.001), problematic internet use (AOR = 3.477; p = 0.006), as well as moderate depression (AOR = 3.048; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Our study found that Problematic Facebook and Video Game Use were prevalent among Tunisian adolescents. The co-occurrence of these disorders is strongly linked to male gender, problematic internet use, depression, and anxiety disorders. These findings underscore the urgency of implementing tailored and effective awareness and prevention programs to address these emerging challenges.

The relationship between physical exercise and problematic internet use in college students: the chain-mediated role of self-control and loneliness.

OBJECTIVE: From the perspective of exercise psychology, to investigate the antefacts of problematic internet use (PIU) in college students, and to reveal the chain mediating effect of self-control and loneliness between physical exercise and PIU. METHODS: 1081 college students in Chongqing, China were investigated by Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Self-control Scale (SCS), Loneliness Scale (UCLA), and Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), and the data were statistically analyzed by SPSS25.0 and AMOS21.0 software. RESULTS: (1) There was a significant negative correlation between physical exercise and PIU, and the former has a direct negative predictive effect on the latter. (2) Physical exercise could indirectly influence the PIU of college students through the partial mediating effect of self-control and loneliness, respectively. (3) Physical exercise could also indirectly influence PIU through the chain mediation of "self-control → loneliness". CONCLUSION: Maintaining regular physical exercise can promote the improvement of self-control and the weakening of the loneliness experience of college students, and then help to prevent or alleviate PIU behavior, which is of great significance for psychological and behavioral health.

Adolescents' short-form video addiction and sleep quality: the mediating role of social anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a critical period for individual growth and development. Insufficient sleep adversely affects adolescents' physical development, blood pressure, vision, and cognitive function. This study examined the effect of short-form video addiction on adolescents' sleep quality, as well as the mediating role of social anxiety, to identify methods for improving adolescents' sleep quality in the Internet era. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted in this cross-sectional study on 1629 adolescents recruited from three high schools. Their short-form video addiction, social anxiety, and sleep quality were evaluated using corresponding scales. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to analyze the relationships among short-form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety. Mediating effect analysis was constructed using AMOS 20.0 statistical software. RESULTS: Participants' sleep quality score is 6.12 ± 3.29 points. The detection rate of sleep quality among them is 31.06%. Short-form video addiction, sleep quality, and social anxiety are significantly correlated (r = 0.439, 0.404, 0.457, P < 0.001). The direct effect of short-form video addiction on sleep quality is 0.248, accounting for 62.4% of the total effect. The indirect effect exerted through social anxiety is 0.149, accounting for 37.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders are very common among Chinese adolescents. Short-form video addiction is positively correlated with adolescents' sleep quality and social anxiety. Social anxiety partially mediates the relationship between short-form video addiction and sleep quality. The adverse effects of short-form video addiction and social anxiety on the sleep quality of this group must be minimized. Schools are recommended to implement measures to promote sleep quality among adolescents.

Effects of memory and attention on the association between video game addiction and cognitive/learning skills in children: mediational analysis.

BACKGROUND: Video games have become a prevalent source of entertainment, especially among children. Furthermore, the amount of time spent playing video games has grown dramatically. The purpose of this research was to examine the mediation effects of attention and child memory on the relationship between video games addiction and cognitive and learning abilities in Egyptian children. METHODS: A cross-sectional research design was used in the current study in two schools affiliated with Dakahlia District, Egypt. The study included 169 children aged 9 to 13 who met the inclusion criteria, and their mothers provided the questionnaire responses. The data collection methods were performed over approximately four months from February to May. Data were collected using different tools: Socio-demographic Interview, Game Addiction Scale for Children (GASC), Children's Memory Questionnaire (CMQ), Clinical Attention Problems Scale, Learning, Executive, and Attention Functioning (LEAF) Scale. RESULTS: There was a significant indirect effect of video game addiction on cognitive and learning skills through attention, but not child memory. Video game addiction has a significant impact on children's attention and memory. Both attention and memory have a significant impact on a child's cognitive and learning skills. CONCLUSIONS: These results revealed the significant effect of video game addiction on cognitive and learning abilities in the presence of mediators. It also suggested that attention-focused therapies might play an important role in minimizing the harmful effects of video game addiction on cognitive and learning abilities.

Facebook addiction and its impact on depression: a cross sectional study.

AIM: Facebook has become a part of daily life for its users and therefore become a very significant factor of mental health. As the number of Facebook users increases exponentially, the problems related to immense use have become more evident and more frequent. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the impact of Facebook addiction on depression among its users. METHODS: An online-based questionnaire was used to collect data from 269 Facebook users of Bangladesh using convenient sampling technique. Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale was used to assess Facebook addiction and its impact on depression.Ordinal logistic was used to extract the significant variables associated with Facebook addiction and depression. RESULTS: The result categorized the Facebook users into three categories as : normal (17%), problematic user (52%) and addicted (30.5%). Facebook users were suffering from mild (13.4%), minimal (15.6%), moderate (59.5%), and severe (11.5%) level of depression. Both Facebook addiction and depression were moderately correlated (0.701). Ordinal regression showed, gender [Formula: see text] (95% CI) = 0.859 (0.223,1.495)), age (ß (95% CI) = -2.051(-3.789, -0.313)), residential area (ß (95% CI) = -0.858(-1.626, -0.09)), occupation ([Formula: see text]), time length of Facebook use ([Formula: see text]are the significant predictors of Facebook addiction. Wheras, relationship types and occupation are also responsible for depression. CONCLUSION: The study showed large portion of facebook users of Bangladesh are suffering from depression. Authors suggest to arrange mental health campaign to promote bounded and legitimate use of facebook and therefore will accelerate the attaining rate of sustainable development goal related to the Bangladesh's health status.

Assessment of the impact of social media addiction on psychosocial behaviour like depression, stress, and anxiety in working professionals.

OBJECTIVE: Social media (SM), with its addictive nature and the accompanying psychosocial challenges such as stress, anxiety, and depression, is the primary factor exacerbating mental health problems and adversely impacting individuals' wellbeing. Our study's goal was to determine how SM affects employees' psychosocial behaviours and assess the various factors that contributed to the employee's excessive use of SM. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational analysis was conducted. Using a relevant questionnaire on employees, the study was assessed to establish the relationship or association between SM addiction and psychosocial disorders like depression, anxiety, and stress. 200 people with a minimum age of 24 were enrolled in the study. The questionnaire contained the social networking addiction scale (SNAS) and the depression, anxiety, and stress-21 (DASS-21) scales; the data were statistically assessed. RESULTS: The association between SM addiction and psychosocial behaviours has been examined using statistical tools including descriptive statistics and the Chi-square analysis. SM addiction has a strong, statistically significant correlation with depression (p = 0.001), stress (p = 0.001), and anxiety (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study discovered a connection between SM use and depression, stress, and anxiety among working employees, raising questions regarding worries about overuse and addiction to SM. Various factors influencing excessive usage included revealed that employees also majorly over used SM for entertainment, boredom avoidance, constant knowledge sharing, and relationship-building.

Internet addiction and depressive symptoms in adolescents: joint trajectories and predictors.

Objective: Internet addiction and depressive symptoms are common mental health problems in adolescents. Due to the comorbidity of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, their mutual relationship influences their developmental trajectories over time. Thus, this study aimed to identify the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms, and examined the individual, family, and school antecedents of these trajectories among Chinese adolescents. Methods: Using a battery of self-report scales, three waves of data collection were conducted in a Chinese adolescent sample (N = 1,301). The co-developmental trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms were extracted by adopting parallel-process latent class growth modeling (PPLCGM). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess predictive factors. Results: Four unique joint trajectory classes were detected: the Health Group (n = 912, 70.1%), Comorbidity-Worsening Group (n = 85, 6.5%), Asymptomatic-Comorbid Risk Group (n = 148, 11.4%), and Prominent Depressive Symptoms-Remission Group (n = 156, 12.0%). Individual, family, and school factors (e.g., gender, positive youth development, family function, academic performance) significantly predicted the membership in these distinct co-developmental trajectories. Conclusion: Our findings illustrate that the joint development of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms among adolescents presents a heterogeneous distribution, which could better inform prevention and intervention strategies since each co-developmental trajectory may represent unique experience for adolescents who need targeted treatment. Various individual, family, and school factors are important predictors that play different roles in distinguishing the joint trajectories of Internet addiction and depressive symptoms during this critical developmental transition period.

Efficacy and Neural Mechanisms of Mindfulness Meditation Among Adults With Internet Gaming Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), recently identified internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a condition warranting more research, and few empirically validated treatments exist. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has multiple health benefits; however, its efficacy in treating IGD and potential neural mechanisms underlying MM treatment of the disorder remain largely unknown. Objective: To explore the efficacy of MM used to treat adults with IGD and to identify neural mechanisms underlying MM. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial was performed from October 1 to November 30, 2023, at Hangzhou Normal University in Hangzhou, China. Adults (aged ≥18 years) who met at least 6 of the 9 DSM-5-TR proposed criteria for IGD were recruited to receive either MM or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Data analysis was performed on December 1, 2023. Intervention: Participants underwent MM training (an 8-session meditation program that focuses on attention and acceptance) and PMR training (an 8-time program for body relaxation) delivered in groups that met 2 times each week for 4 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: This per-protocol analysis included only participants who finished the pretest assessment, 8 training sessions, and posttest assessment. The main outcomes were addiction severity (measured with the DSM-5-TR proposed criteria for IGD and with Internet Addiction Test scores), gaming craving (measured with Questionnaire for Gaming Urges scores), and blood oxygen level-dependent signals assessed with cue-craving tasks on fMRI. Behavioral and brain measurements were compared using analysis of variance. Functional connectivity (FC) among identified brain regions was measured to test connectivity changes associated with MM. Results: This study included 64 adults with IGD. A total of 32 participants received MM (mean [SD] age, 20.3 [1.9] years; 17 women [53%]) and 32 received PMR (mean [SD] age, 20.2 [1.5] years; 16 women [50%]). The severity of IGD decreased in the MM group (pretest vs posttest: mean [SD], 7.0 [1.1] vs 3.6 [0.8]; P < .001) and in the PMR group (mean [SD], 7.1 [0.9] vs 6.0 [0.9]; P = .04). The MM group had a greater decrease in IGD severity than the PMR group (mean [SD] score change for the MM group vs the PMR group, -3.6 [0.3] vs -1.1 [0.2]; P < .001). Mindfulness meditation was associated with decreased brain activation in the bilateral lentiform nuclei (r = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.60; P = .02), insula (r = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.60; P = .047), and medial frontal gyrus (MFG; r = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.70; P = .01). Increased MFG-lentiform FC and decreased craving (pretest vs posttest: mean [SD], 58.8 [15.7] vs 33.6 [12.0]; t = -8.66; ƞ2 = 0.30; P < .001) was observed after MM, and changes in MFG-lentiform FC mediated the relationship between increased mindfulness and decreased craving (mediate effect, -0.17; 95% CI, -0.32 to -0.08; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, MM was more effective in decreasing addiction severity and gaming cravings compared with PMR. These findings indicate that MM may be an effective treatment for IGD and may exert its effects by altering frontopallidal pathways. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300075869.

Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with psychological distress and internet gaming disorder among medical college students.

Background: The incidence of smartphone addiction has been widely studied, but the research on the relationship between smartphone addiction and psychological distress and internet gaming disorder is limited. This study investigated the characteristics and prevalence of smartphone addiction and its relation with psychological distress and internet gaming disorder. Furthermore, it provides the scientific basis for intervention measures in schools, families, and society. Methods: A random cluster sampling method was applied to investigate 656 medical students from grades 1 to 4 at Wannan Medical College in Anhui province, People's Republic of China. The questionnaire consisted of general information, a smartphone addiction scale, an Internet gaming disorder scale, and a Kessler 6-item psychological distress test. The obtained results were first summarized using descriptive statistics. The Chi-square test was used to compare the status of smartphone addiction. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between smartphone addiction and various variables. Results: Our results showed that the prevalence of smartphone addiction in medical students was 49.5% (325/656). Psychological distress (p < 0.001), internet gaming disorder (p < 0.001), and childhood trauma (p = 0.001) were highly correlated with smartphone addiction in medical students. Psychological distress, and internet gaming disorder were positively associated with smartphone addiction (p < 0.000). Conclusion: The prevalence of smartphone addiction is high among medical students in Chinese. Smartphone addiction is highly related to related to internet gaming disorder and psychological distress.

Factors associated with problematic internet use among University of Gondar undergraduate students, Northwest Ethiopia: Structural equation modeling.

BACKGROUND: For young adults and adolescents, excessive internet use has become a serious public health concern due to its negative impact on their health. It has been associated with detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Negative academic outcomes were observed in the students, including missing classes, lower grades, and academic dismissal. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to identify factors associated with PIU among undergraduate students at the University of Gondar. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar among 1514 undergraduate students from June 1-20, 2022. The study participants were selected using a stratified simple random selection procedure. Using structural equation modeling, the degree of relationship was ascertained. A p-value of less than 0.05 and an adjusted regression coefficient with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to interpret the data. RESULTS: In our study, being from non-health departments [ß = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.037, 0.181], current alcohol use [ß = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.061, 0.187], depressive symptoms [ß = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.175, 0.291], insomnia symptoms [ß = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.060, 0.196], and ADHD symptoms [ß = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.049, 0.166] had a significant positive effect on PIU, while having a history of head injury had a significant negative effect [ß = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.226, -0.021] on PIU. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Factors such as current alcohol use, non-health department type, depressive symptoms, insomnia, and ADHD symptoms were positively associated with PIU. However, a history of head injuries was negatively associated with PIU. Therefore, strategies aimed at the early identification of PIU may lead to an improvement in the psychosocial health of university students.

Using machine learning algorithms and techniques for defining the impact of affective temperament types, content search and activities on the internet on the development of problematic internet use in adolescents' population.

Background: By using algorithms and Machine Learning - ML techniques, the aim of this research was to determine the impact of the following factors on the development of Problematic Internet Use (PIU): sociodemographic factors, the intensity of using the Internet, different contents accessed on the Internet by adolescents, adolescents' online activities, life habits and different affective temperament types. Methods: Sample included 2,113 adolescents. The following instruments were used: questionnaire about: socio-demographic characteristics, intensity of the Internet use, content categories and online activities on the Internet; Facebook (FB) usage and life habits; The Internet Use Disorder Scale (IUDS). Based on their scores on the scale, subjects were divided into two groups - with or without PIU; Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego scale for adolescents (A-TEMPS-A). Results: Various ML classification models on our data set were trained. Binary classification models were created (class-label attribute was PIU value). Models hyperparameters were optimized using grid search method and models were validated using k-fold cross-validation technique. Random forest was the model with the best overall results and the time spent on FB and the cyclothymic temperament were variables of highest importance for these model. We also applied the ML techniques Lasso and ElasticNet. The three most important variables for the development of PIU with both techniques were: cyclothymic temperament, the longer use of the Internet and the desire to use the Internet more than at present time. Group of variables having a protective effect (regarding the prevention of the development of PIU) was found with both techniques. The three most important were: achievement, search for contents related to art and culture and hyperthymic temperament. Next, 34 important variables that explain 0.76% of variance were detected using the genetic algorithms. Finally, the binary classification model (with or without PIU) with the best characteristics was trained using artificial neural network. Conclusion: Variables related to the temporal determinants of Internet usage, cyclothymic temperament, the desire for increased Internet usage, anxious and irritable temperament, on line gaming, pornography, and some variables related to FB usage consistently appear as important variables for the development of PIU.

Social anxiety and social networking service addiction proneness among university students: A moderated mediation model of narcissism and gender.

This study aims to investigate the mediation effect of narcissism and the mediation effect moderated by gender in the effect of social anxiety on university students' SNS addiction. In this cross-sectional survey, university students, aged 19 to 29 were selected from two provinces in South Korea. The sample size was calculated using G*power 3.1., and a sample of 170 university students was used in the final analysis. To perform the analysis, descriptive statistics; independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation were used. The data collected was statistically analyzed using SPSS Program 23.0 and SPSS PROCESS macro (version 4.0). The moderated mediation effect was significant in both male and female groups. The mediation effect of narcissism on the relationship between social anxiety and SNS addiction proneness was stronger in the female group than in the male group. The findings have the potential to provide substantial basic data for developing health promotion and education programs to reduce university students' social anxiety, narcissism, and SNS addiction.

Associations of vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, and school bullying with depressive symptoms in secondary school students: the mediating role of internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have simultaneously focused on the associations of vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, school bullying, and Internet addiction (IA) with depressive symptoms. This study aimed to explore the direct and indirect effects of the above factors on depressive symptoms in adolescents by constructing a structural equation model (SEM). METHODS: This study was conducted in Qingdao from September to November 2021. A total of 6195 secondary school students aged 10-19 years were included in the analysis. Information on all variables was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. An SEM was constructed with depressive symptoms as the endogenous latent variable, IA as the mediating variable, and vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, and school bullying as the exogenous latent variables. The standardized path coefficients (ß) were the direct effects between the latent variables, and the indirect effects were obtained by the product of direct effects between relevant latent variables. RESULTS: The median value with the interquartile range of depressive symptom scores was 7 (3,12). Vegetable and fruit intake (ß=-0.100, P<0.001) and physical activity (ß=-0.140, P<0.001) were directly negatively related to depressive symptoms. While school bullying (ß=0.138, P<0.001) and IA (ß=0.452, P<0.001) were directly positively related to depressive symptoms. IA had the greatest impact on depressive symptoms. Vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, and school bullying could not only directly affect depressive symptoms, but also indirectly affect depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of IA, the indirect effects and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were -0.028 (-0.051, -0.007), -0.114 (-0.148, -0.089) and 0.095 (0.060, 0.157), respectively. The results of the multi-group analysis showed that the SEM we constructed still fit in boy and girl groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that vegetable and fruit intake, physical activity, school bullying, and IA had a significant direct impact on depressive symptoms, among which IA had the greatest impact. In addition, both vegetable and fruit intake, school bullying, and physical activity indirectly affected depressive symptoms through the mediating effect of IA. The impact of IA on depressive symptoms should be given extra attention by schools and parents. This study provides a scientific and effective basis for the prevention and control of adolescent depressive symptoms.

Association between childhood trauma and Internet gaming disorder: a moderated mediation analysis with depression as a mediator and psychological resilience as a moderator.

BACKGROUND: The effect of childhood trauma on Internet gaming disorder remains unclear. In this study, we examined this association in Chinese students and explored the possible associated roles of psychological resilience and depression. METHODS: In total, 8,579 students from Hunan Province, China, provided information regarding their sociodemographic factors, history of childhood trauma, any symptoms of depression, psychological resilience, and characteristics of Internet gaming disorder for this cross-sectional study. The impact of childhood trauma on Internet gaming disorder, as well as the extent to which it was mediated by depression and moderated by psychological resilience was evaluated. RESULTS: The influence of childhood trauma on Internet gaming disorder was partially mediated by depression (B = 0.07, 95% CI [0.04, 0.05], p < 0.001), with psychological resilience acting as a mitigating factor (B = -0.002, 95% CI [13.74, 21.72], p < 0.001). Psychological resilience also moderated the association between childhood trauma and depression (B = - 0.003, 95% CI [22.17, 28.10], p < 0.001). Our moderated mediation model elucidated psychosocial mechanisms, revealing the underlying link between childhood trauma and Internet gaming disorder. It also demonstrated the partial mediating role of depression and modulating role of psychological resilience among Chinese students. CONCLUSIONS: Education and interventions, along with effective social support, should be provided to enhance students' psychological resilience and prevent childhood trauma and depression.

The role of internet addiction and academic resilience in predicting the mental health of high school students in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization defines mental health as a combination of two dimensions: the negative dimension, or negative mental health, which indicates the presence of mental disorders, symptoms, and problems, and the positive dimension, or positive mental health, which includes emotions and positive personal characteristics such as self-esteem, resilience against environmental challenges, a sense of integrity, and self-efficacy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of internet addiction and academic resilience in predicting the mental health of high school students in Tehran, Iran. METHOD: The research method employed was a survey. 758 people participated in the study, and the samples consisted of high school students in Tehran during the academic year 2022-2023. The process of collecting information was carried out by distributing the questionnaire link through virtual networks and schools. The research utilized Young's Internet Addiction Test, Samuels' Academic Resilience Inventory, and Goldberg's Mental Health Questionnaire as the research tools. Statistical tests, including Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis, were employed to investigate the relationships between variables. RESULT: The effect of internet addiction on mental health (ß=0.39) is negative and significant at the 0.001 level, while the effect of academic resilience on mental health (ß=0.66) is positive and significant at the 0.001 level. These two variables collectively predict 53% of the variance in students' mental health. This indicates that as internet addiction increases among students, their mental health significantly decreases, whereas higher levels of academic resilience correspond to higher mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This study has elucidated the role of internet addiction and academic resilience in predicting the mental health of high school students in Tehran. Given the significance of adolescent mental health, it is imperative for healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to develop intervention and prevention models to address mental health crises and plan for the enhancement of adolescent mental health.

[The mediating role of social media addiction and sleep quality in the association between social media usage and depressive symptoms in university students]. / O papel mediador da dependência de mídia social e da qualidade do sono na associação entre tempo de uso de mídia social e sintomas depressivos em universitários.

Increase in time spent on social media and its association with depressive symptoms, especially among young adults, has generated the need to understand how this association occurs in order to support the development of policies to reduce harm and complications. In view of this fact, this study aimed to assess the mediating effect of social media addiction and sleep quality on the association between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms in Brazilian university students. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 2,823 university students, who provided information regarding time spent on social media, social media addiction, depressive symptoms and sleep quality. The mediation analysis, adjusted for confounding factors, was performed using the PROCESS macro for SPSS to obtain the total (c), direct (c'), and indirect effects (EI1, EI2, and EI3). The results identified an association between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms, mediated by social media addiction (EI1 = 20%) and sleep quality (EI1 = 40%). These findings help expand knowledge about the mechanisms that mutually influence the relationship between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms, supporting the adoption of strategies to reduce harm resulting from excessive social media use.

O aumento do uso de mídias sociais e sua associação com sintomas depressivos, especialmente em jovens adultos, tem gerado a necessidade do entendimento de como ocorre tal associação para subsidiar políticas de redução de danos e agravos. Nesse sentido, este estudo objetivou verificar o efeito mediador da dependência de mídias sociais e da qualidade do sono na associação entre o tempo de uso de mídias sociais e sintomas depressivos em universitários brasileiros. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 2.823 universitários, que forneceram informações referentes ao tempo de uso de mídias sociais, à dependência de mídias sociais, aos sintomas depressivos e à qualidade do sono. A análise de mediação, ajustada por fatores de confusão, foi realizada por meio do software PROCESS para SPSS, para obtenção do efeito total (c), direto (c') e indiretos (EI1, EI2 e EI3). Os resultados identificaram associação entre o tempo de uso de mídias sociais e os sintomas depressivos, mediada pela dependência de mídias sociais (EI1 = 20%) e pela qualidade do sono (EI1 = 40%). Os resultados permitem ampliar o conhecimento acerca dos mecanismos que influenciam mutuamente a relação entre o tempo de uso de mídias sociais e os sintomas depressivos, auxiliando na adoção de estratégias de redução de danos decorrentes do uso excessivo de mídias sociais.

El aumento del uso de las redes sociales y su asociación con síntomas depresivos, especialmente en adultos jóvenes, ha generado la necesidad de comprender cómo se produce esta asociación como una forma de apoyar las políticas de reducción de daños y afecciones. En ese sentido, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo verificar el efecto mediador de la adicción a las redes sociales y de la calidad del sueño en la asociación entre el tiempo de uso de las redes sociales y los síntomas depresivos en estudiantes universitarios brasileños. Se trata de un estudio transversal, realizado con 2.823 estudiantes universitarios, quienes brindaron información respecto al tiempo de uso de las redes sociales, adicción a las redes sociales, síntomas depresivos y calidad del sueño. El análisis de mediación, ajustado por factores de confusión, se realizó por medio del software PROCESS para SPSS, para obtener el efecto total (c), directo (c') e indirectos (EI1, EI2 y EI3). Los resultados identificaron una asociación entre el tiempo de uso de las redes sociales y los síntomas depresivos, mediada por adicción a las redes sociales (EI1 = 20%) y la calidad del sueño (EI1 = 40%). Los resultados permiten ampliar el conocimiento acerca de los mecanismos que influyen mutuamente en la relación entre tiempo de uso de las redes sociales y los síntomas depresivos, ayudando a adoptar estrategias para reducir los daños resultantes del uso excesivo de las redes sociales.

The relationship between internet addiction and fear of childbirth in pregnant women.

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between internet addiction and fear of childbirth in pregnant women. The study was conducted with 200 pregnant women who applied to two hospitals in province located in eastern Türkiye between April and August 2023 and were voluntary to participate in the study. In this descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational study,a"Personal Information Form", the "Internet Addiction Scale", and the "Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire" were used. The data were analyzed using independent samples t test, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. The pregnant women 40.5% expressed that they always accessed the information they sought. Pregnant women had high levels of internet addiction and fear of childbirth. In pregnant women, internet addiction was a significant predictor of fear of childbirth. With a multidisciplinary approach a preventive and supportive environment should be established in health services for the internet used during pregnancy.

Le but de cette étude est de déterminer la relation entre la dépendance à Internet et la peur de l'accouchement chez les femmes enceintes. L'étude a été menée auprès de 200 femmes enceintes qui ont postulé dans deux hôpitaux de la province située à l'est de la Turquie entre avril et août 2023 et qui ont volontairement participé à l'étude. Dans cette étude descriptive, transversale et corrélationnelle, un « formulaire d'informations personnelles ¼, l'« échelle de dépendance à Internet ¼ et le « questionnaire sur les attentes/expériences d'accouchement Wijma ¼ ont été utilisés. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide d'un test t pour échantillons indépendants, d'une analyse de variance et d'une analyse de régression. Les femmes enceintes, 40,5%, ont déclaré qu'elles accédaient toujours aux informations qu'elles recherchaient. Les femmes enceintes présentaient des niveaux élevés de dépendance à Internet et de peur de l'accouchement. Chez les femmes enceintes, la dépendance à Internet était un prédicteur significatif de la peur de l'accouchement. Grâce à une approche multidisciplinaire, un environnement préventif et favorable devrait être créé dans les services de santé pour l'utilisation d'Internet pendant la grossesse.

The relationship between family functioning and social media addiction among university students: a moderated mediation model of depressive symptoms and peer support.

BACKGROUND: Social media addiction (SMA) is an increasing problem, especially among young adults. Little is known about university students' SMA and family functioning. This study aimed to explore the mediating effect of depressive symptoms and the moderating effect of peer support in the relationship between family functioning and SMA among young adults. METHODS: A sample of 1862 Chinese university students completed an online survey including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Family APGAR, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), peer support, and demographic characteristics. Hierarchical regression and moderated mediation analysis were used to test the effects and pathways among them. RESULTS: Of the 1840 participants, 30.11% experienced SMA, 38.80% had family dysfunction and 15.98% had depressive symptoms. Hierarchical multiple regression showed better family functioning significantly predicted less SMA (ß = -0.26, p < 0.001) and lower depressive symptoms (ß = -0.58, p < 0.001), after adjusting for covariates. Mediation analysis verified that depressive symptoms mediated the effect of family functioning on SMA (indirect effect = -0.22, 95%CI[-0.28, -0.17]). Furthermore, the interaction of family functioning and peer support was negatively related to depressive symptoms (ß= -0.03, 95% CI[-0.05, -0.01]) and the interaction of depressive symptoms and peer support was positively related to SMA (ß = 0.01, 95%CI[0.004, 0.02]). Additional analysis further confirmed that peer support decreased depressive symptoms among young adults from dysfunctional families, and increased SMA behaviors in individuals with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Better family functioning and lower depressive symptoms may contribute to less social media addiction among Chinese university students. Peer support could moderate the mediating role of depressive symptoms on social media addiction in individuals with family dysfunction.