Smartphone overuse, depression & anxiety in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Adaptation and Validation of the Spanish Version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS)

Smartphone addiction is very prevalent among university students and can negatively impact both their physical and mental health. This study aimed to translate the smartphone application-based addiction scale (SABAS) into Spanish and evaluate its psychometric properties among Spanish university students. A total of 297 university students (222 women and 75 men) participated in this study (M age = 20.88, SD = 4.58) by completing a sociodemographic questionnaire, the smartphone addiction scale-short version, the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21, the fear of missing out scale, and the SABAS. The SABAS was translated into Spanish using the forward-backward method. The factor structure was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega coefficients. The SABAS showed acceptable reliability (α = 0.72; ω = 0.73), and all of its items were kept. Factor analysis revealed that the Spanish version of the SABAS was unifactorial and demonstrated excellent validity (χ2 = 10.285; p = 0.246; RMSEA = 0.034; CFI = 0.991; SRMR = 0.030). Significant associations were also observed between the SABAS score and the number of hours of smartphone use, fear of missing out, and psychological distress. Despite its brevity, the Spanish version of the SABAS provides good validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be used as a tool for screening smartphone addiction in Spanish university students.

Association of smartphone and internet addiction with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of smartphones and the Internet can lead to addiction and may increase the risk of developing mental disorders, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized the existing literature reporting the impact of smartphone and Internet addiction on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed on two databases, PubMed and EMBASE, following the PRISMA guidelines to identify articles conducted from December 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic began to emerge. Studies were selected based on pre-defined criteria and assessed for quality before inclusion in the meta-analysis. The main effect estimate gathered from eligible studies was the odds ratio, which was computed using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Our findings demonstrated significant associations between Internet addiction and depression (OR = 4.09, 95% CI [3.28, 5.09]), Internet addiction and anxiety (OR = 3.08, 95% CI [2.08, 4.57]), smartphone addiction and depression (OR = 3.82, 95% CI [3.31, 4.40]), and smartphone addiction and anxiety (OR = 4.81, 95% CI [3.81, 6.07]) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis underscores that Internet and smartphone addiction increases the likelihood of developing mental disorders in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the outbreak of infectious diseases, it is imperative for nations to not only address economic and educational challenges but also prioritize the mental well-being of their citizens.

Anxiety and Depression Disorders in Undergraduate Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered several challenges on the front of mental health. Undergraduate medical students face considerable stress in their academic routines. Thus, there is a need to explore the implications for the mental health of undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

To review the global literature about anxiety and depressive disorders in undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

We developed an integrative literature review on the occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included the manuscripts that used the PHQ-9 and/or GAD-7 questionnaires. We excluded systematic reviews, narrative reviews, integrative reviews, meta-analyses, and qualitative analytical studies. We assessed the results on the occurrence of anxiety and depression and the severity of symptoms in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic using quantitative studies applying the GAD-7 questionnaire for anxiety or the PHQ-9 for depression.

RESULTS

We reviewed 85 selected studies, and the results showed a significant prevalence of moderate and severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, with 28.2% of participants presenting scores of ≥10 on the GAD-7 and 38.9% on the PHQ-9. Statistical analyses using simple and multiple regression tests revealed associations between higher rates of anxiety symptoms among students from developing countries and data collected after the lockdown period in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. In addition, female students were at risk of depressive disorders. We emphasize as a limitation that the diagnosis of depression and anxiety requires a detailed clinical evaluation, which is not focused on in this actual study.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the need for specific interventions to support the mental health of undergraduate medical students, especially female students from developing countries, during a pandemic crisis.

The relationship between the use of Touch Screen Devices and interference suppression in children aged 5-11

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relation between the use of Touch Screen Devices (TSDs), such as smartphones and tablets, and interference suppression as assessed by the Bivalent Shape Task (BST) in 5-11-year-old children.

METHODS

Thirty-eight children from a Dutch primary school were included. Interference suppression was measured in the incongruent level of the BST. TSD use was measured by a standardized interview. The dataset was analyzed using multilevel analysis because of its nested structure.

RESULTS

Children with moderate to high TSD use showed a longer reaction time (RT) as age progresses in the incongruent level (T = 2.40, p = .017), compared to children with no to low TSD use. Furthermore, an interaction between TSD use, age, gender, and the incongruent level demonstrated an increased RT in boys with moderate to high TSD use compared to boys with no to low TSD use as age increases (T = -2.23, p = .026).

CONCLUSION

The RT in response of interfering stimuli seems to be negatively influenced by TSD use as age progresses in children aged 5-11. Moreover, a gender-specific effect could be observed. Given the potential impact of these findings, more research would be helpful to further explore causal mechanisms.

The relationship between social media dependency and psychological distress due to misunderstanding and fear of COVID-19 in medical students

Improper use of social media during the COVID-19 outbreak, leading to fear and misunderstanding, can contribute to psychological disorders in vulnerable populations. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 511 medical students of Babol University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using demographic, psychological distress, fear and misunderstanding questionnaires related to COVID-19 and social media dependency. A total of 511 medical students, with an average age of Mean and S.D; 23.57 ± 3.03 participated in the study. The average psychological distress score was 23.82 ± 7.73 (out of 54), the average score of social media dependency was 17.53 ± 3.09 (out of 30), for the fear of COVID-19 was12.63 ± 2.56 (out of 35), and for the misperception of COVID-19 was 0.53 ± 0.09 (out of 18). Path analysis results) showed that direct path from improper use of social media to psychological distress is significant (P < 0.001, B = 0.19) but this relationship is not significant through fear and misperception related to COVID-19. Improper use of social media, identified as the strongest predictor, can directly increase psychological distress in medical students, without mediation through fear and misperception related to COVID-19. These findings should be taken into consideration when designing and evaluating interventions aimed at promoting mental health and fostering appropriate use of social media among students during disease outbreaks.

Daily smartphone use predicts parent depressive symptoms, but parents' perceptions of responsiveness to their child moderate this effect

Introduction

Smartphone use during caregiving has become increasingly common, especially around infants and very young children, and this use around young children has been linked with lower quality and quantity of parent-child interaction, with potential implications for child behavior, and parent-child attachment. To understand drivers and consequences of parent phone use, we were interested in the daily associations between parent phone use and depressed mood, as well as the potential for parent perceptions of their responsiveness toward their infant to alter the association between parent phone use and mood.

Methods

In the present study, we explored associations between day-to-day changes in parent smartphone use (objectively-measured via passive sensing) around their infant, depressed mood, and parent perceptions of their responsiveness to their infants among a sample of 264 parents across eight days. We utilized multilevel modeling to examine these within-person daily associations.

Results

Objectively-measured parent smartphone use during time around their infant was significantly associated with depressed mood on a daily basis. Interestingly, this was not true on days when parents perceived themselves to be more responsive to their infant.

Discussion

These results suggest that parent judgements and perceptions of their parenting behavior may impact the potential link between parent phone use and parent mood. This is the first study utilizing intensive daily data to examine how parent perceptions may alter the felt effects of phone use on their parenting. Future work examining potential impacts of smartphone use on parenting should consider the effects of both actual use and perceptions about that use.

The impact of social isolation on smartphone addiction among college students: the multiple mediating effects of loneliness and COVID-19 anxiety

Background

The widespread use of smartphones has significantly increased smartphone addiction among college students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, university campuses in mainland China have strictly followed the Chinese government's strict quarantine policy, including closed campus management, prohibitions against gatherings, and social distancing, increasing student loneliness and anxiety and thus increasing the risk of smartphone addiction. Extant Studies have revealed that social isolation is a prominent predictor of smartphone addiction but have failed to systematically explore the complex relationship between social isolation and smartphone addiction in the context of COVID-19; therefore, the underlying mechanisms of these factors in the post-pandemic era are unclear.

Objective

This study is the first attempt to consider loneliness, COVID-19 anxiety and social isolation as a whole and to clarify the underlying mechanisms of social isolation and smartphone addiction by constructing a multiple mediating model.

Method

This study included students enrolled at eight higher education institutions in Conghua District (Guangzhou city). Quota proportional sampling was adopted, 900 self-report questionnaires were distributed through the WeChat groups of these universities from December 10 to December 15, 2022, and 868 valid questionnaires (620 females, 248 males) were ultimately obtained.

Results

The direct effect of social isolation on smartphone addiction was significant, and loneliness and COVID-19 anxiety mediated the association between social isolation and smartphone addiction in both parallel and sequential ways. Moreover, a reverse mediation model with COVID-19 anxiety as the first mediator and loneliness as the second mediator was found.

Conclusion

College students who experience social isolation are at greater risk for smartphone addiction, and the core factor leading to their smartphone addiction is the subjective psychological state triggered by campus isolation and social distancing, such as loneliness and anxiety. These risky behaviors of people should receive extra attention, and psychological factors such as loneliness and COVID-19 anxiety should be considered in future therapies aimed at reducing addiction.

Global prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

As future physicians, medical students have experienced tremendous pressure during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which is associated with a high risk of depression and anxiety. We aimed to investigate an overview of the prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students in various countries during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss associated stressors.

METHODS

We systematically searched CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science for relevant articles from December 1, 2019 to March 15, 2023. We performed meta-analysis using a random-effects model with REML method to calculate the pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression. Begg's and Egger's tests were used to identify the potential risk of publication bias. Meta-regression was used to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

We identified 130 studies reporting anxiety and depression among 132,068 medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight screening tools were identified for anxiety and six for depression. The pooled prevalence of mental health outcomes for anxiety and depression was 45% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40%-49%) and 48% (95% CI, 43%-52%), respectively. The pooled prevalence of mental health outcomes for moderate and severe anxiety and moderate and severe depression was 28% (95% CI, 24%-32%) and 30% (95% CI, 26%-35%), respectively. There was high heterogeneity between studies, with I2 ranging from 99.58%-99.66%. Continent and survey date were included in the meta-regression model. The results of meta-regression revealed that medical students in Asia had a lower prevalence of anxiety, and depression than those in other regions. The survey date (from February to June, 2020) showed a significantly positive correlation with the prevalence of anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the global prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data highlight that medical students worldwide are at high risk of experiencing anxiety and depression. The reported stressors can be categorized into personal, academic, environmental and cultural, and pandemic factors. Schools and institutions should ensure optimal alternative learning environments for uninterrupted provision of medical education. The appropriate authorities should prioritize the provision of adequate protection for medical students and establish policies to promote new methods of training and education during a disaster, such as via distance learning.

Associations of problematic smartphone use with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in university students before and after the COVID-19 outbreak: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been suggested to present with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (SI) as well as sleep disturbance, lack of social support, and emotional isolation. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between PSU with depressive symptoms and SI in university students, and to determine the potential influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

METHODS

Observational studies pertinent to our research were identified through comprehensive searches of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. To account for potential heterogeneity, the random-effects models were employed to aggregate the findings.

RESULTS

Eighteen datasets from 17 case-control studies, including 24,019 university students, were included. Among them, 8,775 (36.5 %) had PSU. A higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.40, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.19 to 2.63, p < 0.001; prediction interval: 1.95 to 2.96) was observed in university students with higher scores for PSU measures. A subgroup analysis showed a stronger association between PSU and depressive symptoms after the COVID-19 outbreak as compared to that before the outbreak (OR: 2.76 versus 2.16, p for subgroup difference = 0.002), which explained the heterogeneity. The association between PSU and depressive symptoms in university students was similar to those reported in studies from China and other countries, and in studies with different quality scores. Finally, a meta-analysis of three studies suggested that PSU was also associated with the prevalence of SI (OR: 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.77 to 2.68, p < 0.001; I2 = 0 %).

CONCLUSION

In university students, PSU may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms and SI, and the association between PSU and depressive symptoms became stronger after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Network analysis of depression and anxiety symptoms and their associations with mobile phone addiction among Chinese medical students during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic

Network analysis provides a novel approach to discovering associations between mental disorders at the symptom level. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of the network of depression and anxiety symptoms and their associations with mobile phone addiction (MPA) among Chinese medical students during the late stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 553 medical students were included. Depression and anxiety symptoms and MPA were measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), respectively. Central and bridge symptoms were identified with centrality indices and bridge centrality indices. Network stability was examined using the case-dropping procedure. "Uncontrollable worry", "restlessness" and "nervousness" were the central symptoms in the depression and anxiety network. "Restlessness" and "motor" were the most central bridge symptoms linking depression and anxiety. "Concentration", "anhedonia" and "sleep" were most strongly associated with MPA. "Uncontrollable worry", "restlessness", "nervousness," and "motor" may be the symptoms for interventions to target in medical students with comorbid depression and anxiety. From a network perspective, depressive symptoms may be more important than anxiety symptoms in medical students with MPA.

Association between love breakup and suicidal ideation in Peruvian medical students: a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

We aimed to determine the association between a major romantic breakup and suicidal ideation in medical students from three universities in Peru.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first pandemic wave in 2021 on medical students from three universities in northern Peru. The outcome was suicidal ideation, measured with question nine of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were also used to assess mental health symptoms. The exposure was the experience of a major love breakup during the pandemic. In addition, its association with other covariates (age, sex, family members infected with COVID-19, deceased family members with COVID-19, insomnia, and anxiety, among others) was examined.

Results and discussions

Out of 370 students, 19.5% reported a major love breakup during the pandemic (95%CI: 15.5-23.8), and 34.3% had suicidal ideation (95%CI: 29.4-39.4). Having a major love breakup was associated with a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (PR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.32-1.67, p < 0.001). Moderate insomnia (PR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.70-3.87, p < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (PR: 1.94, 1.10-3.44, p = 0.023) were also associated with suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence of a significant association between a major love breakup and suicidal ideation. This finding emphasizes the need for further research to better understand this association and inform the development of effective suicide prevention policies in medical education.

Relationship between depression, anxiety, stress and smartphone addiction in COVID-19 nursing students

OBJECTIVE

to verify the relationship between symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and smartphone addiction in COVID-19 nursing students.

METHOD

this was a descriptive-analytical study of 206 nursing students. A sociodemographic characterization and smartphone use instrument adapted from the literature and the following scales Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and Smartphone Addiction Inventory were used for data collection. Sociodemographic data and smartphone use were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the relationship between symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and smartphone addiction was analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

the prevalence of smartphone addiction among nursing students was 129 (62.6%) and there was a relationship between symptoms of moderate depression (p=0.049), severe/very severe depression (p=0.005) and mild anxiety (p=0.028) and severe/very severe anxiety (p=0.019) and smartphone addiction.

CONCLUSION

the data show that the construction and implementation of smartphone use policies in the academic and hospital context to prevent smartphone addiction and control associated risk factors is necessary.

BACKGROUND

(1) High prevalence of smartphone addiction among nursing students. (2) There was a relationship between symptoms of depression, anxiety and smartphone addiction. (3) Nursing has a leading role in identifying and managing addictions. (4) A multidisciplinary approach to the prevention and management of smartphone addiction. (5) Smartphone addiction in nursing students is a new issue in Brazil.

Association between Love Breakup and Suicidal Ideation in Peruvian Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective

We aimed to determine the association between a major romantic breakup and suicidal ideation in medical students from three universities in Peru.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first pandemic wave in 2021 on medical students from three universities in northern Peru. The outcome was suicidal ideation, measured with question nine of the PHQ-9. The exposure was the experience of a major love breakup during the pandemic. In addition, its association with other covariates (age, sex, family members infected with COVID-19, deceased family members with COVID-19, insomnia, and anxiety, among others) was examined.

Results and discussions

Out of 370 students, 19.5% reported a major love breakup during the pandemic (95%CI: 15.5-23.8), and 34.3% had suicidal ideation (95%CI: 29.4-39.4). Having a major love breakup was associated with a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (PR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.32-1.67). Moderate insomnia (PR: 2.56, 95%CI: 1.70-3.87) and anxiety symptoms (PR: 1.94, 1.10-3.44) were also associated with suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence of a significant association between a major love breakup and suicidal ideation. This finding emphasizes the need for further research to better understand this association and inform the development of effective suicide prevention policies in medical education.

Food insecurity in Piura, Peru, in the context of post-earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Piura, located in a seismic zone, faces challenges related to food security. The aim of this study was to analyze aspects related to food insecurity in the region following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2021, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A secondary analysis was performed in 177 people exposed to the earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity was assessed with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Its association with insomnia, resilience, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and general variables were determined using generalized linear models.

Results

Food insecurity was observed in 31.1% (95% CI: 24.3-38.4) of participants. This prevalence was higher in people with mild (PR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.70) and moderate (PR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.09-2.22) anxiety symptoms, severe depressive symptoms (PR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.24-6.03), and previous exposure to the El Niño Phenomenon (PR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06-2.81). An income higher than 5000 Peruvian soles (approximately 1300 US dollars) was associated with a lower prevalence of food insecurity (PR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.40).

Conclusions

Overall, three out of 10 individuals experienced food insecurity after the 2021 earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity may be aggravated by mental disorders, previous exposure to the El Niño phenomenon, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study contributes to the field by exploring a range of variables related to food insecurity in a unique context: post-earthquake and during the COVID-19 health emergency in Peru. These findings enhance our understanding of food insecurity at the regional level and highlight the need for preventive food security programs in seismic events.

Post-Traumatic Stress Associated with Telework-Related Job Limitation in Latin America

During the pandemic, there has been evidence of work limitations during telework, which are believed to cause mental health problems. Our objective was to assess the association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Latin America in 2020. Exposure was measured by self-reporting using a self-perception questionnaire; the SPRINT-E questionnaire was used for outcome measurements. Generalized linear models were applied. Of 1329 participants, 15.2% (n = 202) had posttraumatic stress. In a multivariate analysis, the highest frequency of posttraumatic stress was found among those with moderate depression or more (PR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03-1.61), moderate or more anxiety (PR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.61-3.41), and moderate or more stress (PR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.46-4.12). In conclusion, there is an association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress in Latin American workers. For this reason, it is recommended that occupational physicians, companies, and institutions assess the frequency of posttraumatic stress and monitor the mental health of workers.

Association between childhood trauma and mental health disorders in adolescents during the second pandemic wave of COVID-19, Chiclayo-Peru

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected mental health, with children and adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Evidence on the association between childhood trauma and mental health outcomes in schoolchildren during the pandemic is limited. This study aimed to evaluate this relationship in Chiclayo city, northern Peru, during the second wave of COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional secondary data study was conducted, measuring childhood trauma using the Marshall's Trauma Scale, depressive symptomatology (PHQ-9), and anxiety symptomatology (GAD-7). Additional variables assessed were alcohol use (AUDIT), resilience (abbreviated CD-RISC), and socio-educational data. Prevalence ratios were estimated using generalized linear models.

Results

Among 456 participants, 88.2% were female, with a mean age of 14.5 years (SD: 1.33). Depressive symptomatology prevalence was 76.3% (95%CI: 72.14-80.15) and increased by 23% in schoolchildren with childhood trauma (PR: 1.23; 95%CI: 1.10-1.37). Factors positively associated with depressive symptomatology included increasing age, seeking mental health help during the pandemic, and severe family dysfunction. Anxiety symptomatology prevalence was 62.3% (95%CI: 57.65-66.75) and increased by 55% in schoolchildren with childhood trauma (PR: 1.55; 95%CI: 1.31-1.85). Anxiety symptomatology was positively associated with mild, moderate, and severe family dysfunction.

Conclusion

Schoolchildren exposed to childhood trauma are at increased risk for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent mental health is vital. These findings can assist schools in establishing effective measures to prevent mental health outcomes.

Internet addiction and mental health disorders in high school students in a Peruvian region: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the association between internet addiction disorder (IAD) and anxiety and depressive symptomatology in high school students in two private schools in Chiclayo, Peru, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analytical cross-sectional investigation of 505 adolescents from two private schools. The dependent variables were anxiety and depressive symptomatology, measured with the Beck Adapted Depression Questionnaire (BDI-IIA) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. The main independent variable was IAD, measured with the Internet Addiction Test instrument(IATI). Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated.

RESULTS

The average age was 14.16 years and 54.9% were women. 22.2% and 3.2% presented mild and moderate IAD; respectively. 9.3% presented severe anxiety and 34.3% severe depressive symptomatology. In the simple regression, adolescents with mild, moderate and severe IAD presented 19% (PR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.05-1.35), 25% (PR = 1.25; 95%CI: 1.02-1.53) and 53% (PR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.47-1.60) higher prevalence of depressive symptomatology; however, this association was not maintained in the multiple model. Anxiety increased 196% in adolescents with severe IAD (PR = 2.96; 95%CI: 1.86-4.71).

CONCLUSION

We found that 2, 1, and 3 out of 10 students presented IAD, depressive symptomatology, and anxiety, respectively. We did not find an association between IAD and depressive symptomatology, but we did find an association with anxiety. Among the factors associated with the development of depressive symptomatology were the male sex, the presence of eating disorders, subclinical insomnia, using devices for more than 2 h, and using the Internet for academic activities. About anxiety, the associated factors are the female sex, the presence of eating disorders, subclinical insomnia, and the use of the Internet as social interaction. We recommend implementing counseling programs in view of the imminent introduction of the Internet as a pillar in education.

The Impact of Smartphone Addiction on Sleep Quality Among High School Students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Background Smartphones are Internet-accessible devices that everyone can use in any setting, and their popularity is growing. However, the pervasiveness of smartphone technology has raised concerns owing to its addictive effect among adolescents and its association with sleep quality and mental and physical health issues. Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of smartphone addiction on sleep quality among secondary high schools in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods The study was conducted on high school students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, using an analytical cross-sectional design, from January 2023 to August 2023. The study used a multistage stratified random sampling technique to select participants. The data were collected from an online self-administered survey and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results This study included 373 respondents. Among those, males represent two-thirds of the study population (66%), while females are 34%. The median age of the participants is 16 years old, and the interquartile range (IQR) is 6. Our results show that the median number of hours spent on mobile phones is six per day, and the IQR is 5. Furthermore, our findings reveal that the mean Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) score is 38.5 ± 10.8 out of 60, and the average global PSQI score is 6.63 ± 3.03 out of 21. The results show that the study participants have problems using smartphones longer than they intended, constantly checking them, and missing planned works due to smartphone use. There is a positive correlation between smartphone addiction and sleep quality (r = 0.261; p < 0.001), indicating that the respondents have worse sleep quality when smartphone addiction and the global PSQI increased. Conclusion Our study concluded that high school students in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, have high smartphone addiction. Moreover, high smartphone addiction is significantly associated with poor sleep quality. This study can help with the development of measures to improve better sleep quality among high school students.

Is Satisfaction with Online Learning Related to Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia Symptoms? A Cross-Sectional Study on Medical Undergraduates in Romania

The objective of this study was to investigate online learning satisfaction in a sample of university students and its relationship with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the average number of hours spent online. A total of 463 medical students were recruited for an online survey conducted from February to March 2022 with the main objective of estimating online learning satisfaction, while secondary outcomes involved assessing the relationship between online learning and depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the average number of hours spent online. A total of 285 participants were female (71.4%) and the mean age was 20.2 years. The results revealed that depression, anxiety, and insomnia are negatively correlated with overall satisfaction with e-learning. The more time students spent online, the greater the overall satisfaction. There are significant differences regarding student perceptions of interactivity in online learning satisfaction outcomes (p < 0.05, η2 partial Eta Squared-0.284). The opportunity to learn via chat-box presented differences in overall satisfaction while pleasant aspects of online learning, such as “no travel” and “economy”, were related to satisfaction. The students revealed that the higher the psychopathology scores, the less satisfied they were with online learning, while a higher number of hours spent online contributed positively to satisfaction.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anxiety and Depression in Peruvian Medical Students

During medical training, students are exposed to stressors that deteriorate mental health. This study determined depression and anxiety prevalence and their associated factors in students from four medical schools in northern Peru. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from Lambayeque, Peru. The Goldberg Anxiety and Zung Depression tests were applied. The dependent variables were depression and anxiety, and their association with covariates (age, sex, type of university, socioeconomic level, experience, family problem, and physical activity) was evaluated. Prevalence ratios were calculated using generalized linear models. Of 482 students, the prevalence of anxiety was 61.8% and depression was 22.0%. A severe level of anxiety was observed in 6.2% in the group between 16 and 20 years old. It was observed that private university students had higher frequencies of having depression (PR = 2.01) and anxiety (PR = 1.35); males had a lower risk of anxiety (PR = 0.82), but higher risk of depression compared to females (PR = 1.45). Performing physical activity decreased the prevalence of depression (PR = 0.53); however, it increased the frequency of anxiety (PR = 1.26). Having family problems increased the prevalence of anxiety (PR = 1.26). Medical students from private universities experienced higher rates of depression and anxiety. Depression and anxiety were associated with gender and physical activity. These findings highlight the importance of mental health promotion due to its link with quality of life and academic performance.