Prevalência da dependência de internet e associação com distúrbios mentais em adolescentes

Abstract

Introduction: Adolescence is a challenging period for the construction of an individual's identity and personality. The accelerated modernization of society has facilitated access to and deliberate use of the Internet, which can lead to different types of mental disorders in young people. Objective: To quantify the prevalence of Internet addiction and analyze its impact on the development and/or maintenance of mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents. Method: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted in public schools in Passo Fundo, RS, in November and December 2023. All high school students from four schools were invited to participate in the study, considering a required sample of 147 individuals. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires on the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of the students (sex/gender, age, skin color, family income, high school year, psychological and/or psychiatric follow-up, use of anxiolytic and/or antidepressant medications, mental disorders other than depression or anxiety, physical activity, smoking, regular alcohol consumption, hours per day on the Internet, device used to access the Internet) and the application of two tests: the Internet Addiction Test [1] and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale [2]. The sample description was given in terms of absolute and relative frequency, and the prevalence of the dependent variable (Internet addiction) and its correlation with the independent variables were calculated. The correlation between the variables was tested using Pearson's chi-square test (CI=95%), using PSPP software (version 2.0, free distribution). Results: The sample (n=139) is predominantly composed of females (53.2%), aged 16 years (47.5%), whites (61.2%), with a family income between 1 and 3 minimum wages (33.1%). Regarding Internet use: 75.5% of students spent more than 3 hours a day on the Internet and predominantly used smartphones to access it (89.2%). It was found that 17% of the students presented some degree of Internet addiction; 42% had symptoms consistent with anxiety disorder; approximately 25% showed signs of depression; and 22% showed signs of stress. A positive association was found between depression, anxiety, and stress and Internet addiction (p<0.05). Conclusion: Internet addiction in adolescents is related to the development or maintenance of mental disorders. The study highlights the negative impact of Internet use on mental health and the need for measures aimed at better support and guidance for these young people.