Depressive and Anxious Symptoms Increase with Problematic Technologies Use Among Adults: The Effects of Personal Factors Related to Health Behavior

Abstract

Background Depression and anxiety disorders are a significant and growing health problem that has a significant impact on psychosocial functioning and quality of life. The onset and severity of mental health problems have been related to various biological, psychosocial, and behavioral variables. Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the association among the severity of depression and anxiety, problematic information and communications technology (ICT) use, and some related personal factors with health behavior among adults. It also analyzes the moderating role of personal factors in the relationship between the problematic use of ICT and anxiety and depression. Patients and Methods Descriptive, bivariate, multivariate and moderation analyzes of data from 391 participants of 35–74 years old in primary health care centers located in Aragón (Spain) were performed between July 2021 and July 2022. The primary outcome was the severity of depressive and anxious symptoms as continuous variable. Results Low sense of coherence (β = −0.058; p = 0.043), low self-esteem (β = −0.171; p=0.002), and low self-efficacy (β = −0.122; p= 0.001), are predictors of having more severe depressive symptoms. Furthermore, low self-esteem (β = −0.120; p= 0.012), low self-efficacy (β = −0.092; p=0.004), and high problematic use of ICT (β = 0.169; p = 0.001), are predictors of having more severe anxiety symptoms. Moderation analyzes were significant in the effect of self-efficacy (b = −0.040, p=0.001) and resilience (b = −0.024, p=0.033) on the relationship between problematic ICT use and anxiety. Conclusion The problematic use of ICT and personal factors are related to depressive and anxiety symptoms. The interrelationship between problematic ICT use, personal factors, and depression needs to be further explored.

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

“…Many parents have perceived physical punishment and strict parenting as manifestations of care and affection, as evidenced by the proverb, ‘beating and scolding represent love’ [ 31 ]. Studies have shown that individuals who experienced childhood trauma tended to feel less parent affection, exhibited poorer self-esteem and self-worth, and were more prone to developing IGD as a coping mechanism for loneliness and being loved [ 32 , 33 ]. In addition, numerous studies have revealed that childhood trauma impaired neuroplasticity and neurogenesis in brain circuits that regulated emotion and motivation, which was the biological basis for susceptibility to addictive behaviours [ 34 , 35 ].…”