Relationships between depression, health‑related behaviors, and internet addiction in female junior college students

Abstract

Introduction Depressive emotions can lead to subsequent unhealthy behaviors such as Internet addiction, especially in female adolescents; therefore, studies that examine the relationships among depression, health‑related behaviors, and Internet addiction in female adolescents are warranted. Purpose To examine (1) the relationship between depression and health-related behaviors and (2) the relationship between depression and Internet addiction. Method A cross-sectional study design was adopted using a structured questionnaire to measure depression, health-related behaviors, and Internet addiction in female adolescents. The data were collected from students of a junior college in southern Taiwan using convenience sampling to select the participants. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: demographics, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP), and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Results The final sample comprised 503 female junior college students, with the participants mainly aged between 15 to 22 years (mean age = 17.30 years, SD = 1.34). Regarding the HPLP scores, the overall score, nutrition subscale score, and self-actualization subscale score were significantly and negatively associated with the CES-D depression score ( p < 0.05–0.01). In other words, depression level was lower in students who exhibited more healthy behaviors, put more emphasis on dietary health, and had higher levels of self-admiration and confidence toward life. Regarding the IAT scores, the overall score and six domain scores were all positively associated ( p < 0.01) to the CES-D depression score. In other words, the higher an individual’s Internet addiction score was, the higher her depression level was. Conclusions The results confirmed the relationship between depression, health-related behaviors, and Internet addiction. The cultivation of health-related behaviors may help in lowering depressive symptoms. Teenagers with depression have higher risks of developing Internet addiction, and such addiction is likely to affect their daily functioning.

Does Interpersonal Interaction Really Improve Emotion, Sleep Quality, and Self-Efficacy among Junior College Students?

“…Thus, interpersonal interactions on the Internet are on the increase [7]. Overuse of or addiction to the Internet may negatively influence teenagers' emotions [8]. Studies [8][9][10] have indicated that teenagers' Internet addiction is significantly correlated with depressed emotions.…”

“…Overuse of or addiction to the Internet may negatively influence teenagers' emotions [8]. Studies [8][9][10] have indicated that teenagers' Internet addiction is significantly correlated with depressed emotions. However, few studies [8][9][10] discuss further the correlations between interpersonal interactions on the Internet and depressed emotions and whether the interpersonal interactions online actually influence teenagers' emotions.…”

Is It Weird to Enjoy Solitude? Relationship of Solitude Capacity with Personality Traits and Physical and Mental Health in Junior College Students

“…However, the negative correlation between solitude coping and severe depression revealed by this study means that improvement of individuals’ capacity for solitude can probably alleviate the negative influences of depression. In addition, in Taiwan, more than one-fourth of the national teenage population has experienced depressive moods (or insomnia), and the number of adolescents affected by these symptoms is increasing annually [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The enhancement of teenagers’ solitude capacity may be another way to improve the negative mood and/or sleep quality in these teenagers.…”

Diet Quality and Sociodemographic, Lifestyle, and Health-Related Determinants among People with Depression in Spain: New Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study (2011–2017)

“…Moreover, older people are more likely to achieve the recommended daily consumption of fruit and vegetables than young people [ 68 ]. Interestingly, the literature shows that young people with lower diet quality scores were more likely to report depressive symptoms [ 69 , 70 ].…”