Relationships between problematic ICT use, anxiety, psychological, and behavioral aspects

Méndez-López, F. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Dominguez-Gárcía, M. ; León-Herrera, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Mártinez-Pecharroman, M.M. ; Samper-Pardo, M. ; Aguilar-Latorre, A. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Background
Anxiety is a substantial and developing health issue with significant consequences for psychosocial functioning and quality of life. The onset and severity of mental health problems have been linked to a number of biological, psychological, and behavioral factors.

Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the degree of anxiety, problematic information and communications technology (ICT) use, and certain related personal characteristics and adult health behavior. It also investigates the impact of personal characteristics in the moderating role of the association between problematic ICT use and anxiety.

Patients and Methods
Descriptive, bivariate, multivariate, and moderation analyzes of data from 391 participants of 35-74 years old in primary healthcare centers located in Aragón, in northern Spain were performed between July 2021 and July 2022. The primary outcome was the severity of anxious symptoms as continuous variable (GAD-7).

Results
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 anxious 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.

Conclusions
The problematic use of ICT and personal factors are related to anxious symptomatology. Adults with low resilience and self-efficacy have worse severity of anxiety associated with the problematic use of ICTs. These findings allow for a new approach to preventive identification and early care measures among people at risk and their families.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.1603

Año: 2023

Publicado en: European Journal of Public Health 33, Suppl. 2 (2023), ckad160.1603 [1 pp.]
ISSN: 1101-1262

Factor impacto JCR: 3.7 (2023)

Categ. JCR: PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH rank: 73 / 408 = 0.179 (2023) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH rank: 73 / 408 = 0.179 (2023) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.6 - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.078 - Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Enfermería (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicología Social (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)
Área (Departamento): Área Psicolog.Evolut.Educac (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)