Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2021 Aug 11. doi: 10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0279. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There are several negative impacts on the physical and mental health of people presenting internet addiction, especially for the development of mood disorders, such as depression.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between internet addiction and depressive symptoms, as well as to test the mediating role of physical activity in this association.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students from three universities (one private and two public institution) from southern Brazil. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21), internet addiction with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT-20) and physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ – short version). Poisson regression and the Karlson-Holm-Breen mediation method were used to the statistical analyses.
RESULTS: We have observed a dose-response relation between internet addiction and depressive symptoms. Levels of physical activity mediated the association between moderate internet addiction and depressive symptoms, accounting for 10.7% of the effect observed.
CONCLUSION: Internet addiction can be detrimental to individuals’ health, and contribute to the development of depressive symptoms. Along with psychological and pharmacological therapies, prescription of physical activities are recommended.
PMID:34392666 | DOI:10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0279
