Tecnoadicción y uso compulsivo de internet en estudiantes universitarios / Technology addiction and compulsive internet use in university

Introducción: uno de los efectos nocivos de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) es su uso sin control, lo que ha generado una adicción hacia ellas. Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia de tecnoadicción de las TIC en estudiantes universitarios de nivel superior, posgrado y profesionistas de diferentes áreas. Metodología: estudio descriptivo cuya población fueron universitarios de nivel superior, posgrado y profesionistas de diferentes áreas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) durante el ciclo escolar 2020-2. El muestreo fue no probabilístico. Resultados: al analizar los datos de la Escala de adicción de internet, el 49% respondió que permanece en internet más tiempo del que desea y el 38.2% mencionó que intenta reducir la cantidad de tiempo que pasa en línea. En cuanto al uso compulsivo, el 32.8% mencionó que sigue usando internet a pesar de que su intención es reducir su uso; el 30.5% dice que está corto de sueño debido al uso de internet. Conclusiones: existe tecnoadicción entre profesionistas y estudiantes universitarios de nivel superior y posgrado de la UNAM y del IPN. El personal de salud debe establecer estrategias de prevención del uso del internet para evitar trastornos de salud mental como depresión y aislamiento, entre otros.

Background: One of the harmful effects of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) is their uncontrolled use, which has generated an addiction to them. Objective: To know the prevalence of technology addiction of ICTs in university students of higher level, postgraduate and professionals from different areas. Methodology: Descriptive study whose population was university students of higher level, postgraduate degrees and professionals from different areas of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) during the 2020-2 school year. The sampling was non-probabilistic. Results: When analyzing the data of the Internet addiction scale, 49% responded that they stay on the internet much more time than what they want to, and 38.2% mentioned that they try to reduce the amount of time they spend online. As for compulsive use, 32.8% mentioned that they continue to use the internet despite the fact that their intention is to use it less; 30.5% say they are short of sleep due to internet use. Conclusions: There is technology addiction among professionals and university students of higher and postgraduate levels of UNAM and IPN. Health personnel must establish prevention strategies for the use of internet, in orded to avoid mental health disorders such as depression, isolation, among others.

Internet addiction among adolescents in a western brazilian amazonian city / Dependência de internet em adolescentes de uma cidade na amazônia ocidental brasileira

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze the prevalence and factors associated with internet addiction in a sample of high school adolescents in Acre, a state in northern Brazil. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,387 adolescents between 14 and 18 years old enrolled in high schools in the city of Rio Branco, Acre. A structured questionnaire with questions about demographics, family and behavioral patterns was applied. Internet addiction was verified using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), with a cutoff equal to or greater than 70 points. The associated factors were identified by multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of Internet addiction was 10.6%. Higher dependence was observed in females. The factors associated with Internet addiction were being female, using the computer for more than two hours a day during weekdays and on the weekend, not practicing physical activities and going out to dance at nightclubs and concerts at least once a month. A protective association of reading habits in relation to Internet dependence was observed. Conclusions: The present study showed a high prevalence of Internet dependence, with female adolescents being more susceptible. Behavioral aspects were associated with internet dependence in a sample of adolescents from Rio Branco, Acre.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a prevalência e os fatores associados à dependência de internet em uma amostra de adolescentes do ensino médio no Acre. Métodos: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com 1.387 adolescentes entre 14 e 18 anos regularmente matriculados em instituições de ensino médio no município de Rio Branco, Acre. Questionário estruturado com questões sobre aspectos demográficos, sociais, familiares e comportamentais foi aplicado. A dependência de internet foi verificada pelo internet addiction test (IAT), com ponto de corte igual ou superior a 70. Os fatores associados foram identificados mediante regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: A prevalência geral para dependência de internet foi de 10,6%. Maior dependência foi evidenciada no sexo feminino. Os fatores associados à dependência de internet foram ser do sexo feminino, utilizar o computador por mais de duas horas diárias durante o meio de semana e no fim de semana, não praticar atividade física e sair por pelo menos uma vez ao mês para dançar em boates e shows. Observou-se associação protetora do hábito de leitura em relação à dependência de internet. Conclusões: O presente estudo evidenciou alta prevalência para dependência de internet, sendo as adolescentes do sexo feminino mais suscetíveis. Aspectos comportamentais estiveram associados à dependência de internet em uma amostra de adolescentes de Rio Branco.

Effects of the excessive use of electronic screens on vision and emotional state / Efeitos do uso excessivo de telas eletrônicas na visão e no estado emocional

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate relations between electronic screen use and eye health in a representative sample of the Brazilian population. Methods Data were collected online and analyzed at a private Brazilian hospital (Provisão Hospital, Maringá, Brazil). Male and female individuals aged 12 to 35 years participated in the study. A population-based cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire developed using the Google Forms interface was carried out. The questionnaire was answered anonymously in order to ensure the confidentiality of data and the privacy of participants. Data were collected between October 13, 2020, and January 30, 2021. Results A total of 200 questionnaires were completed. Most responders were young people aged 18 to 27 years. Daily electronic device use time reported by responders ranged from more than 5 hours (150; 75.5%) to 3 to 5 hours/day (28; 14%) or 2 to 3 hours/day (16; 8%). Only a small proportion of responders (2.5%) used these devices less than 1 hour per day. Most participants had myopia (164; 84%) and/or astigmatism (151; 75.5%), whereas keratoconus was less prevalent (34; 17%). However, 92 participants were unable to say whether they had these diseases or not. Most participants reported eye symptoms after screen use (red eyes, fatigue, dry and gritty eyes and blurred vision). Mental issues such as smartphone dependence and difficulties to communicate while using electronic devices were also addressed. Most responders reported dependence and communication problems. Conclusions Most young people in this sample had sings of eye disease, including keratoconus. Smartphone dependence and addition was also observed. Findings presented may inform future studies and help health authorities to properly guide public health strategies aimed at eye disease prevention.

RESUMO Objetivo Investigar o uso de telas na saúde ocular em uma amostra populacional brasileira. Métodos Os dados foram adquiridos on-line, e as análises foram realizadas em uma clínica privada na Região Sul do Brasil. Os participantes foram indivíduos de 12 a 35 anos, de ambos os sexos. Foi realizada pesquisa transversal de base populacional por meio de questionário elaborado na plataforma Google Forms. O questionário foi respondido de forma anônima, mantendo o sigilo dos dados coletados e a privacidade dos participantes. A coleta de dados teve início em 13 de outubro de 2020 e término em 30 de janeiro de 2021. Resultados Foram respondidos 200 questionários. A maioria foi de jovens entre 18 e 27 anos. O tempo de uso de dispositivos eletrônicos durante o dia foi de mais de 5 horas para 150 (75,5%) entrevistados, 28 (14%) gastavam de 3 a 5 horas por dia, 16 (8%) de 2 a 3 horas por dia e uma pequena parte dos entrevistados (2,5%) usava menos de 1 hora por dia. A maioria dos participantes tinha miopia (164; 84%) e/ou astigmatismo (151; 75,5%). Ceratocone foi menos prevalente (34; 17%), entretanto 92 pessoas não sabiam a resposta. A maioria dos participantes teve problemas nos olhos após o uso da tela, como olhos vermelhos, cansados e secos, além de visão turva. Questões mentais, como dependência de smartphones e dificuldade de comunicação durante o uso do dispositivo, também foram abordadas. A maioria dos entrevistados demonstrou dependência e problemas de comunicação. Conclusões A maior parte dos jovens apresentou quadro de doenças oculares, incluindo ceratocone. Dependência e adição de smartphone também foram observados. Esses resultados apoiam a identificação de fatores associados à patologia ocular, servindo de base para estudos futuros, e podem auxiliar às autoridades de saúde no direcionamento adequado das atividades de prevenção e controle em saúde pública.

Internet addiction in students from an educational institution in Southern Brazil: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract Objective To evaluate the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) and its associated factors among students at an Educational Institution in Southern Brazil. Method This is a cross-sectional study, targeting a sample of students aged from 14 to 20 years. They were selected by random sampling to be representative of the 4038 students enrolled at the institute at the time. IA was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Screening for anxiety and/or depressive disorders was performed using the Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results The prevalence of IA was 50.8% and the rate was higher among individuals who had screened positive for depressive or anxiety disorders than among those who had not (p = 0.003). There was an association between IA and access to certain types of content, such as gaming (p = 0.010), work and study related content (p = 0.030), and using the internet to access sexual content (p < 0.001). Conclusion Further studies are needed to confirm the high prevalence of IA and explore factors associated with it in samples with similar characteristics to ours. The associations between this dependency and positive screening for anxiety and/or depressive disorders and the types of content accessed are an alert to the existence of these important relationships and illustrate the importance of studying them further. Knowledge about these associations provides an opportunity to implement measures for prevention, such as psychoeducation, and to offer adequate treatment.

Trastorno de juego por internet: ¿una nueva entidad nosológica? / Internet game disorder: a new nosological entity?

En los últimos 20, años el problema de la adicción a nuevas tecnologías ha suscitado controversias y ha generado un importante debate internacional. El DSM-5 incorpora en la sección de "Condiciones para un mayor estudio", el Trastorno de Juego por Internet. El ojetivo de este trabajo es revisar la literatura científica actual sobre el Trastorno de Juego por Internet y explorar si la evidencia disponible permite respaldar este diagnóstico como una nueva entidad nosológica. Se realiza una revisión del contexto en que surge esta propuesta, los criterios diagnósticos, las controversias y se discute la relevancia de la validez y confiabilidad de los diagnósticos en psiquiatría.

In the last 20 years, the problem of addiction to new technologies has generated controversy and an important international debate. The DSM-5 incorporates in section of "Conditions for a further study", the Internet Gaming Disorder. The aim of this article is review the current scientific literature about Internet Gaming Disorder, and to explore if the available evidence let it support this diagnosis as a new nosological entity. A brief review of the context in which this proposal emerges, the diagnostic criteria, and the controversies was performed; also, it was discussed the relevance of the validity and reliability of the diagnoses in psychiatry