Internet, Physical Activity, Depression, Anxiety and Stress

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between internet use, depression, anxiety and stress, as well as with the practice of physical activity. The sample consisted of 150 college students, 25 males and 125 females, between the ages of 18 and 30. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire including questions about the frequency of Internet use (days per week and hours per day), as well as the frequency of physical activity practice. The Portuguese version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-21 Scale and the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were also used. Multivariate analyzes were carried out to compare the effect of gender, residence, frequency of Internet use (in days and hours) and the practice or not of PA on the dependent variables (Depression, anxiety and stress and internet dependence - IAT), Pearson’s correlation analyzes were also performed to examine possible associations between these dependent variables. We concluded that there are significant effects between sexes and Internet Addiction and significant positive correlations were found between stress, anxiety, depression and Internet Addiction.