The relationship between problematic internet use and depression, anxiety in university students: a systematic review

Abstract

Every day we are exposed to modern technology which influences our behaviour and perception to a greater or lesser extent. In connection with the use of technology, the prevalence of mental disorders has increased since 2015. The aim of this study was to make a systematic review that covers the existing knowledge on problematic internet behaviour in relation to anxiety and/or depression in university students. The review focused on two types of research studies: from China and from other foreign countries. Papers from ‘other foreign countries’ were taken from the Medline Database of Palacký University Olomouc. Papers from China were taken from the Elsevier ScienceDirect Database of Sichuan University of Science & Engineering. The following review inclusion criteria were used: research studies from the past 5 years (2016–2021), quantitative research, studies published in English, focus consistent with the purpose of our study. A review table and a resulting diagram were made based on an analysis of research studies showing the relationship between the key variables and other monitored variables in the studies selected. The analysis of research studies confirmed a correlation between internet addiction and depression as well as anxiety. Other variables in the context of internet addiction included time spent on the internet, level of self-esteem, insomnia, alcohol consumption, well-being, physical activity, and impulsiveness. One of the studies did not confirm a correlation with depression and one with sleep disorders. The results of the systematic review can be used in primary prevention in tertiary education or university psychological counselling.