Internet, Actividade Física, Depressão, Ansiedade e Stresse

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between internet use, depression, anxiety, stress, and the practice of physical activity. The sample consisted of 150 college students, 25 males and 125 females between 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) and physical activity practice. The Portuguese version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress-21Scale and the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were also used. Multivariate analyses were carried out to compare the effect of gender, residence, frequency of Internet use (in days and hours), and physical activity practice. Dependent variables were Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, and internet dependence (IAT), Pearson’s correlation analyses were also performed to examine possible associations between the 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.