| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Despite the fact that the number of individuals that now use Instagram across the world is approximately
800 million monthly and 500 million daily active users [1],
very little is known about Instagram addictions (IA) [2]. On
the other hand, the previous studies suggested that associations between most behavioral addictions and depressive
and anxiety disorders are strong and non-specific [3]. Nevertheless, the number of studies that researched the correlation between IA (as one of the behavioral addictions), and
psychiatric disorders is very small.
Aim: Researching the correlation between IA and the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.
Methods: The sample consisted of 192 students (65.1% female, mean age 22.12 ± 2.38 years). The following questionnaires were used: sociodemographic questionnaire, a
questionnaire that examined Instagram activities, and the
intensity and way of using Instagram, and Instagram Addiction Scale (IAS). Higher scores on IAS indicate a greater risk
of developing addiction. Also, we used Depression Anxiety
Stress Scales–21 (DASS–21). It is a self-report questionnaire
consisting of 21 items, 7 items per subscale: depression,
anxiety and stress. Lower scores are better.Abstracts S317
Results: The average score on the IAS was 28.97 ± 10.45.
There were no statistically significant differences according
to gender (U = 418, p = 0.99). The most frequent activity of
the respondents is viewing the photos of other users. Our
participants spend 3.29 ± 2.77 hours on Instagram. About
one-third of the photos are processed in one of the available
filters. All Instagram activities had a statistically significant
positive correlation with the score on IAS. The higher correlation was with the time spent on Instagram (rs = 0.488, p
<0.05). Then viewing the photos (rs = 0.369, p <0.05) and
videos (rs = 0.298, p <0.05). The total score on the IAS was
in a statistically significant correlation with all subscales
DASS-21. The strongest correlation is with the subscale of
stress (rs = 0.460, p <0.05), then the correlation with the
subscale of anxiety (rs = 0.439, p <0.05), and finally with
the subscale of depression (rs = 0.376, p <0.05). The score
on the anxiety subscale is in a statistically significant positive correlation with a larger number of activities on Instagram, from which the strongest correlation is with watching
streams of other users. The score on the depression subscale
is in a statistically significant positive correlation only with
the activity - watching streams of other users. The score
on the stress subscale is in a statistically significant positive
correlation with a larger number of activities on Instagram,
from which the strongest correlation is with the activity of
viewing videos of other users.
Conclusions: Our results indicate a correlation between the
symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and IA. As this
is a cross-sectional study, we cannot determine the nature
of that correlation for certain. It is possible that IA are a
maladaptive way of coping with the primary states of depression or anxiety or that depressive and anxiety disorders
occur as a consequence of various problems associated with
behavioral addictions. | en_US |
