Correlation between Instagram addiction and the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress

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.