Resumo

BORGES, Inês; PATRAO, Ivone; LEAL, Isabel  e  COSTA, Rui Miguel. Correlates of online dependence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2022, vol.23, n.1, pp.14-21.  Epub 30-Abr-2022. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/22psd230102.

Several variables were associated with online dependence, but it is unclear to what extent they are independently associated. We examined the following statistical predictors of online dependence: food addiction, poor sleep quality, absence of physical activity, negative family interactions, positive family interactions, and age, in a sample of Portuguese adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 311 participants (190 females and 121 males), aged 14-21 years, who completed an online questionnaire as part of the project "Geração Cordão”. The instruments included the Internet Addiction Test, the Yale Food Addiction Scale, the Athens Insomnia Scale, the Family Assessment Device - General Function, and a measure of frequency of physical exercise. In simple correlations, greater online dependence, greater food addiction, worse sleep quality and negative family interactions were intercorrelated. In a multiple regression, online dependence was independently and significantly associated with food addiction, poorer sleep quality, younger age, more negative family interactions, and more positive family interactions. Males and females did not differ in online dependence. Lack of physical activity was unrelated to online dependence. These findings obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic are consistent with those obtained in normal circumstances. Caution is required in interpreting the regression model as it was obtained under abnormal social circumstances. In future studies, it will be interesting to clarify the causal direction of these variables, or if unmeasured variables mediate the associations (e.g., deficits in self-regulation might underlie online dependence and food addiction).

Palavras-chave : Online dependence; Family interactions; Food addiction; Sleep; COVID-19.

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