Naslov
Increased internet usage during the first three waves of the covid-19 pandemic and earthquakes in Croatia

Autori
Kovačić Petrović, Zrnka ; Peraica, Tina ; Tomašić, Lea ; Blažev, Mirta ; Kozarić-Kovačić, Dragica

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Abstract book 6th Eastern European Conference of Mental Health “In and Out of Your Mind” & 3rd International Public Mental Health Conference / - Zagreb, 2022, 86-86

ISBN
978-606-11-8217-6

Skup
6th Eastern-European Conference of Mental Health & 3rd International Public Mental Health Conference :IN AND OUT OF YOUR MIND

Mjesto i datum
Zagreb, Hrvatska, 13.10.2022. - 15.10.2022

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Internet usage ; Internet-specific activities usage ; prolonged stress ; COVID-19 pandemic

Sažetak
Introduction: Research have shown an increase in Internet usage (IU) and Internet-specific activities usage (ISAU) (online gaming [OG], pornography viewing [PV], social media activities [SM], online shopping [OS]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the period of the first three waves of COVID-19 pandemic, Croatia was hit by two devastating earthquakes. Thus, we examined the overall amount of problematic Internet use (PIU) and problematic ISAU before and during prolonged stress (the COVID-19 pandemic and earthquakes) and their association with the COVID-19 and earthquakes-related stress, depression, anxiety, stress symptoms in Croatian adult population. Methods: 1, 118 participants completed survey providing COVID-19 and earthquakes-related stress, depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, overall, IU, and ISAU before and during the first three waves of the pandemic and earthquakes. Results and Discussion: Our results show that the overall amount of PIU, the problematic SM and problematic OS increased during the pandemic and earthquakes. A significant correlation between PIU and problematic SM use, anxiety, depression, intrusion, avoidance symptoms was found in more than half of the participants who experienced both pandemic- and earthquake-related stress. The association between anxiety, depression, stress, PIU or problematic ISAU varied depending on the source of experienced or perceived stress (no perceived stress, only pandemic-related stress, only earthquake-related stress, both pandemic- and earthquake-related stress). These findings provide substantial evidence of the increased overall amount of PIU among Croatian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and earthquakes. Further research is needed to access problematic Internet behaviors in prolonged stress situations.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti, Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA