Smartphone addiction and anxiety in a sample of Peruvian adolescents: A correlational study

Estrada-Araoz E.G.; Paredes-Valverde Y.; Quispe-Herrera R. · Gaceta Medica de Caracas (2024) · DOI: 10.47307/gmc.2024.132.4.16

Resumen

Introduction: Smartphone addiction has become a growing concern in recent years. As these devices have become commonplace in everyday life, their impact on the mental health and well-being of adolescents has been the subject of numerous studies. Objective: To determine if smartphone addiction is significantly related to anxiety in a sample of Peruvian adolescents. Methods: The approach was quantitative, characterized by a non-experimental design, and the type was descriptive correlational with a cross-sectional cut. The sample consisted of 198 adolescents of both sexes who administered the SAS-SV scale and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale, instruments with adequate levels of reliability and content validity. To determine if there was a significant relationship between the study variables, the Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient was applied. Results: Reports indicatedmoderatelevelsofinternetaddictionandlow levels of anxiety among the students. Furthermore, it was determined that the Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient between the two variables was 0,542 and the p-value<0,05. This means that as the level of smartphone addiction increases, the levels of anxiety amongadolescentsalsotendtoincrease. Conclusions: There is a direct and significant relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety in a sample of Peruvian adolescents.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios