ABSTRACT Context: The twenty first-century digital boom has sharply increased screen time, with studies linking it to depression and anxiety. Aims: This study, therefore, aimed to estimate screentime usage and describe its associated factors among college students in peri-urban Bengaluru and determine whether an association exists between screentime use and depression and/or anxiety among college-going students. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 924 undergraduate students who were pursuing degree courses at the institution at the time of sampling. Materials and Methods: Convenience sampling was adopted in the study. A face-validated, self-administered, structured questionnaire captured sociodemographic details and home and academic environment. Screening for screentime addiction, depression, and generalized anxiety disorder was conducted using Tao’s Diagnostic Criteria for Internet, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. Statistical Analysis: Standard descriptive statistics, such as frequency, percentages, and mean with standard deviation, were used to describe categorical variables. Bivariate analysis was conducted using the chi-square test to identify variables with a significant association to the prevalence of screen addiction. Results: Our study concluded that 805 (82%) study participants are addicted to screens. Severe depression was found among 46 (5%) study participants. Additionally, severe anxiety was found among 73 (8%) study participants. Sociodemographic variables such as gender ( P value = 0.009) and socioeconomic status ( P value = 0.007) had a significant association with the prevalence of screen addiction. Conclusions: High rates of likelihood of anxiety and depression were observed among students. Screen addiction was found to be associated with gender and socioeconomic status but not mental health.
Kallumkal et al. (Mon,) studied this question.