INFORMATION

Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

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  • Director: Laura E. Gómez Sánchez
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Problematic Internet Use, Depressive Symptomatology and Suicidal Ideation in University Students During COVID-19 Confinement

Verónica Villanueva-Silvestre1, Andrea Vázquez-Martínez1, Manuel Isorna-Folgar2 and Víctor J. Villanueva-Blasco1

1 Valencian International University,
2 University of Vigo

Background: The aim was to estimate the rate of PIU in Spanish university students during the lockdown, taking sex and age into account, and to analyze its relationship with depression and suicidal ideation. Method: 921 university students (55% women) from 18 to 30 years old (M = 24.8 years; SD = 3) participated. Results: The results showed that 21% of the participants presented PIU, 25.1% moderate depression, 2.1% severe depression, and 6.6% suicidal ideation. The 18 to 21-year-old age group presented the highest rate of PIU (37.8%). A positive correlation was observed between PIU and depression (r = .38; p < .001), with a significantly higher mean score on the PHQ-9 (t(241.813) = -8.21; p < .001; d = .78) in university students with PIU (M = 9.8; SD = 5.1) than those without it (M = 6.4; SD = 4.1). The rate of severe depression was six times greater (χ2(3) = 73.25; p < .001) in undergraduates with PIU (6.2%) than those without PIU (0.8%). Moreover, 3.6% of university students with PIU presented suicidal ideation. Conclusions: These findings establish the association between PIU and depression and suicidal ideation in the university population, providing novel contributions for prevention policies.

Uso Problemático de Internet, Sintomatología Depresiva e Ideación Suicida en Universitarios Durante el Confinamiento por COVID-19. Antecedentes: El objetivo fue estimar la tasa de PIU en universitarios españoles durante el confinamiento, considerando sexo y edad, y analizar su relación con depresión e ideación suicida. Método: Participaron 921 estudiantes universitarios (55% mujeres) de 18 a 30 años (M = 24.8 años; SD = 3). Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el 21% presentaron PIU; 25.1% depresión moderada; 2.1% depresión severa; y 6.6% ideación suicida. El grupo de 18 a 21 años presentó la mayor tasa de PIU (37.8%). Se observó una correlación positiva entre PIU y depresión (r = .38; p < .001), con una puntuación media significativamente mayor en el PHQ-9 (t(241.813) = -8.21; p < .001; d = .78) en universitarios con PIU (M = 9.8; SD = 5.1) frente a los que no la tienen (M = 6.4; SD = 4.1). La tasa de depresión severa fue seis veces mayor (χ2(3) = 73.25; p < .001) en los universitarios con PIU (6.2%) en comparación con los que no tenían PIU (0.8%). El 3.6% de los universitarios con PIU presentó ideación suicida. Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos establecen la asociación entre PIU y depresión e ideación suicida en población universitaria, brindando aportes novedosos para las políticas de prevención.

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Impact factor 2022:  JCR WOS 2022:  FI = 3.6 (Q2);  JCI = 1.21 (Q1) / SCOPUS 2022:  SJR = 1.097;  CiteScore = 6.4 (Q1)