PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ABUSIVE SMARTPHONE USE ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSIVE EPISODES IN COLLEGE STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Abstract

Evidence indicates a depreciation of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in several populations including university students. Physical inactivity and abusive smartphone use can negatively impact the mental health of this population. The present study aimed to verify the association between physical activity and problematic smartphone use with depression indicators in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 128 students (³18 years old) from a university in the state of Paraná participated in the study. Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was assessed using the IPAQ-short version questionnaire. Problematic smartphone use was assessed by the Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version (SAS-SV) and depressive indicators were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Linear regression verified the association of MVPA and problematic smartphone use with PHQ-9 scores with p<0.05. It was found that 41.4% of the participants had problematic smartphone use and 89.8% had some level of depression (PHQ-9>9). Participants in the highest MVPA tertiles had lower PHQ-9 scores (B= -2.05, EP= 0.66, p<0.01). Participants with higher problematic smartphone use scores had higher PHQ-9 scores (B=0.21, EP=0.05, p<0.01). During the COVID-19 pandemic, most university students had some depressive symptoms, however for those who remained active, these symptoms were attenuated. On the other hand, problematic smartphone use seems to potentiate symptoms of depression among college students.