Ansiedad y adicción a las redes sociales en tiempos de postpandemia

Abstract

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic triggered health measures such as social isolation, which in many cases acted as a risk factor for the emergence of various mental disorders. This research aimed to analyze the relationship between anxiety and addiction to social media in post-pandemic times in a subsample of 231 male and female participants aged 19 to 64 years from different regions of Ecuador. Regarding the methodology, the study was non-experimental, with a cross-sectional and correlational design and a quantitative approach. Inclusion criteria included acceptance of informed consent and access to the internet and digital platforms. Individuals who did not belong to the Coastal Lowlands, the Andean Highlands, and the Amazon Rainforest regions were excluded. The anxiety variable was assessed using the DASS-21 scale, and the BSMAS instrument was employed to assess the addiction variable. It was found that young women with primary education, single, from the coast presented severe anxiety. Young men with primary and fourth-level education, single, divorced, and from the coastal and highland regions showed high levels of addiction to social media. Additionally, 61.9% of the sample reported some degree of anxiety, while 81.8% presented some level of addiction to social media.