The Dark Side of the Web-A Risk for Children and Adolescents Challenged by Isolation during the Novel Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic

Impact of distress and anxiety due to COVID-19 on digital addictions in university students in the third wave period

Abstract

Background

Digital addictions are a major problem worldwide, which has increased considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this scenario, two important impact factors to explain this problem are stress and anxiety because of COVID-19. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of distress and anxiety due to COVID-19 on digital addictions.

Methods

cross-sectional, explanatory study. A total of 802 students from public and private universities residing in the city of Lima and Callao (Peru), with a mean age of 21.68 (SD = 3.11), selected by convenience sampling, participated in the study. The MULTICAGE CAD-4 questionnaire, the distress scale, and the anxiety scale by COVID-19 were applied.

Results

two models examined with structural equation modeling showed good fit indices (CFI and TLI > .95, RMSEA and SRMR < .06). The first model shows that the latent variables distress and anxiety due to COVID-19 have direct effects on digital addictions as a general construct (R 2 = 22%). The second model shows that the exogenous latent variables (stress and anxiety) have direct effects of different magnitudes on each digital technology, so the variance explained on smartphone addiction was higher (R 2 = 25%) with respect to internet (R 2 = 19%) and video game addiction (R 2 = 6%). It was also found that for every male, there are two females with high levels of distress and anxiety. Regarding the problematic use of smartphones and internet, there is a prevalence of 40% regardless of sex; but as for the problematic use of video games, there is a marked difference between males (18.8%) and females (2.7%).

Conclusion

the distress and anxiety caused by COVID-19 have a direct impact in aggravating digital addictions.

The use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source: A three-country study

The Dark Web (i.e., the anonymous web or Darknet) contains potentially harmful COVID-19-related information and content such as conspiracy theories and forged certificates. The Dark Web may particularly attract individuals who are suspicious about the pandemic, but there is no research concerning the use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source. In this study, we investigated the role of COVID-19 skepticism, online activities, and loneliness in the use of the Dark Web platforms as a COVID-19 information source. The data (N = 3000) were gathered in April 2021 from 18 to 75-year-old respondents from Finland (n = 1000), Sweden (n = 1000) and the United Kingdom (n = 1000). The respondents were asked how often they had utilized Dark Web platforms (for example via TOR-network) as a COVID-19 information source during the pandemic. Self-reported measures of institutional trust, anti-vaccine stances, restriction obedience, online activities, and loneliness were used as predictors in the logistic regression model. Age, gender, and education were also included in the model. The Dark Web use was more prevalent in the UK and Sweden. There was an association between anti-vaccine stances and active Dark Web use in the UK and Sweden, while low institutional trust predicted use among Finnish respondents. In all countries, restriction disobedience was related to Dark Web use as a COVID-19 information source. Frequent online gambling, increased social media use, and loneliness predicted Dark Web use, and these associations were even stronger among frequent Dark Web users than occasional users. Younger age and male gender were also associated with Dark Web use. The unregulated nature of the Dark Web makes it a risky alternative to COVID-19 information, attracting individuals who are suspicious about the pandemic and overall active online users. Misleading information and availability of forged certificates on the Dark Web challenge official health policies, posing significant risks for both individual and public health.

Association of Cyberbullying Experiences and Perpetration With Suicidality in Early Adolescence

IMPORTANCE

Adolescent suicidality (ie, suicidal ideation or attempts) is a major public health concern. Cyberbullying experiences and perpetration have become increasingly prevalent and are associated with mental health burden, but their roles as independent suicidality risk factors remain unclear. Data are needed to clarify their contribution to teen suicidality to inform suicide prevention efforts.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether cyberbullying experiences and perpetration are distinct stressors divergent from other forms of peer aggression experiences in their association with suicidality in early adolescence.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional analysis used data collected between July 2018 and January 2021 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a large, diverse sample of US children aged 10 to 13 years.

EXPOSURES

Youth reports of cyberbullying experiences or perpetration.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was youth-reported suicidality (past or present, as reported in the ABCD 2-year follow-up assessment). Covariates included demographics, established environmental risk and protective factors for youth suicidality, psychopathology, and experiences or perpetration of offline peer aggression.

RESULTS

A total of 10 414 ABCD participants were included in this study. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 12.0 (0.7) years and 4962 (47.6%) were female; 796 (7.6%) endorsed suicidality. A total of 930 (8.9%) reported experiencing cyberbullying and 96 (0.9%) reported perpetrating cyberbullying. Of the perpetrators, 66 (69.0%) also endorsed experiencing cyberbullying. Controlling for demographics, experiencing cyberbullying was associated with suicidality (odds ratio [OR], 4.2 [95% CI, 3.5-5.1]; P < .001), whereas perpetrating cyberbullying was not (OR, 1.3 [95% CI, 0.8-2.3]; P = .30). Experiencing cyberbullying remained associated with suicidality when accounting for negative life events, family conflict, parental monitoring, school environment, and racial and ethnic discrimination (OR, 2.5 [95% CI, 2.0-3.0]; P < .001) and when further covarying for internalizing and externalizing psychopathology (OR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.4-2.4]; P < .001). Both being a target and being a perpetrator of offline peer aggression were associated with suicidality (OR, 1.5 [95% CI, 1.1-2.0] for both), controlling for all covariates described earlier. Cyberbullying experiences remained associated with suicidality (OR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.3-2.2]; P < .001, controlling for all covariates) when included with offline peer aggression experiences and perpetration.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cross-sectional study, experiencing-but not perpetrating-cyberbullying was associated with suicidality in early adolescence. This association was significant over and above other suicidality risk factors, including offline peer aggression experiences or perpetration. These findings can inform adolescent suicide prevention strategies, and they suggest that clinicians and educational staff working with this population should routinely evaluate for adolescents' experience with cyberbullying.

Determining the relationship between loneliness and internet addiction among adolescents during the covid-19 pandemic in Turkey

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the levels of loneliness adolescents feel during the pandemic, and their respective levels of internet addiction.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample of the study consists of 482 adolescents who volunteered to participate in the study. All participants had the cognitive competence to express themselves, and had access to the Internet. Participants filled out a Google Docs form including the "Descriptive Information Form", "ULS-SF" and "IASA", which were used to collect data.

RESULTS

As a result of the multiple regression analysis, it was found that family income, mothers' education status, fathers' education status, the duration of Internet use before and during the pandemic, and the total score of ULS-SF had statistically significant effects on the total score of IASA (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that adolescents' internet addiction increases with the increasing level of loneliness. Adolescents who reported feeling moderately lonely had a low level of Internet addiction. There were certain variables that were also found to be influential on adolescents' average levels of loneliness and Internet addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Protecting adolescents' mental health during the pandemic is dependent on taking measures to reduce the risks, while strengthening the protective factors. These protective factors include providing adolescents the access to the appropriate information resources and encouraging the rational use of the Internet, which will support the individual and the individual's social development.

Parent and Adolescent Perspectives on the Impact of COVID on the Care of Seriously Ill Children

CONTEXT

Few studies have explored the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) on the care of seriously ill children which may be especially affected due to the child's vulnerability, complexity of care, and high reliance on hospital-based care.

OBJECTIVE

To explore parental and adolescent perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on care of seriously children.

METHODS

We recruited a convenience sample of families of seriously ill children between September and December 2020. The study involved a semi-structured interview through Zoom followed by an online sociodemographic survey. Interviews were transcribed and coded using the constant comparison method. The sample intended to represent diversity in child age and diagnoses, and family sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Sixty-four families were approached; 29 enrolled (response rate 45%), including 30 parents and three AYAs. Most parents and AYAs identified as white (62%). Some families reported new financial hardships, with 17.2% having difficulty paying bills after March 2020 compared to 6.9% before. Emerging themes from interviews included additional roles parents managed due to cancelled services or shifting to telehealth, increased isolation, high emotional distress due increased in-home demands, uncertainty, and visitor restrictions in medical facilities, and benefits and challenges to telehealth. One positive outcome was the use of a hybrid care model whereby families choose telehealth appointments and in-person services, when necessary.

CONCLUSION

Families caring for seriously ill children during COVID-19 face increased challenges. Health systems should consider long-term telehealth/in-person hybrid care models that have potential to improve access to and satisfaction with care.

Adolescence Amid a Pandemic: Short- and Long-Term Implications

Members of the Society for Research on Adolescents COVID-19 Response Team offer this commentary to accompany this special issue of the Journal of Research on Adolescence regarding the impact of the pandemic on adolescents' social, emotional, and academic functioning. In addition to outlining the critical need for scholarly collaboration to address the global impact of this crisis on adolescent development, we argue that a broad investigative lens is needed to guide research and recovery efforts targeting youth development. We then use this broad lens to consider dimensions of the pandemic impact relative to developmental implications within community and policy contexts, educational contexts, social contexts, and family contexts. Finally, we describe guideposts for setting a global, shared research agenda that can hasten research to recovery efforts surrounding the pandemic and youth development.

Smartphone use and addiction during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: cohort study on 184 Italian children and adolescents

Background

The lives of many children and adolescents are today increasingly influenced by new technological devices, including smartphones. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic occurred in a time of outstanding scientific progress and global digitalization. Young people had relevant adverse psychological and behavioral effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly related to infection control measures, which led them to spend more time at home and with major use of technological tools. The goal this study proposes is to evaluate health and social outcomes of smartphone overuse among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, analyzing patterns and aims of utilization, as well as the eventual presence and degree of addiction.

Methods

This study was based on a self-report and anonymous questionnaire, which was administered to 184 Italian school-age (6–18 years) children and adolescents during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The test was electronically (email, whatsapp) explained and sent by pediatricians either directly to older children (middle and high school), or indirectly, through the help of teachers, to younger ones (primary school). All participants spontaneously and voluntarily joined the present study. The survey was made by 4 sections, and designed to know and outline modalities (frequency, patterns and aims) of smartphone use, adverse outcomes, and related parental behaviors, also in order to reveal the eventual occurrence and degree of addiction. The same information, related to the pre-epidemic period, was also investigated and analyzed.

Results

The data obtained revealed a significantly greater adhesion to the questionnaire by females, likely reflecting higher attention and interest than boys to initiatives relating to health education. Our study showed more frequent smartphone use among Italian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the pre-epidemic period. This may be related to the social distancing measures adopted during the months under investigation. The present survey also outlined the changing patterns and aims in the use of smartphones among young people, which allowed to limit some effects of the crisis. Indeed, they were used for human connection, learning and entertainment, providing psychological and social support. Finally, it was observed a significant increase of overuse and addiction. This led to many clinical (sleep, ocular and musculoskeletal disorders), psychological (distraction, mood modification, loss of interest) and social (superficial approach to learning, isolation) unfavorable outcomes.

Conclusions

Pediatricians and health care professionals should be aware of the potential risks related to inappropriate use of smartphones. They should monitor, in cooperation with parents, possible associated adverse effects, in order to early recognize signs and symptoms suggestive, or at high risk, for addiction. They must carry out, as well, the necessary interventions to prevent and/or lower the detrimental impact of smartphone overuse on children and adolescents’ health, oriented to sustain adequate physical and psychological development as well as social relationships.

EAP and ECPCP Statement Risks for Children's Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic and a Call for Maintenance of Essential Pediatric Services

The COVID-19 pandemic and global lockdown have had drastic socioeconomic and psychological effects on countries and people, respectively. There has been limited access to health care and education. These negative consequences have had a significant impact on the well-being of children and adolescents. Therefore, the EAP and the ECPCP are requesting state, health, and education authorities as well as European pediatric societies and the healthcare professionals that special attention be given to this population and the problems they face as a result of the pandemic.