%0 Journal Article
%T Exploring depression and problematic internet use among college females: a multisite study
%J Computers in human behavior
%D 2015
%A Breland, David J.
%A Jelenchick, Lauren A.
%A Moreno, Megan Andreas
%V 49
%N 
%P 601-607
%X Objective The purpose of this study was to assess associations between depression and problematic internet use (PIU) among female college students, and determine whether Internet use time moderates this relationship. <br><br>METHOD This cross-sectional survey included 265 female college students from four U.S. universities. Students completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening Scale (PRIUSS) and self-reported daily Internet use. Analyses included multivariate analysis of variance and Poisson regression. <br><br>RESULTS Participants reported mean age of 20.2 years (SD = 1.7) and were 84.9% Caucasian. The mean PHQ-9 score was 5.4 (SD = 4.6); the mean PRIUSS score was 16.4 (SD = 11.1). Participants' risk for PIU increased by 27% with each additional 30 min spent online using a computer (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14-1.42, p <.0001). Risk for PIU was significantly increased among those who met criteria for severe depression (RR = 8.16 95% CI: 4.27-15.6, p <.0001). The PHQ-9 items describing trouble concentrating, psychomotor dysregulation and suicidal ideation were most strongly associated with PIU risk. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS The positive relationship between depression and PIU among female college students supports screening for both conditions, particularly among students reporting particular depression symptoms.<p />
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0747-5632
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.03.033