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Online Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Associations with Psychological Factors: An International Exploratory Study

Author

Listed:
  • Julius Burkauskas

    (Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 00135 Palanga, Lithuania)

  • Naomi A. Fineberg

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK)

  • Konstantinos Ioannidis

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
    Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO40 2RZ, UK)

  • Samuel R. Chamberlain

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
    Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO40 2RZ, UK)

  • Henrietta Bowden-Jones

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK)

  • Inga Griskova-Bulanova

    (Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biosciences, Vilnius University, 03225 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Aiste Pranckeviciene

    (Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 00135 Palanga, Lithuania)

  • Artemisa R. Dores

    (School of Health, Polytechnic of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
    Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal)

  • Irene P. Carvalho

    (Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
    CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal)

  • Fernando Barbosa

    (Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal)

  • Pierluigi Simonato

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK)

  • Ilaria De Luca

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK)

  • Rosin Mooney

    (Medical Sciences Division, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK)

  • Maria Ángeles Gómez-Martínez

    (Department of Psychology, Pontifical University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Zsolt Demetrovics

    (Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar
    Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Krisztina Edina Ábel

    (Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Attila Szabo

    (Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
    Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary)

  • Hironobu Fujiwara

    (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
    Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Society Team, RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, Saitama 103-0027, Japan
    General Research Division, Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

  • Mami Shibata

    (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Alejandra R. Melero-Ventola

    (Department of Psychology, Pontifical University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Eva M. Arroyo-Anlló

    (Department of Psychobiology, Neuroscience Institute of Castilla-León, University of Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain)

  • Ricardo M. Santos-Labrador

    (Department of Physical Education, University Teacher’s College ‘Fray Luis de León’, 47010 Valladolid, Spain)

  • Kei Kobayashi

    (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Kyoto, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan)

  • Francesco Di Carlo

    (Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Cristina Monteiro

    (Department of Psychometrics, Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil)

  • Giovanni Martinotti

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK
    Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy)

  • Ornella Corazza

    (Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9EU, UK)

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore specific online behaviours and their association with a range of underlying psychological and other behavioural factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight countries (Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Portugal, Japan, Hungary, and Brazil) participated in an international investigation involving 2223 participants ( M = 33 years old; SD = 11), 70% of whom were females. Participants were surveyed for specific type of Internet use severity, appearance anxiety, self-compassion, and image and use of performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Results were compared cross-culturally. The mean time spent online was 5 h ( SD = ±3) of daily browsing during the pandemic. The most commonly performed activities included social networking, streaming, and general surfing. A strong association between these online behaviours and appearance anxiety, self-compassion, and IPEDs use was found after adjustment for possible confounders, with higher scores being associated with specific online activities. Significant cross-cultural differences also emerged in terms of the amount of time spent online during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Julius Burkauskas & Naomi A. Fineberg & Konstantinos Ioannidis & Samuel R. Chamberlain & Henrietta Bowden-Jones & Inga Griskova-Bulanova & Aiste Pranckeviciene & Artemisa R. Dores & Irene P. Carvalho , 2022. "Online Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Associations with Psychological Factors: An International Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8823-:d:867369
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel King & Ernst Koster & Joël Billieux, 2019. "Study what makes games addictive," Nature, Nature, vol. 573(7774), pages 346-346, September.
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