Association between internet usage time and anxiety in graduate education

Abstract

The growing use of the Internet in graduate education has heightened interest in its potential links to mental health. However, time spent online does not in and of itself equate to problematic use; therefore, its significance must be assessed in relation to study conditions and emotional well-being. In this context, the present study aimed to examine the association between daily Internet use and anxiety levels among master’s students at the National University of the Altiplano in Puno, Peru. To this end, a quantitative, observational, analytical, and cross-sectional methodology was applied to 393 master’s students selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Internet use was classified as less than 3, between 3 and 4, and more than 4 hours per day, while anxiety was measured using the DASS-21 subscale; data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test and Cramér’s V. The results showed that 37.9% of the participants reported more than four hours of daily screen time, and 67.4% exhibited some level of anxiety. A significant association was found, χ²(8) = 42.80, p < 0.001, V = 0.233, with a non-monotonic pattern in which mild and moderate anxiety predominated in the 3- to 4-hour group, while severe anxiety prevailed among those who exceeded four hours. It is concluded that daily Internet use is associated with the distribution of anxiety levels, although this does not prove causality or the presence of problematic use.