Problematic Media Use and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents: The Role of Age and Gender

Background: Adolescence is a critical biopsychosocial adjustment period, with increased susceptibility to problematic media use (PMU) and associated risk-taking behaviors. The aim of the present study consisted of identifying the relationship between PMU (i.e., videogames, mobile phones, internet, and television) and anxiety in adolescents, considering the moderating effect of gender and age. Methods: A descriptive study using a national survey was conducted on a sample of 4034 participants. Results: Significant gender mean differences were found in PMU and anxiety, with large and moderate effect sizes for PMU (videogames) in males (d = 0.86) and anxiety in females (d = 0.67). Additionally, a direct positive relationship between age and anxiety was observed. Furthermore, PMU significantly predicted anxiety after controlling for age and gender in all cases. Gender had a significant and stronger moderating effect on PMU (television) and anxiety for the male subgroup. The moderating effect of age on PMU and anxiety was statistically significant and more pronounced at younger ages. Conclusions: This research demonstrates the association between PMU and anxiety in adolescents, highlighting the need to further explore other moderating factors influencing mental health symptoms beyond age and gender. It is important to emphasize that mental health is a shared responsibility and not solely the domain of mental health professionals. Therefore, initiatives should be promoted to engage educators, parents, and policymakers in addressing this collective challenge.