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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 COVID-19 worry scale 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 (R2 = 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 (R2 = 25%) with respect to internet (R2 = 19%) and video game addiction (R2 = 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.

* 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 COVID-19 worry scale 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.

Objetivo: Se evaluó los efectos de un programa de prevención en línea sobre las adicciones tecnológicas y disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en universitarios durante la pandemia COVID-19. Método: Participaron en la muestra 42 estudiantes, de los cuales 21 conformaron el grupo experimental (GE) y los otros 21 estudiantes el control (GC). Se utilizaron las escalas de eficacia académica y engagement académico, así como los test de adicción al teléfono móvil, al internet y a los videojuegos. Resultados: La aplicación del programa redujo significativamente la adicción al internet, teléfono móvil y videojuegos y a la vez aumentó significativamente la valoración positiva del compromiso académico y la eficacia académica; las comparaciones entre los grupos de estudio (GE versus GC) de acuerdo con los tamaños de efecto (.30 < d >.50) evidenciaron diferencias prácticas importantes en cuanto al uso adictivo de internet, del teléfono móvil y los videojuegos, para las tres variables el GE mostró menores promedios que el GC; de otra parte las comparaciones entre GE y GC resultaron con diferencias de magnitudes de efecto entre mediano (d >.50) y grande (d >.80) en eficacia académica y compromiso académico respectivamente, en estas dos variables el GE mostró mayores promedios. Conclusión: el programa de prevención ha reducido las adicciones tecnológicas, así como incrementó las disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en el estudiantado.