PROBLEMATIC USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, CONSUMPTION OF SUBSTANCES AND ITS IMPACT ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

The exaggerated use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), especially in adolescents, generates low self-esteem and greater socializing diffi culty. On the other hand, drug use can also alter people's mental health, causing a decrease in memory and cognitive abilities. With this background, the present study set out to establish the prevalence of the problematic use of ICTs, consumption of psychoactive substances, and the impact on Ecuadorian adolescents' mental health by means of sociodemographic variables; in addition, their social support and psychological characteristics. The research design was non-experimental, cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative-quantitative. The sample was n = 198 students (men and women) between 14 and 17 years old. Validated surveys were carried out for data collection, which measured sociodemographic variables, use of ICTs, experiences related to cell phones, problematic use of the internet, internet games, drug use, social support, and mental health indicators. As a result, it was determined that 53 % of students were male, belonging to the urban sector (71.33 %), where the use of ICTs was widely disseminated, and itsmain use was to carry out school work (68.87 %), leaving social networks in the background. Continuing, 43.33 % of technological devices are operated by users between the ages of 10 to 14. The majority of responses in the applied tests indicated that the students do not present problematic psychological characteristics (68.43 %). Finally, social support was more marked in the private establishment, and regarding the consumption of psychoactive substances, it was possible to show that 90 % of adolescents do not consume psychotropic substances. However, 40 % affirm that they consume alcohol 1 or 2 times a month.

Keywords: Adolescents – behavior – Information and Communication Technologies ICTs – mental health – psychoactive substances use – social networks