RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROBLEMATIC INTERNET USE AND SLEEP QUALITY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The relationship between problematic internet use and sleep quality was analyzed. The methodology was non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational. The sample was non-probabilistic for convenience. 118 undergraduate and graduate students from universities and higher institutes from the city of Quito in Ecuador participated. The instruments were the Internet-Related Experiences Questionnaire (CERI) and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire (PSQI). The association between the variables was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient and a p-value < 0,05 during the health emergency due to COVID-19. The results show that 51 % of the participants have occasional problems with internet use and 47 % have sleep problems that also deserve medical attention and treatment. The association between the independent variable and the dependent variable was r = 0,195 and p = 0,034. In conclusion, there is a moderately significant relationship between problematic internet use and sleep quality.