The Impact of Prolonged Stress of COVID-19 Pandemic and Earthquakes on Internet-Based Addictive Behaviour and Quality of Life in Croatia

Prolonged stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and two concurrent earthquakes in 2020 increased Internet-based addictive behaviour, leading to decrease in mental health and quality of life (QoL) in the adult Croatian population. This study examined the association between Internet-based addictive behaviour and QoL during prolonged stress (pandemic and earthquakes). Specifically, it explored direct associations between QoL domains and overall/specific Internet use, problematic Internet use (PIU), and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as the indirect role of these symptoms in mediating the relationship between PIU and QoL. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in autumn 2021 with a convenience sample (N = 1004; 82.2% women; M age = 34.98, SD = 12.24). Measures included increased overall and specific Internet use, PIU, stress (Impact of Event Scale), anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and QoL (WHOQoL-BREF). Structural equation modelling showed that increased Internet use and PIU were directly associated with more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and with lower QoL. Significant indirect effects were also found: higher PIU, social media use, online shopping, and pornography viewing predicted greater depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, which in turn predicted reduced QoL across multiple domains. These findings suggest that problematic and increased Internet use during periods associated with prolonged stress contribute to lower QoL through elevated psychological distress.