Skip to main content

Table 2 Mental health outcome variables

From: Computer use and stress, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of depression among young adults – a prospective cohort study

Variable

Cohort questionnaire item

Response categories

Categories in present study

   

Yes

No

Current stress

Stress means a situation when a person feels tense, restless, nervous, or anxious or is unable to sleep at night because his/her mind is troubled all the time. Are you currently experiencing this kind of stress?

a = not at all, b = just a little, c = to some extent, d = quite a lot, e = very much

d–e

a–c

Sleep disturbances

How often have you had problems with your sleep these past 30 days (e.g., difficulties falling asleep, repeated awakenings, waking up too early)?

a = never, b = a few times per month, c = several times per week, and d = every day

c–d

a–b

Symptoms of depressionone itemtwo items

During the past month, have you often been bothered by: (a) little interest or pleasure in doing things? (b) feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?

Yes or No

One item:(a) Yes or(b) YesTwo items:(a) Yes and(b) Yes

One item:(a) No and(b) NoTwo items:(a) No and(b) No

Reduced performance

Have the following complaints influenced your performance at work or in studies over the past 14 days? (a) stress/depressed mood? (b) tiredness

a = No, b = Yes, negligibly, c = Yes, a little, and d = Yes, quite a lot

(a) d or(b) d

(a) a–c and(b) a–c