Title: Exploring the Relationship Between Screen Time and Anxiety in College Students
By: Ashling Greene, Aby Mathews and Hannah Heintzelman

Abstract:
Anxiety disorders have been the most prevalent psychiatric disorders even prior to the pandemic. Using a cross-sectional design, the current study compares the relationship between higher levels of screen time and anxiety prior to and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research has studied the effects of an increase in screen time and anxiety, but more needs to be learned about the effects of screen time on anxiety in college students. The study investigates the correlation between changes in screen time and anxiety levels pre and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between screen time and anxiety and understand how this results in college students' abatement in their daily routines, activities, work, and education. The sample includes approximately 150 undergraduate and graduate students at Davenport University, who volunteered to complete two surveys anonymously: Adults Manifest Anxiety Scale (AMAS-C), and a survey created by the Master of Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program titled "Survey of College Student Occupations". The AMAS-C is used to assess student anxiety levels and the Survey of College Student Occupations gathers data on student demographics and quantitative and qualitative questions regarding their screen time behaviors and how it affects their anxiety levels. The qualitative and quantitative data collected will be compared with anonymous data from a February 2020 research project, "Establishing prevalence of anxiety and contributing lifestyle factors in college students: A pilot study" (IRB #20021354). Data from both studies will be analyzed through Microsoft Excel, Google Survey data, and Google sheets. The data is predicted to show an increase in screen time when comparing pre and post COVID-19 pandemic which may result in an increase in anxiety levels within U.S. college students. Screen time continues to be significantly associated with increasing odds of mental health disorders, after adjusting for age, sex, and student status. The increase in screen time can be detrimental to one's quality of life by increasing one's anxiety. This study's data may show increased screen time and its correlation with higher rates of anxiety in college students. The results will display the long-term impacts of increased screen time and anxiety due to the pandemic and provide knowledge to support students.

Objectives:
Background: Screen Time: Work or educational needs Leisure/entertainment. Anxiety: An emotion characterized by "feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes" (APA Dictionary of Psychology, 2023). Anxiety interferes with college students' ability to engage in their activities of daily living. COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns, remote learning, work from home. Routines interrupted impeding on the roles of college student participation. Explore the relationship between screen time and anxiety levels in college students. How the pandemic affected screen time. Increase in screen time can negatively affect health and behavior.

Methodology:
Participants: 150 undergraduate and graduate students. Compared with data from survey completed in 2020 (Pre-covid). Participants completed two surveys anonymously: Adults Manifest Anxiety Scale (AMAS-C), Survey of College Students Occupation. Analyzed using: Microsoft Excel, Google Survey Data, Google Sheets.