Adição à internet e a relação com a atenção e fatores associados em adolescentes

O avanço tecnológico ocorrido nos últimos tempos trouxe facilidades no âmbito da comunicação, acesso e compartilhamento de informações à rotina das pessoas. Contudo, o uso exagerado das tecnologias tem desencadeado uma série de prejuízos que são relacionados à falta de atenção, aumento de peso e aumento de sintomas relacionados ao Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH), impulsividade, depressão, ansiedade e estresse, além da redução do sono, do rendimento escolar, fatores que podem afetar aspectos psicológicos, sociais e funcionais da vida de muitas pessoas e, principalmente, em adolescentes. A Internet é uma dessas tecnologias, e tem sido amplamente pesquisada em todos os lugares do mundo. A adição à Internet é uma temática abrangente e a adolescência é uma das fases do desenvolvimento humano mais suscetível, portanto, essa dissertação abrange dois estudos principais que foram desenvolvidos com o intuito de investigar a relação da adição à Internet com a atenção em outros fatores associados. No primeiro estudo, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura utilizando três bases de dados. Utilizou-se o modelo PRISMA e a partir dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram analisados 44 estudos. Os resultados mostraram que o instrumento mais utilizado para identificar adição à Internet é o Internet Addiction Test (IAT), e que a atenção é investigada em grupos com e sem TDAH. Identificou-se, também, que variáveis como: depressão, padrões de sono, agressividade e outras substâncias aditivas são amplamente exploradas. No segundo estudo, buscou-se, por meio da aplicação de questionários sociodemográficos, uma bateria de testes de atenção (BPA), da escala IAT, da escala Barratt de impulsividade, da Escala de Depressão Ansiedade e Estresse para adolescentes (EDAE-A) e da escala Swanson, Nolan e Pelham (SNAP-IV), identificar a relação da adição à Internet com a atenção, ansiedade, estresse, hiperatividade, impulsividade e depressão em 48 adolescentes de 15 a 18 anos, estudantes de escolas públicas e privadas das cidades de Caxias do Sul e Flores da Cunha. Os resultados indicaram que a depressão foi preditora de adição à Internet. Além disso, participantes classificados como mais adictos apresentaram médias menores em atenção geral, enquanto apresentaram médias maiores em sintomas comportamentais de desatenção e hiperatividade, estresse, ansiedade e depressão, com tamanhos de efeito variando entre níveis moderados e altos. O desenvolvimento do estudo promove reflexões acerca dos prejuízos causados pelo uso exagerado e frisa necessidade de mais estudos e projetos de prevenção na área.Technological advances that have occurred in recent times have made it easier for people to access and share information and communicate. However, the excessive use of technologies has triggered a series of losses that are related to lack of attention, weight gain and increase in symptoms that are related to attention deficit disorder and Hyperactivity (ADHD), impulsivity, depression, anxiety and stress, in addition, reduced sleeping patterns and damages in school performance, factors that might affect psychological, social and functional aspects of several people, mainly adolescents. The Internet is one of them and has been widely researched around the world. Internet addiction is a broad theme and adolescence is one of the most susceptible phases of human development, so this dissertation covers two main studies that were developed with the aim of investigating the relationship of Internet addiction with attention and other associated factors. In the first study, a systematic literature review was carried out using three databases. The PRISMA model was used and, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 studies were analyzed. The results showed that the most used instrument to identify addiction to the Internet is the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and that attention is often investigated in groups with or without ADHD. It was also identified that variables such as depression, sleeping patterns, aggressiveness and other addictive substances are widely explored. In the second study, we sought, through the application of sociodemographic questionnaires, an attention battery (BPA), IAT scale, Barratt Impulsiveness scale, Depression. Anxiety and stress scale for adolescents (EDAE-A) and Swanson, Nolan e Pelham (SNAP-IV) scale, to identify the relationship of Internet addiction with attention, anxiety, stress, hyperactivity, impulsivity and depression in 48 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years, students from public and private schools in the cities of Caxias do Sul and Flores da Cunha. The results showed that depression was a predictor of addiction to the Internet. In addition, participants classified as more addicts had lower averages in general attention, while higher averages in behavioral symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, stress, anxiety and depression, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to high levels. The development of the study promotes reflections on the damage caused by overuse and emphasizes the need for further studies and prevention projects in the area

Problematic internet use among high school students: Prevalence, associated factors and gender differences

This study aimed to measure the prevalence of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) among high school students and to identify factors associated with PIU underlining gender differences. The students filled a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire collecting information on demographic characteristics and patterns of Internet use. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with PIU in the overall sample and by gender. Twenty-five schools and 2022 students participated in the survey. Prevalence of PIU was 14.2% among males and 10.1% among females. Males 15-year-olds and females 14-year-olds had the highest PIU prevalence that progressively lowered with age among females. Only 13.5% of pupils declared parents controlled their Internet use. The sensation of feeling lonely, the frequency of use, the number of hours of connection, and visiting pornographic websites were associated with the risk of PIU in both genders. Attending vocational schools, the activities of chatting and file downloading, and the location of use at Internet point among males, and younger age among females were associated with PIU, whilst information searching was protective among females. PIU could become a public health problem in the next years. The physical and mental health consequences should be studied

Association between mothers’ problematic Internet use and maternal recognition of child abuse

Background: There are few studies about mothers' problematic Internet use (PIU). Mothers' PIU may lead to inadequate parenting and child abuse. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the association between mothers' PIU and their recognition of child abuse. Participants and setting: We analyzed data collected of health examinations of children aged 4 months, 1.5 years, and 3 years which were carried out in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan between April 2016 and March 2017. The number of the subjects were 1685, 1729, 1674, respectively. Methods: We used logistic regression analysis to clarify the association between mothers' PIU (Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction score: ≥5) and their recognition of child abuse (selecting for on a questionnaire survey), which was adjusted for covariates such as maternal age, number of children, daytime caretaker, social support, postpartum depression, and current smoking status of the parents. Results: Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the mothers' PIU was significantly correlated with their recognition of child abuse for children aged 4 months, 1.5 years, or 3 years [odds ratio (OR): 13.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-139.98, OR: 7.02, 95% CI: 1.28-38.55, and OR: 28.06, 2.48-317.93, respectively]. Conclusion: This study revealed the possibility that mothers with PIU recognize child abuse more than mothers without PIU. However, further studies should be conducted to increase reliability and validity

Adicción a internet y agresividad en estudiantes peruanos de educación secundaria

In recent years the internet has positioned itself as a useful, functional and necessary tool for students to develop mainly their academic and social activities. However, it’s inappropriate and excessive use could cause physical and psychological problems in students, affecting their quality of life. For this reason, the present research aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction and aggressiveness in students at the secondary education level of a public educational institution in Madre de Dios, Peru. The research had a quantitative approach, an experimental design and was correlational. The sample consisted of 170 students to whom the Lima Internet Addiction Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire were applied, instruments with adequate levels of validity and reliability. According to the results, the students were characterized by moderate levels of internet addiction, average levels of aggressiveness and it was determined that the correlation coefficient between both variables was 0.643 with a p-value lower than the significance level (p<0.05). It was concluded that there is a direct and statistically significant relationship between internet addiction and aggressiveness.Durante los últimos años el internet se ha posicionado como una herramienta útil, funcional y necesaria para que los estudiantes desarrollen principalmente sus actividades académicas y sociales. Sin embargo, su uso inadecuado y desmedido podría provocar problemas físicos y psicológicos en los estudiantes, repercutiendo en su calidad de vida. Por ello, la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la relación que existe entre la adicción a internet y la agresividad de los estudiantes del nivel de educación secundaria de una institución educativa pública de Madre de Dios, Perú. La investigación tuvo un enfoque cuantitativo, un diseño experimental y fue de tipo correlacional. La muestra estuvo conformada por 170 estudiantes a quienes se les aplicó la Escala de la Adicción a Internet de Lima y el Cuestionario de Agresión, instrumentos con niveles adecuados de validez y confiabilidad. De acuerdo a los resultados, los estudiantes se caracterizaron por presentar moderados niveles de adicción al internet, niveles medios de agresividad y se determinó que el coeficiente de correlación entre ambas variables fue de 0,643 con un p-valor inferior al nivel de significancia (p<0,05). Se concluyó que existe una relación directa y estadísticamente significativa entre la adicción a internet y la agresividad

Gender Differences and Psychopathological Features Associated With Addictive Behaviors in Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study were to assess prevalence and gender differences of addictive behaviors (substance- and non-substance-related) in an adolescent population, and their association with psychopathological features and academic performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample of high school Italian students (n\u2009=\u2009996; M\u2009=\u2009240, F\u2009=\u2009756) was examined using a self-report survey concerning sociodemographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, alcohol and substance use, perceived academic performance, activities, and behaviors (Internet use, gambling, and physical exercising). The Internet Addiction Test, the South Oaks Gambling Screen-revised Adolescent, and the Exercise Addiction Inventory-Short Form were administered to identify problematic behaviors. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale for Adolescent, the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, the Dissociative Experience Scale for Adolescent, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale were used to investigate psychopathological dimensions. RESULTS: Frequent alcohol intake and lifetime substances consumption were more common among males. The occurrence of other addictive behaviors was 22.1% for problematic Internet use (M\u2009=\u2009F), 9.7% for at-risk/problematic gambling (M\u2009>\u2009F), and 6.2% for maladaptive physical exercise (M\u2009=\u2009F). We also found an association between substance-/non-substance-related addictive behaviors and psychopathological dimensions. Addictive behaviors were more frequent among students reporting poor school performance. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a relevant prevalence of addictive behaviors in a sample of Italian high school students, with specific gender differences. We underlined the cooccurrence of substance and non-substance-related addictive behaviors, and their association with worse school performance. Dissociative proneness, anhedonia, alexithymia, and impulsivity were associated with addictive behaviors in adolescents and might represent vulnerability factors for the development of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. A better understanding of psychopathological features associated with addictive behaviors might be useful for the prevention/early intervention

Online working amid COVID-19 pandemic. The role of emotional intelligence as aggression de-escalator: research reported from Islamic Republic of Pakistan

During the pandemic and constant lockdown, one of the major differences in day-to-day activities was the transformation of the working and learning environment from the physical to the online realm. The prime objective of the study is to highlight that during pandemic how transferring towards online working helped people to stabilize their emotions, anxieties, aggressions, anger and frustration. The study is designed to find out how online working has negatively connected with the development of aggression and how emotional intelligence has mediated this effect. The survey technique used in the data collection process where validated and reliable questionnaire were used for data collection and hypothesis testing. A sample size of 233 participants from the metropolis city of Karachi participated in an online survey. Results have indicated that engaging people in online working improved mental and emotional stability as well as the suppressed level of direct, indirect and displaced aggression. Moreover, emotional intelligence has acted as a negative influencing mediator towards different forms of aggression, where an expansion in online working, positively impacted emotional intelligence and negatively co-related with direct, indirect and displaced aggression. No gender difference is found in terms of emotional intelligence; a distinctive difference in terms of indirect and direct form of aggression is reported. It is concluded that emotional intelligence is acting as a mediator between online working and direct, indirect and displaced aggression. Engaging people in online working helped to stabilize themselves in terms of emotions and helped them to control their anxieties during isolation

Controle inibitório e impulsividade em universitários com dependência de internet

O uso excessivo de internet tem sido cada vez mais observado nos últimos anos. Apesar de não ser categorizado como transtorno nos manuais, é evidente que sujeitos que usam a internet de forma demasiada acabam tento inúmeros prejuízos. A presente tese teve como objetivo investigar a dependência de internet (DI) e algumas variáveis associadas tais como: controle inibitório, impulsividade e agressividade em uma amostra de universitários com idades entre 18 e 24 anos. Essa tese está composta por um estudo de revisão de literatura, um estudo empírico e um capítulo de livro. No estudo empírico foram avaliados 1485 estudantes universitários, recrutados por conveniência a preencherem questões relacionadas a dados sóciodemográficos e uso de internet através de uma plataforma online. Foram utilizadas medidas psicológicas em suas versões adaptadas para o contexto brasileiro. Os universitários foram divididos em dois grupos, sendo o Grupo 1 “sem dependência” o Grupo 2 “com dependência”. As variáveis estudadas, além da presença de dependência de internet, foram: agressividade, impulsividade, sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e estresse bem como dados sóciodemográficos como sexo, idade e região do Brasil. No que se refere aos resultados deste estudo cabe salientar a associação entre a presença de dependência de internet e impulsividade, sintomas de ansiedade e de depressão assim como sexo e região. Na revisão de literatura, o objetivo foi analisar artigos dos últimos 5 anos que contemplassem a temática da dependência de internet relacionada às variáveis agressividade, impulsividade e controle inibitório. A partir deste estudo se pode concluir que a DI esteve associada à agressividade como fator preditor e, ao controle inibitório diminuído e aumento de impulsividade, tanto como fatores que predispõem o sujeito à DI quanto contribuem para manter o comportamento compulsivo. O capitulo de livro teve como objetivo descrever a DI, suas variáveis associadas e o tratamento desta problemática através da terapia cognitivo-comportamental. Portanto, no decorrer dos três estudos se pode concluir que a DI encontra-se associada a maior impulsividade, menor controle inibitório, agressividade. Além disso o tratamento de primeira escolha para esta dependência é a terapia cognitivo-comportamental.Excessive use of the internet has been increasingly observed in recent years. Although it is not categorized as a disorder in the manuals, it is evident that subjects who use the internet too much end up trying numerous damages. The present thesis aimed to investigate internet addiction (IA) and some associated variables such as: inhibitory control, impulsivity and aggressiveness in a sample of university students aged 18 to 24 years. This thesis is composed of a literature review study, an empirical study and a book chapter. In the empirical study a total of 1485 university students were recruited on a convenience basis to fill in questions regarding socio-demographic data and usage of the internet, through an online platform. Psychological measures were used in their adapted versions to the Brazilian context. The students were divided into two groups: Group 1 "without dependence" and Group 2 "with dependence". The studied variables, in addition to the presence of IA, were: aggressiveness, impulsivity, anxiety symptoms, depression and stress as well as sociodemographic data such as sex, age and region of Brazil. Regarding the results of this study, it is worth mentioning the association between the presence of internet dependence and impulsivity, anxiety and depression symptoms as well as gender and region. In the systematic review of the literature, the objective was to analyze articles of the last 5 years that looked at the IA related to the variables aggressiveness, impulsivity and inhibitory control. From this study it can be concluded that IA has been associated with aggressiveness as a predictor, and with decreased inhibitory control and increased impulsivity, both as factors that predispose the subject to IA and contribute to maintaining the compulsive behavior. The objective of the book chapter was to describe IA, its associated variables and the treatment of this problem through cognitivebehavioral therapy. Therefore, during the three studies it can be concluded that ID is associated with greater impulsivity, less inhibitory control, aggressiveness. In addiction the treatment of first choice for this dependence is the cognitive-behavioral therapy

Efeitos da dependência numa conjetura atualista

A era tecnológica tem sido acompanhada de importantes mudanças nos estilos de vida e tem permitido um maior acesso dos jovens à Internet e aos computadores. Como consequência e associada a um uso excessivo das novas tecnologias, surgiu um novo conceito “Dependência de Internet”. À semelhança dos outros tipos de dependência há uma necessidade de estar perante o objeto da compulsão, experienciando sensações de desconforto e ansiedade na ausência do mesmo. Como é de esperar, consequências a nível social, psicológico, económico, interpessoal estão implicadas, sendo fulcral o reconhecimento e atuação precoce de modo a prevenir a progressão desta psicopatologia. Sendo os adolescentes o principal grupo de risco, os pais e o grupo devem também estar alerta para os sinais sugestivos de dependência, devendo difundir-se mais informação acerca desta temática para despertar a população para esta realidade. Embora exista ainda uma controvérsia quanto aos critérios de diagnóstico da Dependência de Internet, diversos investigadores têm tido este tema como base para diferentes estudos e têm-se verificado progressos nesta área. O objetivo é que se estipule um conjunto de critérios consensual e uniforme, facilitando a identificação da dependência e atuação clínica face à mesma. Portugal é um dos países onde o uso excessivo de Internet atinge proporções elevadas e a tendência é que a incidência venha a aumentar nos próximos anos. Sendo uma dependência cujo desfecho poderá ser tão grave quanto as dependências químicas, é importante estar atento a este crescimento e entender que se trata efetivamente de uma patologia, ao invés de desvalorizar. A identificação dos casos de dependência e uma abordagem multidisciplinar são cruciais no acompanhamento destes jovens.The technological age has been accompanied by important changes in lifestyles and has allowed greater access of young people to the Internet and computers. As a consequence, and associated with an overuse of new technologies, a new concept "Internet addiction" has emerged. Like other types of addiction there is a need to be close to the object of compulsion, experiencing feelings of discomfort and anxiety in the absence of the same. As expected, social, psychological, economic, interpersonal consequences are implicated, and recognition and early action are crucial in order to prevent the progression of this psychopathology. As teenagers are the main risk group, parents and teenagers, should also be alert for suggestive signs of addiction, and more information about this topic should be disseminated to alert the population to this reality. Although there is still a controversy regarding the diagnostic criteria of the Internet addiction, several researchers have had this theme as the basis for different studies and there has been progress in this area. The objective is to establish a consensual and uniform set of criteria, facilitating the identification of addiction and clinical performance in relation to it. Portugal is one of the countries where the excessive use of the Internet reaches high proportions and the tendency is that this will increase in the next years. Being an addiction, whose outcome may be as serious as chemical addictions, it is important to be aware of this growth and to understand that it is effectively a pathology, and do not underestimated the extent of the problem. The identification of addiction cases and a multidisciplinary approach are crucial in the follow-up of these young people