THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROBLEMATIC INTERNET USE, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, SELFESTEEM, AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

A number of international studies have investigated the association between problematic internet use (PIU), personality traits, and psychopathology, however, despite their widespread prevalence, such investigations in the Middle East region remain rare. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between PIU and depression, self-esteem, and personality traits in a sample of 350 university students, aged between 17 and 33 years (mage=20.69, SD=2.14), who were residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants completed several assessments of sociodemographic variables, a validated measure of PIU, depression, self-esteem, and a measure of their personality traits. A total of 75.1% of the sample was determined to engage in behaviors reflective of PIU. The results of a series of bivariate correlations and a hierarchical linear regression confirmed that PIU was indeed predicted by the duration of time spent online, elevated scores on depression, and by clusters A and C of the personality assessment. This study’s results largely concur with those of preliminary investigations of PIU in the UAE in relation to the association between PIU and psychopathology. Moreover, this study makes a novel contribution to the literature by being the first study in this region of the world to explore the relationship between PIU and personality traits. The significant findings of this study in relation to personality lend support to the theorized reasons motivating the development of PIU; that individuals with particular personality traits are especially prone to develop addictive tendencies to the internet as the online medium enables the satisfaction of specific social needs in the virtual realm that would otherwise go unmet or avoided in real-world interactions with others

Psychopathological symptoms and loneliness in adult internet users: a contemporary public health concern

There are different concepts that translate abusive Internet use. Almost all these concepts converge on excessive time spent online, which can trigger the emergence of problematic situations. Most of the studies reported in the literature, both nationally and internationally, focused on a young population and found negative consequences of this Internet misuse. The objective of this study consists of associating the time spent using the Internet—in years, times per week, and hours per day—with psychopathological symptoms, as well as assessing the perception of loneliness, in an adult Portuguese population. A quantitative approach, based on a survey application, was conducted in a convenience sample composed by 418 participants (64.4% female), with a mean age of 29.9 years old (SD = 9.26), ranging from 18 to 73 years. The results suggest that maladaptive patterns of Internet use found in young people seem to be replicated in the adult population. A relationship between time spent on the Internet and psychopathological symptoms, and an association between loneliness and the number of hours spent on the Internet, were also identified. In an individualized and disconnected offline world, Internet impact in individuals’ well-being results must be highlighted, since it should be understood as a public health issue. The novelty of this study lies in the target population: Portuguese Internet users over 18 years of age, for which there is no specific study on the subject, thus emphasizing the transverse nature of the problem.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The mediating effect of self-esteem, depression and anxiety between satisfaction with body appearance and problematic Internet use

Background and objectives: Given that dissatisfaction with bodily appearance can sometimes lead to the avoidance of personal contacts and the increase of internet use, this study examines this relationship. The direct role of dissatisfaction with bodily appearance along with the possible mediation effects of depression, anxiety and self-esteem were tested. Methods: A total of 694 participants completed an online questionnaire (58.5% male, mean age 21.5 years), containing measures on problematic internet use, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-esteem and satisfaction with body image. Path analyses were used to test direct and indirect effects. Results: Satisfaction with body appearance had a significant negative direct effect on problematic internet use among both sexes. Though, satisfaction with body appearance had a positive effect on self-esteem and negative on anxiety, neither self-esteem nor anxiety had a direct significant effect on problematic internet use. The effect of dissatisfaction with body appearance was mediated via the self-esteem–depression path toward problematic internet use. Conclusions: Dissatisfaction with physical appearance seems to have a significant role in individuals’ immersing themselves in internet use

Facebook addiction and emerging adults: the influence of sociodemographic variables, family communication, and differentiation of self

The growing use of social networking sites places them among the most popular online activities. In particular, Facebook is gaining increasing numbers of users. For some individuals, such activity can develop into addictive online behaviour. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of sociodemographic (e.g., gender, age), indi vidual (e.g., differentiation of self), and family (e.g., family communication) factors on Facebook addiction in Portu guese emerging adults aged between 18 and 30 years. The study included 403 participants, who followed a protocol in which several instruments were administered (e.g., COMPA, BSI, DSI-R, and BFAS). The results showed higher Face book use and a higher risk of addiction in individuals with the following characteristics: (1) female gender; (2) aged between 24 and 30 years; (3) lower differentiation of self; (4) physically or emotionally distanced from significant others (emotional cut-off); and (5) negative communication patterns with their parents. An association was also found between other psychopathological indicators (e.g., depression, anxiety, and interpersonal sensitivity) and Facebook use. Thus, the present study contributes to the field of research on online addictions and has implications for prevention and clinical intervention.El uso creciente de las redes sociales los ubica entre las actividades on-line más populares. Facebook, en particular, está ganando más y más usuarios y para algunas personas puede convertirse en un comportamiento adictivo on-line. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue evaluar la influen cia de factores sociodemográficos (e.g., género, edad), individuales (e.g., diferenciación del self) y familiares (e.g., comunicación familiar) en la adicción a Facebook, dentro de la población portuguesa de adultos emergentes (edad entre 18-30). Para este propósito, se recolectó una muestra de 403 participantes y se aplicó un protocolo con varios ins trumentos (por ejemplo, COMPA, BSI, DSI-R, BFAS). Los resultados mostraron que las personas: (1) mujeres, (2) con edades comprendidas entre 24 y 30 años, (3) con menor diferenciación del self, (4) que se distancian física o emocio nalmente de otras personas importantes (corte emocional) y ( 5) quienes usan un patrón negativo de comunicación con sus padres muestran un mayor uso de Facebook y un mayor riesgo de adicción. También se analizaron otros indicado res psicopatológicos (por ejemplo, depresión, ansiedad y sensibilidad interpersonal), revelando que están asociados con el adicción a Facebook. Por lo tanto, el presente estudio contribuye al campo de la investigación sobre las adicciones a internet y tiene repercusiones en la prevención y la inter vención clínica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Internet and Smartphone Use-Related Addiction Health Problems: Treatment, Education and Research

This Special Issue presents some of the main emerging research on technological topics of health and education approaches to Internet use-related problems, before and during the beginning of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective is to provide an overview to facilitate a comprehensive and practical approach to these new trends to promote research, interventions, education, and prevention. It contains 40 papers, four reviews and thirty-five empirical papers and an editorial introducing everything in a rapid review format. Overall, the empirical ones are of a relational type, associating specific behavioral addictive problems with individual factors, and a few with contextual factors, generally in adult populations. Many have adapted scales to measure these problems, and a few cover experiments and mixed methods studies. The reviews tend to be about the concepts and measures of these problems, intervention options, and prevention. In summary, it seems that these are a global culture trend impacting health and educational domains. Internet use-related addiction problems have emerged in almost all societies, and strategies to cope with them are under development to offer solutions to these contemporary challenges, especially during the pandemic situation that has highlighted the global health problems that we have, and how to holistically tackle them

Internet addiction and problematic Internet use: A systematic review of clinical research

AIM: To provide a comprehensive overview of clinical studies on the clinical picture of Internet-use related addictions from a holistic perspective. A literature search was conducted using the database Web of Science. METHODS: Over the last 15 years, the number of Internet users has increased by 1000%, and at the same time, research on addictive Internet use has proliferated. Internet addiction has not yet been understood very well, and research on its etiology and natural history is still in its infancy. In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association included Internet Gaming Disorder in the appendix of the updated version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as condition that requires further research prior to official inclusion in the main manual, with important repercussions for research and treatment. To date, reviews have focused on clinical and treatment studies of Internet addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder. This arguably limits the analysis to a specific diagnosis of a potential disorder that has not yet been officially recognised in the Western world, rather than a comprehensive and inclusive investigation of Internet-use related addictions (including problematic Internet use) more generally. RESULTS: The systematic literature review identified a total of 46 relevant studies. The included studies used clinical samples, and focused on characteristics of treatment seekers and online addiction treatment. Four main types of clinical research studies were identified, namely research involving (1) treatment seeker characteristics; (2) psychopharmacotherapy; (3) psychological therapy; and (4) combined treatment. CONCLUSION: A consensus regarding diagnostic criteria and measures is needed to improve reliability across studies and to develop effective and efficient treatment approaches for treatment seekers

Internet-riippuvuus teini-ikäisillä : Mitä se on ja miten sitä voi mitata

The purpose of this dissertation is to increase understanding of the nature of Internet Addiction (IA) among adolescents (aged 12 to 18 years), focusing on what IA is and how it is measured. Particular emphasis is given to the measurement of IA, and different variables are considered in order to deepen understanding of its various aspects. Accordingly, five studies have been conducted. Study I examines various Internet uses and gratifications (U&G) among adolescent Internet users by developing a valid and reliable 27-item Internet gratification scale (N = 1,914); Study II investigates the role of adolescents’ demographic, technology accessibility, unwillingness to communicate attributes, and sought Internet U&Gs in predicting their tendency to experience IA (N = 1,914); Study III examines the effect of adolescent Internet users’ background characteristics (e.g., demographics, technology accessibility, unwillingness to communicate attributes) on predicting different Internet U&Gs and heavy Internet use among adolescents (N = 1,914); Study IV investigates the psychometric properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS), and the relationship between the CIUS and adolescent Internet users’ background characteristics (e.g., demographics, ICT accessibility and Problematic ICT use) (N = 2,369); and Study V focuses on the development and validation of WhatsApp (WA) addiction scales for adolescents (N = 405). Cross-sectional research and psychometric theory based analysis reveal the following findings. First, a valid and reliable Internet U&G instrument (27- item) addresses six dimensions of Internet U&G, namely information seeking, exposure, connecting, coordination, social influence, and entertainment (Study I). Second, the following are risk factors for adolescent IA: being male, lower academic performance, high daily time spent on Internet use, strict Internet parenting at home, higher approach avoidance and reward seeking, looking for more connecting, coordination and social influence seeking, and pursuing lower information seeking and exposure gratifications (Study II). Third, older females, adolescents with higher academic performance, higher reward seeking and lower daily Internet use content gratifications such as information seeking & exposure; male, adolescents seeking higher approach avoidance and reward seeking tend to seek higher social gratifications such as connecting & coordination; and higher approach avoidance and reward seeking tendencies predicted process gratifications such as social influence & entertainment (Study III). Fourth, the CIUS possesses good psychometric properties with fairly high reliability, homogeneity and validity. Male, older adolescents, those with lower academic performance, lower life satisfaction, active Internet use (including daily Internet use, excessive Internet use and overall Internet activity) and problematic Internet use significantly predicted compulsive Internet use among adolescents. The study confirmed the findings of Study II (Study IV). Fifth, three original IA scales were adjusted to access WhatsApp (WA) addiction among adolescents. The data showed that they were valid and reliable self-reporting instruments. In addition, a shorter version of each of the three adapted instruments and a 16-item unified scale were also developed and validated. All five studies (Studies I, II, III, IV, V) examined various perspectives on the conceptualization of IA with a strong focus on the measurement and development of valid and reliable instruments to measure IA To conclude, the results indicate that not all adolescents equally experience IA; rather, some are more vulnerable than others. The studies have clarified situations, attributes or behaviors that lead to IA among adolescents. Moreover, new Internet U&Gs have been identified to help to conceptualize IA. In addition, the developed and validated instruments (27-item Internet U&G, 14-item CIUS, 14-item WA addiction test, 8-item and 10-item compulsive WA use) will serve as handy tools for teachers, educational psychologists, and counsellors. By utilizing these instruments, one can easily screen compulsive Internet users from a normal population and provide vulnerable students with timely help and support. The present study confirms the findings of earlier IA literature available in the context of Internet users from a wider age group, and different cultural and demographic settings. The current studies are important, especially because the target user group is adolescent Internet users (aged 12 to 18 years) who have been overlooked in IA and Internet U&G literature. These findings also emphasize the importance of recognizing IA as a problem among adolescents, which many adolescents unknowingly are or become vulnerable to be in daily life settings. The findings are valuable in terms of education and research.Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli lisätä ymmärrystä siitä, mitä on Internet-riippuvuus (Internet Addiction, IA) 12 -18 -vuotiailla nuorilla. Keskiösssä oli käsitteen määrittely sekä IA-ilmiön mittaaminen. Erilaisia kriteerimuuttujia käytettiin myös, jotta ilmiötä voitaisiin ymmärtää erilaisista näkökulmista. Osatutkimuksessa I tarkasteltiin teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttöä ja siihen liittyvää mielihyvää (U&G) kehittämällä validi ja luotettava 27 kysymyksen ´Internet gratification scale' (N = 1 914). Osatutkimuksessa II tutkittiin nuorten demografisten tietojen, teknologian saatavuuden, kommunikaatiohalukkuuden sekä käytön ja siihen liittyvän mielihyvän ennustearvoa Internet-riippuvuuden kokemisen suhteen (N = 1914). Osatutkimuksessa III tutkittiin teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttäjien taustamuuttujien ennustearvoa (mm. demografiset tiedot, teknologian saatavuus, haluttomuus kommunikoida) suhteessa käyttöön, mielihyvään (U&G) and intensiiviseen Internetin käyttöön teini-ikäisillä (N = 1914). Osatutkimuksessa IV tarkasteltiin mittarin 'Compulsive Internet Use Scale' (CIUS) psykometrisiä ominaisuuksia sekä CIUSin yhteyttä teini-ikäisten Internetin käyttäjien taustamuuttujiin, teknologian saatavuuteen ja ongelmalliseen teknologian käyttöön (N = 2369). Osatutkimus V keskittyi 'WhatsApp (WA) addiction scales for adolescents' -mittarin kehittämiseen ja validointiin (N = 405). Analyysit perustuivat poikkileikkausasetelmaan ja psykometriseen teoriaan. Tulokset olivat seuraavat: Ensinnäkin havaittiin, että validi and reliaabeli Internet U&G instrument käsitti kuusi Internetin käytön ja mielihyvän ulottuuvuutta: informaation hakeminen, altistuminen, yhteydenpito, koordinointi, sosiaalinen vaikuttaminen ja viihde (Osatutkimus I). Toiseksi nuorten Internet-riippuvuutta ennustivat merkitsevästi seuraavat muuttujat: sukupuoli (pojat), heikompi akateeminen suoriutuminen Internetissä käytetyn ajan määrä, tiukka Internetin valvonta koton, korkea välttämiskäyttäytyminen, alhainen palkitsemishakuisuus, runsas yhteyden hakeminen muihin, koordinoivan toiminnan ja sosiaalisen vaikuttamisen tarve, vähäisempi informaation hakeminen sekä altistuminen Internetin tuottamalle mielihyvälle (Osatutkimus II). Kolmanneksi ikä, sukupuoli (tytöt), koulussa hyvin menestyminen, korkea palkitsemishakuisuus sekä vähäisempi Internetin päivittäinen käyttö ennustivat sisällöllistä mielihyvää kuten tiedon hakua ja tiedolle altistumista. Sen sijaan sukupuoli (pojat), korkeampi välttämiskäyttäytyminen ja alhaisempi palkitsemishakuisuus olivat yhteydessä sosiaalisen mielihyvän hakuun (kuten yhteydenpito ja koordinointi). Korkeampi välttämiskäyttäytyminen ja palkitsemishakuisuus ennustivat prosessiin kohdistuvaa mielihyvää kuten sosiaalista vaikuttamista ja viihdekäyttöä (Osatutkimus III). Neljänneksi CIUSin psykometriset ominaisuudet olivat hyvät ja reliabiliteetti vähintään kohtalainen, samoin kuin validiteetti ja homogeenisuus. Pojat, vanhemmat teini-ikäiset, akateemisesti heikommin suoriutuvat, elämäänsä vähemmän tyytyväiset, aktiiviset internetin käyttäjät sekä Internetin käytön ongelmalliseksi kokevat ilmaisivat useammin myös pakonomaista Internetin käyttöä (Osatutkimus IV). Tämä tutkimus myös vahvisti toisen osatutkimuksen tulokset. Osatutkimuksessa V kolme alkuperäistä pakonomaisen Internetin käyttöä koskevaa skaalaa (summamuuttujaa) muokattiin mittaamaan WhatsAppriippuvuutta (WA) nuorilla. Tämä osoittautui reliaabeliksi itsearvioinnin mittariksi. Lisäksi kehitettiin ja validoitiin16 kysymystä käsittävä lyhyempi versio jokaisesta kolmesta instrumentista. Kaikki viisi osatutkimusta (I, II, III, IV, V) tarkastelivat eri näkökulmia Internet-riippuvuuteen ja auttoivat käsitteellistämään sitä. Tutkimuksissa painottui vahvasti Internetriippuvuutta koskevien luotettavien mittareiden kehittäminen sekä tämän ilmiön mittaaminen. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta että kaikki nuoret eivät altistu Internetriippuvuudelle samalla tavalla, vaan jotkut ovat sille muita alttiimpia. Nämä tutkimukset selvensivät tilanteita, piirteitä ja käyttäytymismalleja jotka voivat johtaa Internet-riippuvuuteen teini-iässä. Lisäksi uusia Internetin käyttöön ja se tuottamaan mielihyvään liityviä tekijöitä tuli esille ja ilmiötä voidaan nyt paremmin käsitteellistää. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa kehitetyt ja validoidut mittarit (27-kysymyksen Internet U&G, 14 kysymyksen CIUS, 14 kysymyksen WA addiction test, 8 kysymyksen ja 10 kysymyksen pakonomaisen Whatappin käyttämisen mittarit) voivat toimia kätevinä työvälineinä opettajille, koulupsykologeille ja opinto-ohjaajille. Näiden mittareiden avulla saadaan helposti selville, onko Internetin käyttö pakonomaista ja poikkeaako se normaalista populaatiosta. Tällä tavalla on mahdollistaa auttaa Internet-addiktiolle mahdollisesti altistuvia oppilaita. Tämä tutkimus vahvisti aikaisempia Internet-riippuvuuteen liittyviä tutkimuksia ja auttoin yleistämään niitä laajempiin ikäryhmiin sekä uusiin kulttuureihin ja konteksteihin. Tutkimus on tärkeä, koska kohderyhmä on sellainen, jota ei aiemmin juuri ole tutkittu. Tulokset myös painottavat Internet-riippuvuuden toteamista ja tunnistamista. Kyseessä on potentiaalinen ongelma, jolle lukuisat nuoret voivat altistua jokapäiväisessä elämässään. On myös huomattava, että suurin osa nuorista kokee mielihyvää Internetin käytöstä, mutta ei osoita addiktion oireita