Online gaming addiction: the role of sensation seeking, self-control, neuroticism, aggression, state anxiety and trait anxiety

Research into online gaming has steadily increased over the last decade, although relatively little research has examined the relationship between online gaming addiction and personality factors. This study examined the relationship between a number of personality traits (sensation seeking, self-control, aggression, neuroticism, state anxiety, and trait anxiety) and online gaming addiction. Data were collected over a 1-month period using an opportunity sample of 123 university students at an East Midlands university in the United Kingdom. Gamers completed all the online questionnaires. Results of a multiple linear regression indicated that five traits (neuroticism, sensation seeking, trait anxiety, state anxiety, and aggression) displayed significant associations with online gaming addiction. The study suggests that certain personality traits may be important in the acquisition, development, and maintenance of online gaming addiction, although further research is needed to replicate the findings of the present study

Internet addiction in students: prevalence and risk factors

The last decade has witnessed a large increase in research on the newly emerging mental health problem of Internet addiction. Rather than looking at Internet addiction per se, this study focused on particular activities on the Internet that might be potentially addictive and linked them to personality traits that might predispose individuals to Internet addiction. The aims of this study were (i) to assess the prevalence of clinically significant levels of Internet addiction, and to (ii) discern the interplay between personality traits and specific Internet uses in increasing the risk for Internet addiction. This cross-sectional online survey used data from 2,257 students of an English university. Results indicated that 3.2% of the students were classified as being addicted to the Internet. The included personality traits and uses of online activities explained 21.5% of the variance in Internet addiction. A combination of online shopping and neuroticism decreased the risk for Internet addiction, whereas a combination of online gaming and openness to experience increased it. In addition to this, frequent usage of online shopping and social online activities, high neuroticism and low agreeableness significantly increased the chances of being addicted to the Internet. Findings and their implications are discussed

Internet Addiction among Greek University Students: Demographic Associations with the Phenomenon, Using the Greek Version of Young's Internet Addiction Test

Internet addiction (IA) is a new disorder described in 1996 by the psychologist Kimberly Young. The aim of this paper is to estimate the percentage of IA among Greek university students. Results of a sample survey among 1876 Greek university students, 18-27 years old, are presented. The questionnaire consisted of eight questions from Young’s Diagnostic Test for Internet Addiction (YDTIA) as well as an inventory including demographic factors and questions about academic performance, computer and Internet use. YDTIA had a good reliability and diagnostic accuracy, tested with Cronbach’s alpha (0.71) and sensitivity analysis. Results show that the percentage of IA (5-8 YDTIA criteria) is 11.6%, while problematic Internet users were (3-8 YDTIA criteria) 34.7%. Men were more likely to be addicted to the Internet than women, and Internet addicted students were associated with poorer academic performance. Multiple logistic regression showed that significant predictors of IA included increased hours of daily Internet use, increased hours visiting chat rooms, sex pages and blogs, male gender, divorced status, poor grades, and accessing the Internet outside of the home. The results of this study will allow health officials to recognise students who are Internet addicted or on the verge of becoming addicted and stress risk factors indicating a need for intervention in order to prevent the appearance of IA

The evolution of Internet addiction: A global perspective

Kimberly Young’s early work on Internet addiction (IA)has been pioneering and her early writings on the topic inspired many others to carry out research in the area. Young's (2015) recent paper on the 'evolution of Internet addiction' featured very little European research, and did not consider the main international evidence that has contributed to our current knowledge about the conceptualization, epidemiology, etiology, and course of Internet-related disorders. This short commentary paper elaborates on important literature omitted by Young that the present authors believe may be of use to researchers. We also address statements made in Young’s (2015) commentary that are incorrect (and therefore misleading) and not systematically substantiated by empirical evidence

Is compulsive internet use related to sensitivity to reward and punishment, and impulsivity?

Aim of the present study was to examine whether the personality correlates sensitivity to reward and to punishment, and impulsivity predict compulsive internet use (CIU). Furthermore, the predictive value of these personality correlates was compared to the predictive value of factors relating to psychosocial wellbeing. The results showed that particularly rash spontaneous impulsivity predicts CIU and that this personality factor is more important than psychosocial wellbeing factors. Sensitivity to reward, which is supposed to play a role in craving processes associated with substance abuse and eating disorders, could not be related to CIU. The data suggest that Internet users who are characterized by an impulsive personality feature, are less able to control their use of the internet, which makes them more vulnerable to develop CIU. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Addictive Internet Use among Korean Adolescents: A National Survey

Background: A psychological disorder called ‘Internet addiction’ has newly emerged along with a dramatic increase of worldwide Internet use. However, few studies have used population-level samples nor taken into account contextual factors on Internet addiction. Methods and Findings: We identified 57,857 middle and high school students (13–18 year olds) from a Korean nationally representative survey, which was surveyed in 2009. To identify associated factors with addictive Internet use, two-level multilevel regression models were fitted with individual-level responses (1st level) nested within schools (2nd level) to estimate associations of individual and school characteristics simultaneously. Gender differences of addictive Internet use were estimated with the regression model stratified by gender. Significant associations were found between addictive Internet use and school grade, parental education, alcohol use, tobacco use, and substance use. Female students in girls' schools were more likely to use Internet addictively than those in coeducational schools. Our results also revealed significant gender differences of addictive Internet use in its associated individual- and school-level factors. Conclusions: Our results suggest that multilevel risk factors along with gender differences should be considered to protect adolescents from addictive Internet use

Adiksi Internet: Kesehatan Fisik, Mental, dan Sosial

Sekitar 40% populasi di dunia mengakses internet. Meningkatnya jumlah populasi tersebut memunculkan kasus klinis berkenaan dengan gejala-gejala penyalahgunaan/adiksi. Beberapa tahun terakhir, istilah adiksi diperluas lebih dari ketergantungan zat, sehingga perilaku yang tidak terkait zat yang menyebabkan masalah dan gangguan juga termasuk ke dalamnya. Adiksi zat dan adiksi perilaku mungkin terlihat serupa dalam pengaruhnya terhadap pola perilaku, emosi, dan fisiologi. Secara psikologis, adiksi internet menjadi prediktor kuat terhadap kondisi psikiatri, di antaranya depresi dan kecemasan. Adiksi internet dapat menurunkan konsentrasi, prestasi akademik, sehingga stresor tersebut dapat meningkat menjadi kejadian depresi maupun kecemasan. Secara sosial, adiksi internet telah menggeser kehidupan sosial di dunia nyata. Individu lebih suka berkomunikasi melalui situs jejaring sosial atau chat room, dan mulai kehilangan makna pertemanan karena menggantikannya dengan teman-teman virtual di jejaring sosial. Adiksi internet juga dilaporkan menyebabkan banyak masalah kesehatan fisik berupa sakit kepala, rasa kaku, sakit punggung, sakit leher, dan insomnia

A study of consumer behavior of digital media : users' preference related to media format

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on May 22, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Thesis advisor: Dr. Jung Ha-BrookshireIncludes bibliographical references."July 2011"This study aims explain the underlying motivations driving consumers' purchase preferences for hard or soft copies of digital music. A uses and gratifications approach is adopted to examine the relationship between five media use gratifications and the preference for hard or soft copies of digital music. In addition to U&G, four music consumer psychological profiles are used to further identify why consumers prefer one media format over the other. The five gratification factors are entertainment, stimulation, relaxation, boredom, and loneliness. The four psychological profiles are sensation seeking, compliance, innovativeness, and involvement. Individuals that score high on the innovativeness scale have a strong preference for hard copies of music. Each of the remaining psychological profiles for music consumers; sensations seeking, compliance, and involvement have a positive predictive relationship with soft copies of music. Many of the gratifications sought including; relaxation, entertainment, and boredom all have a significant positive predictive relationship with soft copies of music. While the media use, motivating factor, loneliness has a significant positive predictive relationship with hard copies of music

Problematic Internet Use and sensation seeking in adults with ADHD symptoms

Background and aims: Sensation seeking (SS) is a motivational disposition that can drive the person to seek several experiences and stimulation, and avoid rest through activities such as playing computer or video games. It was assumed that SS could play a significant role in Problematic Internet Use (PIU), but this relation is controversial. More recently SS, together with hyperactivity and inattention in ADHD disorder, was supposed as self-regulatory attempt to create a stimulating environment in order to stabilize vigilance and avoid monotonous situations. Since the literature shows a significant incidence of Internet Addiction in ADHD, the aim of the study was to explore how these two risk factors, SS and ADHD symptoms, influence the occurrence of PIU in a community sample of adults. Method: A total of 147 voluntary participants (46% males, age range 18-60 years old) completed the Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) for identifying normal or problematic users, the Need for Stimulation test for measuring SS, and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) Symptom Checklist. Results: The findings revealed that adults with high-ADHD symptoms resulted problematic users in higher percentage, reported significantly higher scores in SS and IAT questionnaires, with interference in many aspects of their life. In a regression procedure ADHD symptoms and SS explained 32.8% of variance as predictors of PIU. Discussion and Conclusion: These preliminary findings support the role of ADHD and SS as risk factors in PIU, but they also suggest further studies for comprehending the interactions between ADHD clinical characteristics and Internet overuse

Common Features in Compulsive Sexual Behavior, Substance Use Disorders, Personality, Temperament and Attachment—a Narrative Review

Do addictions share common traits of an “addictive personality” or do different addictions have distinct personality profiles? This narrative review examines the differences in the associations between substance use disorder (SUD) and compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD), on the one hand, and personality traits, attachment dispositions, and temperament, on the other hand. We found that both people with a SUD and people with CSBD tended to be more spontaneous, careless, and less reliable, to place self-interest above getting along with others, to show emotional instability and experience negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and/or depression, to be less able to control their attention and/or behavior, and to be engulfed with a constant sensation of “wanting”. Only people with CSBD, but not SUD, noted concerns with their social ties, fear of losing close others, and/or trusting others around them. Results also suggested that people with a SUD and people with CSBD share high commonalities in personality traits and temperament, yet there are noted differences in their social tendencies, especially with close others. People with CSBD reported more concerns with possible relationship losses compared to people with SUD issues, who may be more worried about losing their source of escapism