Cross-cultural research in internet addiction: a systematic review

Internet addiction (IA) is the most studied behavioral addiction. However, few studies have been conducted that simultaneously include several countries to attain an inter-cultural and international perspective on the phenomenon. The aim of this systematic review is to observe the characteristics of cross-cultural IA studies, in order to explore (i) their classification, (ii) the cultures involved, (iii) the IA issues treated, and (iv) the commonalities and differences among cultures. For this review the PsycINFO scientific database was selected to make searches without restrictions. Out of 23 documents, 8 were selected (34.8%), after applying two research paper selection phases with the following specific inclusion criteria: the paper needs to be (i) an empirical cross-cultural study, (ii) focused on IA or other related online excessive behaviors, and (iii) published in a journal. Between 2008 and 2015, the results show that from 2012 onwards until the present, there has been a continuing increase of papers, mostly cross-national intercontinental studies that usually research IA in its generalized subtype and estimate its prevalence with classic and valid scales, while only one study focuses on video gaming. The continents involved are usually Asia, America and Europe, and the commonalities show that the higher rates of IA exist in Asian countries, in male users who spend a lot of hours online. Differences among countries and risk factors have however also been detected and cultural factors are usually not analyzed. More cross-cultural research on IA and other potentially addictive technologies and online activities is needed, so that we may further explore cultural factors and achieve higher external validity of the findings

Pathological video game playing in Spanish and British adolescents: towards the exploration of Internet Gaming Disorder symptomatology

Research into problematic video gaming has increased greatly over the last decade and many screening instruments have been developed to identify such behaviour. This study re-examined the Problematic Videogame Playing [PVP] Scale. The objectives of the study were to (i) examine its psychometric properties in two European countries, (ii) estimate the prevalence of potential pathological gaming among adolescents in both countries, and (iii) assess the classification accuracy of the PVP Scale based on its symptomatology as a way of exploring its relationship with both the behavioural component model of addiction and the proposed Internet Gaming Disorder. The data were collected via a survey administered to 2,356 adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years from Spain (n=1,132) and Great Britain (n=1,224). Results indicated that the reliability of both versions was adequate, and the factorial and construct validity were good. Findings also showed that the prevalence of pathological gamers estimated with a rigorous cut-off point was 7.7% for Spanish and 14.6% for British adolescents. The scale showed adequate sensitivity, specificity and classification accuracy in both countries, and was able to differentiate between social and potential pathological gamers, and from their addictive symptomatology. The implications of these findings are discussed

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

Preventing harmful Internet use-related addiction problems in Europe: a literature review and policy options

Internet use-related addiction problems are increasingly being recognized on a European scale due to international health organizations considering gaming addiction. In April 2013, the American Psychiatric Association recognized Internet Gaming Disorder in the fifth Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and in April 2018, the World Health Organization included Gaming Disorder in the eleventh International Classification of Diseases. However, findings on these problems within this period are lacking in Europe, and a preventive approach is missing globally. A detailed critical literature review was conducted using PsycINFO and Web of Science in this five-year period. A total of 19 studies were reviewed and problems identified were: generalized Internet addiction and online gaming and gambling addictions across seven European countries (i.e., Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, and Denmark). The individuals with problematic use were found to be educated adolescents, usually young males with comorbid disorders, and gaming and gambling disorders were implicated in the most severe cases. Cognitive behavioral therapy was the main treatment, sometimes combined with a systemic approach for adolescents. Prevalence, high-risk populations, and factors contributing to these addiction problems are discussed, and a set of policy options are developed for this region. The implications for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in Europe are considered

Predictors of problematic internet and mobile phone usage in adolescents

This study uses an innovative statistical strategy to test the role of certain variables as predictors of problematic Internet and mobile phone usage among adolescents in Spain and in the United Kingdom . A paper-and-pencil questionnaire was used, with socio-demographics and patterns of technology usage as variables, and two tests were administered: the Problematic Internet Entertainment Use Scale for Adolescents (PIEUSA) and the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale for Adolescents (MPPUSA). The overall sample size was 2228 high school students aged between 11 and 18 from Barcelona and London. PIEUSA and MPPUSA scores were transformed into normed scores, and both were then dichotomized according to three statistical criteria as cut-off points (i.e., median, 80th percentile, and extreme scores below the 25th percentile and above the 75th percentile) in order to establish the relationship between the variables above and the excessive use of the Internet or mobile phones, using a binary logistic regression. The results show that the best predictive model for both technologies includes socio-demographic variables as predictors of extreme scores for excessive Internet and mobile phone usage, with good sensitivity, specificity and classification accuracy, as well as a notable capacity for discrimination according to the receiver-operating characteristic curve. Implications of these findings are discussed

Adaptación española del "Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale" para población adolescente

El uso problemático del teléfono móvil es un fenómeno emergente en nuestra sociedad, que parece afectar especialmente a la población adolescente. El conocimiento acerca del uso problemático de esta tecnología resulta necesario, dado que puede desarrollarse un patrón comportamental con características adictivas. Apenas existen escalas que midan el posible uso problemático del móvil y ninguna adaptada exclusivamente a población adolescente española. La escala más utilizada internacionalmente es la Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS). El objetivo de este estudio es adaptar el MPPUS a la población adolescente española. Se administró la versión española del cuestionario a una muestra de 1132 de 12 a 18 años. La fiabilidad y la validez factorial eran comparables a las obtenidas en población adulta, por lo que la medida del uso problemático del móvil en los adolescentes españoles es unidimensional. Se detectó una prevalencia del 14.8% de usuarios problemáticos

International scientific research on venture capital: a bibliometric and mapping analysis from the period 1978–2020

The aim of this study is to explore the relevance of scientific production on venture capital using bibliometric and mapping tools.We performed a search in Scopus, involving any document published between 1978 and 2020. We used bibliometric indicators to explore documents production, dispersion, distribution, time of duplication, and annual growth, as Price’s law of scientific literature growth, Lotka’s law, the transient index, and the Bradford model. We also calculated the participation index of the different countries and institutions. Finally, we explored the co-occurrence and thematic networks for the most frequently used terms in venture capital research through bibliometric mapping.A total of 1,230 original articles were collected from the timeframe 1978–2020. The model confirms that Price’s law is not fulfilled. Scientific production was better adjusted to linear growth (r = 0.9290) than exponential (r = 0.9161). Literature on venture capital research has increased its growth in the last 43 years at a rate of 7.9% per year, with a production that doubles its size every 9.1 years. The transience index was 79.91%, which indicates that most of the scientific production is due to a lot of authors with a small number of publications on the research topic. Bradford´s law shows that the scientific production in this area is widely distributed in multiple journals, and Lotka’s law indicates that the author’s distribution is heavily concentrated on small producers. The United States of America (USA) and the University of Pennsylvania present the highest production, contributing 31.22% and 1.63% of the total production of research on venture capital.The venture capital task has undergone a linear growth, with a very high rate of transience, which indicates the presence of numerous authors who sporadically publish on this topic. No evidence of a saturation point was observed in the scientific production analyzed, which makes it possible to conclude that the research in venture capital will continue to be in demand by the scientific community.The aim of this study is to explore the relevance of scientific production on venture capital using bibliometric and mapping tools.We performed a search in Scopus, involving any document published between 1978 and 2020. We used bibliometric indicators to explore documents production, dispersion, distribution, time of duplication, and annual growth, as Price’s law of scientific literature growth, Lotka’s law, the transient index, and the Bradford model. We also calculated the participation index of the different countries and institutions. Finally, we explored the co-occurrence and thematic networks for the most frequently used terms in venture capital research through bibliometric mapping.A total of 1,230 original articles were collected from the timeframe 1978–2020. The model confirms that Price’s law is not fulfilled. Scientific production was better adjusted to linear growth (r = 0.9290) than exponential (r = 0.9161). Literature on venture capital research has increased its growth in the last 43 years at a rate of 7.9% per year, with a production that doubles its size every 9.1 years. The transience index was 79.91%, which indicates that most of the scientific production is due to a lot of authors with a small number of publications on the research topic. Bradford´s law shows that the scientific production in this area is widely distributed in multiple journals, and Lotka’s law indicates that the author’s distribution is heavily concentrated on small producers. The United States of America (USA) and the University of Pennsylvania present the highest production, contributing 31.22% and 1.63% of the total production of research on venture capital.The venture capital task has undergone a linear growth, with a very high rate of transience, which indicates the presence of numerous authors who sporadically publish on this topic. No evidence of a saturation point was observed in the scientific production analyzed, which makes it possible to conclude that the research in venture capital will continue to be in demand by the scientific community

Validation in clinical population of the Problematic Internet Entertainment Use Scale for Adults (PIEUSAd)

Addiction to technologies has been a widely debated scientific and clinically, being a condition for further study as potential psychiatric disorder. Some Spanish scales measure Internet addiction, but no one has been validated clinically. The aims were to describe a clinical sample of patients in treatment for a technology addiction, and to validate clinically the “Problematic Internet Entertainment Use Scale for Adults” (PIEUSAd). Little-scale clinical adult sample (N=31; 71 % men, and an age mean of 33.31) was selected, collecting socio-demographic and clinical data, technological usages, and the PIEUSAd and Compulsive Internet Use Scale in a survey. The setting was a public health center in Barcelona (Spain). The patients in treatment for a technological addiction as primary diagnosis were usually young males, which suffer from a genuine e-addiction (above all, internet addiction, gaming and cybersex); only the middle seems to have a dual pathology (usually another addiction). They are usually referred by other clinician and the majority don’t have previous psychiatric care. The PIEUSAd showed large variability in item scored, and high factor and construct validity, and excellent reliability (a=0.98). In conclusion, the heterogeneity in the characteristics of patients is evidenced. Moreover, the PIEUSAd has been clinical validated to do a better screen in technological addictions, where “loss of control” and “evasion” seems to be the prevalent addictive symptoms in these types of patients. Spanish abstract: La adicción a las tecnologías ha sido debatida ampliamente tanto científica como clínicamente, siendo una condición a estudiar como potencial trastorno psiquiátrico. Algunas escalas españolas miden la adicción al internet, pero ninguna ha sido validada clínicamente. Los objetivos son describir la muestra clínica de pacientes en tratamiento por una adicción tecnológica, así como validar clínicamente la “Problematic Internet Entertainment Use Scale for Adults” (PIEUSAd). Una muestra clínica a pequeña escala (N=31; 71 % hombres, con una edad media de 33,31) fue seleccionada, se recogieron datos socio-demográficos, clínicos y de uso de tecnologías, así como la PIEUSAd y la “Compulsive Internet Use Scale” a través de una encuesta. El contexto fue un centro de salud pública de Barcelona (España). Los pacientes en tratamiento por una adicción tecnológica como primer diagnóstico eran usualmente hombres jóvenes que sufrían de una e-adicción genuina (sobre todo, adicción a internet, videojuegos o cibersexo); solo la mitad parecía sufrir una patología dual (normalmente otra adicción). Eran normalmente derivados por otros profesionales de la salud y la mayor parte no habían sido tratados psiquiá- tricamente con anterioridad. La PIEUSAd mostró gran variabilidad en sus puntuaciones, alta validez factorial y de constructo, y excelente fiabilidad (a=0,98). En conclusión, la heterogeneidad de las características de los pacientes fue evidenciada. Además, la PIEUSAd ha sido validada clínicamente para poder hacer un mejor cribado en las adicciones tecnológicas, donde la “pérdida de control” y la “evasión” parecen ser los síntomas prevalentes en estos tipos de pacientes

Seguimiento de dependientes del alcohol y/o de la cocaína después de su salida de una Comunidad Terapéutica: estudio piloto

En España, las Comunidades Terapéuticas (CT) constituyen un modelo de tratamiento común en las adicciones, aunque apenas existe investigación acerca de su eficacia y la persistencia de sus logros. Objetivos: Evaluar los efectos a corto, medio y largo plazo del tratamiento de la adicción al alcohol o cocaína en las CT de la “Fundación Salud y Comunidad”. Diseño: Estudio piloto descriptivo, con un diseño secuencial de cohorte. Se aplicó una encuesta diseñada ad hoc a 91 usuarios para conocer su evolución en los diferentes periodos de seguimiento (1, 3, 5 ó 10 años después de su salida de la CT): variables sociodemográficas, de uso de la/s sustancia/s psicoactiva/s y relacionadas con la estancia en la CT. Se describe el cambio entre antes de la CT y en la actualidad respecto a variables académicas, laborales, de consumo de droga/s, salud, adaptación socio-familiar y comportamiento delictivo. Resultados: las cohortes mostraron un patrón previo relativamente común, recibiendo un tratamiento similar. Los usuarios afirman haber disminuido el hábito de consumo frecuente de la droga principal, encontrando un 48.9% que no ha recaído ni siquiera mediante un consumo ocasional de la/s droga/s. También perciben haber mejorado su salud y sus relaciones familiares, así como el comportamiento agresivo y problemas legales derivados del consumo de droga/s. Conclusiones: tras su rehabilitación en una CT, los usuarios manifiestan una disminución global del consumo de drogas y perciben una mejora a nivel de salud, familia, violencia y problemáticas derivadas del consumo