The co-occurrence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and problematic Internet use (PIU) is associated with increased severity of PIU and poorer treatment outcomes. The main objective of this study was to examine the association between PIU and adult ADHD symptoms and determine whether adult ADHD symptoms were a predictor of PIU in the general adult population. We also examined the potential mediating role of the dimensional psychopathological factors, including anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and emotion regulation, in this relationship. To achieve these aims, we recruited 532 regular Internet users online from the general adult population. The participants completed an online questionnaire assessing PIU (Internet Addiction Test), anxiety and depression symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), adult ADHD symptoms (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1), emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), and impulsivity (UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale). We conducted a multiple regression analysis to determine the predictors of PIU and mediation analyses to identify the psychopathological mediators of the association between adult ADHD symptoms and PIU. PIU was observed in 17.9% of our sample. A significantly higher proportion of respondents with PIU screened positive for adult ADHD symptoms compared to respondents without PIU (50.5 vs. 21.7%; p < 0.001). Individuals with PIU reported significantly higher scores than those without PIU for anxiety and depressive symptoms, impulsivity, and the emotion regulation strategy of expressive suppression. Additionally, they had significantly lower scores than those without PIU on cognitive reappraisal than non-problematic Internet users. In addition to adult ADHD symptoms, the multiple regression analysis revealed that PIU was also positively predicted by depressive symptoms, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, and expressive suppression, and is negatively predicted by cognitive reappraisal and negative urgency. The mediation analysis showed that lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were partial mediators of the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms and PIU. Our results highlight the significant co-occurrence of PIU and adult ADHD symptoms. This study also provides support for a theoretical model in which impulsivity dimensions, emotion regulation strategies, as well as the tendency to anxiety and depressive symptoms, may play a mediating role in this co-occurrence. In summary, the findings emphasize the need to assess these psychological characteristics in problematic Internet users, as they can be a factor of clinical complexity, as well as the importance of targeting them as part of integrated interventions for both adult ADHD symptoms and PIU.
This study investigated personality traits and defense styles in order to determine clinical specificities and predictive factors of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in women. A female sample, composed of AUD outpatients (n = 48) and a control group (n = 50), completed a sociodemographic self-report and questionnaires assessing personality traits (BFI), defense mechanisms and defense styles (DSQ-40). Comparative and correlational analyses, as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, were performed. AUD women presented with higher neuroticism and lower extraversion and conscientiousness. They used less mature and more neurotic and immature defense styles than the control group. Concerning personality traits, high neuroticism and lower conscientiousness were predictive of AUD, as well as low mature, high neurotic, and immature defense styles. Including personality traits and defense styles in a logistic model, high neuroticism was the only AUD predictive factor. AUD women presented clinical specificities and predictive factors in personality traits and defense styles that must be taken into account in AUD studies. Implications for specific treatment for women are discussed.
Interindividual differences in personality traits, especially impulsivity traits, are robust risk factors for addictive disorders. However, their impact on addictive disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown remains unknown. This study assessed patients being followed for addictive disorders before the lockdown. We aimed to determine whether impulsivity traits (i.e., negative- and positive urgency) were associated with addictive disorders severity during the lockdowns. We also explored the patients’ subjective experiences, focusing on high versus low impulsivity. The quantitative study assessed 44 outpatients consulting for addictive disorders, for impulsivity, emotion regulation, anxiety/depression, and their addictive disorder characteristics, using self-administered questionnaires. In the qualitative study, six patients from the quantitative study were assessed using guided interviews. We observed that higher negative and positive urgencies were associated with addictive disorder severity. The subjective experiences of patients during the lockdowns differed according to their emotion-related impulsivity: high versus low. Low impulsive patients used online technologies more effectively to maintain follow-up, with more positive reappraisal. In contrast, highly impulsive patients reverted more frequently to self-medication with substances and/or behaviors, more social isolation, and found coping with negative emotions more challenging. Overall, the patient’s ability to cope with stressful events, like the COVID-19 lockdown, depended on their emotion-related impulsivity.
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