Exploring Internet Addiction: Demographic Characteristics and Stereotypes of Heavy Internet Users

Soule, Lori C.; Shell, L. Wayne; Kleen, Betty A.

doi:10.1080/08874417.2003.11647553

Cited by 58 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Participants in the included studies were predominantly male and aged around 25 years old. Research indicates that being male and more frequently engaged in addictive online activities is associated with an increased risk of online addictions (gaming disorder, gambling disorder, compulsive buying disorder, and issues related to pornography use and social media) [ 59 ], which suggests that most online interventions had appropriate target groups. Participants reported various online intervention components (not content) that were important or helpful, such as privacy and convenience when accessing the intervention, staying engaged with the intervention instead of being overwhelmed or bored, and staying connected to professional support systems through online messaging [ 48 , 60 , 61 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Content and Effectiveness of Web-Based Treatments for Online Behavioral Addictions: Systematic Review

Park¹,

King²,

Wilkinson‐Meyers³

et al. 2022

JMIR Ment Health

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Background Very few people seek in-person treatment for online behavioral addictions including gaming and gambling or problems associated with shopping, pornography use, or social media use. Web-based treatments have the potential to address low rates of help seeking due to their convenience, accessibility, and capacity to address barriers to health care access (eg, shame, stigma, cost, and access to expert care). However, web-based treatments for online behavioral addictions have not been systematically evaluated. Objective This review aimed to systematically describe the content of web-based treatments for online behavioral addictions and describe their therapeutic effectiveness on symptom severity and consumption behavior. Methods A database search of MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar was conducted in June 2022. Studies were eligible if the study design was a randomized controlled trial or a pre-post study with at least 1 web-based intervention arm for an online behavioral addiction and if the study included the use of a validated measure of problem severity, frequency, or duration of online behavior. Data on change techniques were collected to analyze intervention content, using the Gambling Intervention System of CharacTerization. Quality assessment was conducted using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Results The review included 12 studies with 15 intervention arms, comprising 7 randomized controlled trials and 5 pre-post studies. The primary focus of interventions was gaming (n=4), followed by internet use inclusive of screen time and smartphone use (n=3), gambling (n=3), and pornography (n=2). A range of different technologies were used to deliver content, including websites (n=6), email (n=2), computer software (n=2), social media messaging (n=1), smartphone app (n=1), virtual reality (n=1), and videoconferencing (n=1). Interventions contained 15 different change techniques with an average of 4 per study. The techniques most frequently administered (>30% of intervention arms) were cognitive restructuring, relapse prevention, motivational enhancement, goal setting, and social support. Assessment of study quality indicated that 7 studies met the criteria for moderate or strong global ratings, but only 8 out of 12 studies evaluated change immediately following the treatment. Across included studies, two-thirds of participants completed after-treatment evaluation, and one-quarter completed follow-up evaluation. After-intervention evaluation indicated reduced severity (5/9, 56%), frequency (2/3, 67%), and duration (3/7, 43%). Follow-up evaluation indicated that 3 pre-post studies for gaming, gambling, and internet use demonstrated reduced severity, frequency, and duration of consumption. At 3-month evaluation, just 1 pre-post study indicated significant change to mental health symptoms. Conclusions Web-based treatments for online behavioral addictions use an array of mechanisms to deliver cognitive and behavioral change techniques. Web-based treatments demonstrate promise for short-term reduction in symptoms, duration, or frequency of online addictive behaviors. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of web-based treatments over the longer term due to the absence of controlled trials.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Content and Effectiveness of Web-Based Treatments for Online Behavioral Addictions: Systematic Review

Park¹,

King²,

Wilkinson‐Meyers³

et al. 2022

JMIR Ment Health

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“…IAD is a general term that refers to many different behavioural and impulse-control issues (Soule, Shell, and Kleen, 2003). They consist of:…”

Section: Internet Addictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relation between Internet Misuse and Psychological Adjustment of Kuwait Undergraduates

الفیلكاوی¹

2022

مجلة کلیة التربیة

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The quick and global internet adoption has had an impact on society and given its users several advantages. Even though the internet has significantly improved nearly every industry, some users are becoming obsessed with it, unable to regulate how they use it, endangering their work and personal lives. The current study aimed to find the relationship between internet misuse and psychological adjustment of Kuwait undergraduates. With an estimated 63 percent of Kuwait's population being under the age of 25, young people are Kuwait's largest demographic, as well as the country's largest group of internet users. A sample size of 215 students was selected, and 204 students responded. The current descriptive study gathered data and information from verified official portals, research/survey/journal references on the topic, opinion polls, and review reports. The misuse and impact of the internet on Kuwaiti undergraduate life are found with a high percentage of bad habits and heavy use leading to psychological disorders. Heavy usage and bad habits were found to a greater extent among female undergraduates rather than male undergraduates. However, the impact on mental health was more among male undergraduates. It is recommended that most major changes in Kuwaiti society will likely be brought about by undergraduate internet usage to reduce physical and psychological disorders.

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“…Surfing the internet can be addictive because individuals receive short-term gratification every time they go online, making it very desirable to continue to go online to receive this gratification [62]. Younger internet users (i.e., between 18 and 24 years old) are more at risk of becoming internet addicts than older users [69].…”

Section: Students' Internet Surfing Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies on Internet Surfing Behaviour and Text Messaging Behaviour of University Students

Edjah¹

2021

AJAP

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Exploring Internet Addiction: Demographic Characteristics and Stereotypes of Heavy Internet Users

Cited by 58 publications

References 8 publications

Content and Effectiveness of Web-Based Treatments for Online Behavioral Addictions: Systematic Review

Content and Effectiveness of Web-Based Treatments for Online Behavioral Addictions: Systematic Review

The Relation between Internet Misuse and Psychological Adjustment of Kuwait Undergraduates

Effects of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies on Internet Surfing Behaviour and Text Messaging Behaviour of University Students

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