Impulsivity as a precedent factor for problematic Internet use: How can we be sure?

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that problematic Internet use (PIU) is associated with impulse control disorder. Although researchers have suggested that impulsivity is a risk factor for PIU, the literature lacks longitudinal evidence on the relationship between impulsivity and PIU. We aimed to use a cross-lagged analytic framework to identify temporal order effects and hypothesised that impulsivity was the precedent factor for PIU. In a panel sample of college students (N = 367), trait impulsivity and PIU were measured in the spring of freshman year and in their junior year. The measures included a self-developed PIU Scale and the revised Impulsiveness Scale based on Barratt's concept. We found that "non-planning impulsivity" was not associated with PIU. The "motor impulsivity" subfactor was thus adopted in the cross-lagged model. The results suggest that motor impulsivity and PIU were stable across time. Motor impulsivity at Time 1 positively predicted PIU at Time 2, but PIU at Time 1 did not predict motor impulsivity at Time 2. A further investigation using gender as a moderator found a gender difference in the temporal relationship. Because motor impulsivity is a risk factor for PIU, potential prevention strategies based on this result are suggested.

Problematic Facebook use and problematic video gaming as mediators of relationship between impulsivity and life satisfaction among female and male gamers

“…Taken together, it can be assumed that gender can be a moderator of the relationship between impulsivity and problematic behavior as well as and life satisfaction and problematic behaviors such as PVG and PFU. However, previous studies [88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95] have reported a non-consistent pattern of gender differences in these relationships. Consequently, it is important to understand the differences between males and females in the relationship between impulsivity and problematic behavior as well as life satisfaction and these types of behaviors.…”

“…Similarly, Shokri, Potenza and Sanaeepour [92] postulated similar relationships between problematic Internet use and impulsivity traits such as negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking lack of premeditation across gender. However, Chen, Lo and Lin [93] reported a positive relationship between motor impulsivity and problematic internet use among females, whereas no similar relationship was found among males. In this context, it should be noted that Cross, Copping and Campbell [94] reported that males had a higher level of attentional, motor, non-planning, and perseverance impulsivity than females in meta-analysis of 56 studies.…”

“…Consequently, it can be very cautiously assumed that the motor impulsivity may be associated with PVG. Additionally, taking into account previous research [93] showing only a positive relationship between motor impulsivity and problematic internet use for females and the relationship between PVG and social media use [95], it can be assumed very cautiously that motor impulsivity will also be associated with PFU. Previous research [70,71] found no association between PFU and lack of premeditation, characterized as a tendency to act without thinking (see [25,26]).…”

“…Consequently, it can be assumed that speedy decision-making is probably not associated with problematic online behaviors. However, taking into account other research indicating unclear associations between this impulsivity dimension and problematic online behaviors [78,93,97], further research should be carried out into this aspect of impulsivity in the context of problematic online behavior.…”

Measuring facets of reward sensitivity, inhibition, and impulse control in individuals with problematic Internet use

“…Finally, it is important to consider the role that inhibition may have in PIU. In fact, studies have reported that PIU is related to higher scores on self-report measures of impulsivity, which is theoretically orthogonal to BIS/BAS function (Cao, 2007;Chen et al, 2017;Franken and Muris, 2006;Mottram, 2009). Impulsivity is a key feature of many addictive behaviors, and yet it does not always relate to BAS learning of reward expectancies or behavioral responses to rewarding stimuli (Corr, 2004;Ding et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2012;Shapira et al, 2000).…”