Internet Use by the Socially Fearful: Addiction or Therapy?

Abstract

The Internet has often been argued to have adverse psychological consequences, such as depression or anxiety symptoms, among "over-users." The present study offers an alternative understanding, suggesting the Internet may be used as a forum for expanding social networks and consequently enhancing the chance of meaningful relationships, self-confidence, social abilities, and social support. An online sample of 188 people was recruited over the Internet, while paper and pencil tests were administered to an offline sample group of 27 undergraduate university students, who were regular Internet users. Subjects completed the Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire?Revised Short Scale (EPQ-R Short), Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) scale, Internet Use Questionnaire (IUQ), and an Internet Effects Questionnaire (IEQ). Results suggested that there was no relationship between time spent online and depression, anxiety, or social fearfulness. Those who primarily used the Internet for online chat believed that the Internet is psychologically beneficial to them, but also believed that frequent Internet users are lonely and that the Internet can be addictive. It is argued that "chat" users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which, may help them improve interaction with offline, face-to-face, social environments.

Internet Addiction or Excessive Internet Use

“…Although those who primarily used the Internet for online chat believed that the Internet is psychologically beneficial to them, they also believed that frequent Internet users are lonely and that the Internet can be addictive. It is, therefore, argued that "chat" users who are socially fearful may be using the Internet as a form of low-risk social approach and an opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills, which may help them improve interactions in face-to-face social environments (47).…”

Electronic Media Use and Addiction among Youth in Psychiatric Clinic versus School Populations

“…3,[6][7][8] Contrasting views of Internet overuse exist, with some reports of associations with poor self-differentiation, 9,10 negative functioning, 11 and impaired interpersonal relations, 12 and other reports suggesting that time spent online causes no disruptions in children's daily activities 13 or well-being, 14 and actually improves visuospatial skills 15 and provides social and intellectual stimulation. 16 While long-term consequences of electronic media use on child development remain unknown, an association between overuse and psychiatric symptomatology has been consistently reported. Internalizing symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, have been linked with high Internet use.…”

Dependência de Internet e de jogos eletrônicos: uma revisão

“…41 Tais afirmativas evidenciam a premissa de que esses internautas já trariam consigo baixa capacidade de enfrentamento, e a Internet seria apenas uma forma alternativa de escape e de realização, pois o anonimato e o retardo no tempo das comunicações permitiria uma melhor elaboração de estratégias de apresentação pessoal ao garantir maior intimidade e senso de realização. 72 Assim sendo, nesse posicionamento, a dependência de Internet seria entendida apenas como um sintoma de outras dinâmicas desadaptativas. Em um estudo conduzido por Young e Rodgers, por exemplo, o uso médio relatado pelos usuários pesados foi de 4 a 10 horas por dia durante a semana, aumentando para 10 a 14 horas nos finais de semana.…”