Pathological Internet use – It is a multidimensional and not a unidimensional construct

Problematic Internet Use: Variants of Cognitive-Behavioural Model under Path Analysis

“…Many studies [3,[10][11][12][13] based on Davis's [1] model investigated only some related variables (e.g., depression) based on the original model and included some other variables (e.g., loneliness) that were not included in the original conceptualisation. Additionally, these studies had only examined relationships or partial pathways between these variables and GPIU, with contradictory findings.…”

Online erotica usage as a mediator between internet addiction and engagement in risky online sexual behaviors

“…For example, Pawlikowski et al (2014) found that in their German sample of Internet gamers and Internet pornography users, time spent online was predictive of compulsive use in both groups. Meanwhile, Bőthe et al (2015) examined the predictive relationship between problematic Internet use, gaming, and pornography use in a sample of Hungarian university students.…”

“…Since its initial conceptualization, researchers have varied widely in their chosen nomenclature for Internet addiction, using terms such as problematic Internet use, excessive Internet use, and Internet dependency (Pawlikowski, Nader, Burger, Stieger, & Brand, 2014). There has also been considerable debate as to its definition and diagnosis (Carlisle, Carlisle, Polychronopoulos, Goodman-Scott & Kirk-Jenkins, 2016;Young, 2015), especially as Internet Addiction is not included in DSM-5 as a diagnosable disorder.…”

“…There has also been considerable debate as to its definition and diagnosis (Carlisle, Carlisle, Polychronopoulos, Goodman-Scott & Kirk-Jenkins, 2016;Young, 2015), especially as Internet Addiction is not included in DSM-5 as a diagnosable disorder. Additionally, although most researchers generally agree that Internet addiction is maladaptive and related to uncontrolled or compulsive behavior related to Internet use (e.g., Caplan, 2003;Davis, 2001;Griffiths, 1996;Young, 1998a), there is some debate on whether or not it constitutes an independent construct, especially when it serves as a gateway to other types of addictive behaviors, like Internet gambling, Internet gaming, or sex site addictions (Bőthe, Tóth-Király, & Orosz, 2015;Griffiths, Kuss, Billieux, & Pontes, 2016;Jones & Hertlein, 2012;Pawlikowski et al, 2014;Starcevic, 2013;Starcevic & Aboujaoude, 2015). This has prompted some researchers to propose that Internet addiction is a multi-dimensional construct (Pawlikowski et al, 2014) or that there might be both general and specific Internet addictions (Davis, 2001;Montag et al, 2015).…”

“…These perspectives are not mutually exclusive, and as we have gathered more empirical evidence on Internet addiction, it is becoming clear that our understanding of the construct is still evolving. However, it has prompted researchers to explore the predictive relationship between general Internet addiction and other types of specific Internet behaviors, like Internet gaming, pornography usage, and engaging with Internet sex chat sites (e.g., Bőthe et al, 2015;Pawlikowski et al, 2014).…”