Problematic Internet Usage and Immune Function

Abstract

Problematic internet use has been associated with a variety of psychological comorbidities, but it relationship with physical illness has not received the same degree of investigation. The current study surveyed 505 participants online, and asked about their levels of problematic internet usage (Internet Addiction Test), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales), social isolation (UCLA Loneliness Questionnaire), sleep problems (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and their current health – General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the Immune Function Questionnaire. The results demonstrated that around 30% of the sample displayed mild or worse levels of internet addiction, as measured by the IAT. Although there were differences in the purposes for which males and females used the internet, there were no differences in terms of levels of problematic usage between genders. The internet problems were strongly related to all of the other psychological variables such as depression, anxiety, social-isolation, and sleep problems. Internet addiction was also associated with reduced self-reported immune function, but not with the measure of general health (GHQ-28). This relationship between problematic internet use and reduced immune function was found to be independent of the impact of the co-morbidities. It is suggested that the negative relationship between level of problematic internet use and immune function may be mediated by levels of stress produced by such internet use, and subsequent sympathetic nervous activity, which related to immune-supressants, such as cortisol.

Differential physiological changes following internet exposure in higher and lower problematic internet users

“…Although it has been suggested that ‘non-professional’ usage correlates most strongly problems associated with heavy internet use [28], it was thought that the professional/non-professional distinction may not apply, or be discriminable, to all of the current participants, and, as total internet use, in itself, also is associated with internet-related problems [28,30], this measure was employed.…”

Poor sleep quality and suicide attempt among adults with internet addiction: A nationwide community sample of Korea

“…Internet addiction (IA) is defined as a psychological dependence on the internet, irrespective of the type of activity once logged on. The overall prevalence of IA varies from 0.3% [2] to 8% in adolescents and it is reported to be up to 20% among adults [3]. …”

“…Leaving aside its direct association with disruption in work and social relationships along with a negative affect resulting from being off-line [4], IA shows multiple associations with psychiatric comorbidities and general health- related behaviors [3, 5, 6]. Considering its influence on the society, DSM-5 proposed the inclusion of ‘internet gaming disorder’ in section III, but more research related to this domain is sorely needed [7].…”

Mental resilience, perceived immune functioning, and health

“…A yes/no question was asked to determine whether participants perceived reduced immune functioning at this moment. In addition, the immune function questionnaire (IFQ) was completed 18. The IFQ includes 19 items on weakened immune system functioning, such as sore throat, flu, cold sores, ear infection, and sudden high fever.…”

“…The BRS and IFQ have been used in several studies and reliability and validity have been demonstrated 6,18. The 1-item scores of perceived immune functioning and health have been used successfully in previous research, and outcomes correlate well with IFQ scores 15…”