Search

Background: Adolescents may have anxiety due to a series of events such as school work and social interaction. Improper handling of anxiety often leads to some negative consequences, such as Internet addiction. Therefore, this study further explored the relationship between anxiety and Internet addiction, as well as the mediating role of inhibitory control between the two, and also considered the moderating role of physical activity between anxiety and inhibitory control. Methods: A total of 1607 adolescents, comprising 664 boys and 943 girls with an average age of 15.86 years (SD = 0.73), from Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, and Hunan provinces completed a self-report survey on physical activity, anxiety, inhibitory control, and Internet addiction. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation test were conducted. Results: The results revealed a significant positive correlation between anxiety and adolescent internet addiction (r = 0.413, p < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with inhibitory control (r = -0.423, p < 0.001). Inhibitory control was found to be significantly positively correlated with physical exercise (r = 0.143, p < 0.001) and significantly negatively correlated with internet addiction (r = -0.368, p < 0.001). After controlling for demographic variables, anxiety significantly positively predicted Internet addiction (β = 0.311, p < 0.001) in adolescents, and it also indirectly predicted Internet addiction through inhibitory control (β = -0.231, p < 0.001). Physical activity significantly weakened the predictive effect of anxiety on inhibitory control (β = -0.092, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study further explored the issue of psychological mechanisms between anxiety and Internet addiction in adolescents, and added that physical activity alleviates the negative effects of anxiety on adolescents. Schools and families are encouraged to promote physical exercise among adolescents to alleviate the influence of negative emotions on their psychological and behavioral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, with the rapid development of technology, research on behavioral addiction concepts such as digital gaming disorders and problematic internet use has increased. As anime-watching has become widespread worldwide, it is thought that this behavior may be one of the areas of problematic technology use, especially in adolescence. However, studies evaluating problematic anime-watching behaviors within the framework of behavioral addictions are quite limited in the literature. In this study, problematic anime-watching behaviors, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and possible psychosocial factors were evaluated in 86 anime watchers aged between 12 and 18 years. Problematic anime-watching behaviors were evaluated according to the diagnostic criteria of other defined disorders related to addictive behaviors in ICD-11. A semi-structured interview tool was used to assess psychiatric comorbidities, and the IGDS9-SF adapted form for anime-watching, the Self-Efficacy Scale for Children, KIDCOPE, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents were used to collect other data. Results: It was determined that 36.8% of the 86 adolescents in our study had problematic anime-watching behavior. Compared to other adolescents, the problematic anime-watching group had significantly lower self-efficacy scores and significantly higher social anxiety and avoidant coping scores. A significant relationship was found between social anxiety disorder and watching problematic anime. Conclusions: The present study showed that problematic watching of anime may be a variant of behavioral addiction. In conclusion, the relationship between problematic anime-watching behaviors and mental health warrants further examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) often grapple with significant non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), linked to interpersonal challenges, insecure attachment, and internet addiction. This study explores these relationships in children and adolescents using network analysis, drawing data from seven hospitals in China. Results: The study included 162 youths with depressive disorder and 102 healthy controls from seven hospitals. The MDD + NSSI group exhibited severe internet addiction, heightened depressive symptoms, and insecure attachment. Network analysis identified central symptoms (compulsive use) and key bridge symptoms (tolerance symptoms) in the networks related to depressive symptoms, internet addiction, and attachments. These findings suggest potential targets for intervention among children and adolescents at risk for or suffering from depression. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between NSSI, attachment issues, and internet addiction in Chinese adolescents with MDD. The network analysis pinpointed central and key bridge symptoms, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions in children and adolescents at risk for or experiencing depression and associated challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The internet is widespread in modern society and has raised concerns about excessive usage and its consequences for different aging groups. Objective: This study explores the relationships between internet addiction, sleep patterns, and psychological distress in adolescents and young adults. Materials and methods: In order to assess this phenomenon, an exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Brazil from October to December 2023. A questionnaire, administered via Google Forms, collected data from 618 participants aged 15–36. The participants consisted of a non-probabilistic community sample selected based on convenience criteria. Instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Internet Addiction Test, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, and Social Media Engagement Questionnaire. Results: It was categorized 48.1% as having moderate internet addiction, and classified 0.8% as having severe internet addiction. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between internet addiction and depression, anxiety, and stress. Logistic regression identified internet addiction and overall psychological distress as predictors of sleep difficulties, along with unemployment status. The findings highlight the detrimental impact of excessive internet use on sleep quality and mental health. The bidirectional relationship between internet addiction and psychological distress underscores the complex interplay between these variables. Conclusions: This study underscores the urgent need for interventions targeting internet addiction and its associated consequences in adolescents and young adults. Addressing internet addiction levels and promoting healthy internet usage habits are crucial steps in mitigating the adverse effects on mental health and sleep quality. There is a need for targeted interventions, protocols, and preventive measures to mitigate the adverse effects of excessive internet use on mental health and sleep quality. Public health strategies should include IA and its consequences in health programs with multidisciplinary approaches and protocols for treatments for behavioral addictions. The study emphasizes the multifaceted nature of internet addiction and its implications for mental health and sleep patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many studies have established a positive correlation between adolescents' internet addiction and mental health problems, most of these studies have overlooked the internal heterogeneity of Internet addiction. This study aims to identify latent profiles among adolescents based on their Internet addiction and to examine the differences in aggression, depression, and anxiety across these profiles. We conducted a survey involving 7422 adolescents and administered the Young's Internet Addiction Test, Aggression Behavior Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Latent profile analysis was utilized to categorize Internet addiction profiles among adolescents. Associations between Internet addiction profiles and related factors were examined using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars method. Latent profile analysis suggested four profiles of Internet addiction, which were labeled: Regular , Risk , Low Internet addiction , and Internet addiction. The Internet addiction profile showed higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety than the Low Internet addiction profile. The Low Internet addiction profile had higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety than the Risk profile. The Risk profile demonstrated higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety when compared to the Regular profile. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the self-report measures. The identified Internet addiction profiles offer differential predictions for aggression, depression, and anxiety. These results underscore the significance of employing latent profile analysis when exploring the associations between Internet addiction and mental health issues. • There are four profiles of Internet addiction among adolescents. • The four profiles of adolescents' Internet addiction differentially predict aggression, depression, and anxiety. • When examining the associations between Internet addiction and mental health, considering the heterogeneity is crucial. • The findings provide implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) capture separate Internet-related disorders, comparing CFA, Set-ESEM, and Full-ESEM models on a sample of 839 participants (59.1% females; Mage = 30.31, SD = 10.05). The ESEM solution was selected based on fit-indices [χ2 = 506.810; df = 248, p < .001; CFI = .976; TLI = .963; RMSEA = .035 (.031–.040); SRMR = .019; AIC = 70,390.955; BIC = 71,269.364; aBIC = 70,678.693], inter-factor correlations (.232 < r < .595), parameter estimates (significant primary target loadings and reduced cross-loadings), and theoretical interpretability. This study highlights the conceptual overlap between Internet and smartphone addiction and emphasises the importance of comparing CFA, Set-ESEM, and Full-ESEM models when two or more sets of constructs are included in a single model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that both family dysfunction and internet addiction (IA) are associated with a higher risk of adolescent depression. However, no study has yet investigated the mechanisms involved. This study aims to explore the mediation and interaction roles of internet addiction (IA) between family functioning and depressive symptoms among adolescents in rural China. A multi-stage, stratified cluster, and random sampling was conducted among 3343 adolescents in rural China from October 27 to November 6, 2020. Depressive symptoms, IA, and family functioning were assessed using the Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES D), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Family Adaptation Partnership Growth Affection and Resolve Index (APGAR), respectively. Correlation analysis was performed by binary logistic regression. The study employed a four-way decomposition method to explore the potential mechanisms of family functioning on depressive symptoms. The results indicated that family functioning and IA were associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms. The interaction between family functioning and IA accounted for 74 % of the association between family functioning and depression symptoms, while direct effects accounted for 24 %. The "proportion eliminated" (76.11 %) was substantially larger than "proportion mediated" (7.36 %). The cross-sectional design limited to identify the causal relationship among the variables. We found that family dysfunction synergizes with IA to contribute to the high risk of adolescent depression. Prioritizing at preventing IA in adolescence could be an effective way to mitigate the adverse effects of family dysfunction on depression. • This is the first study to simultaneously examine the mediation and interaction between family functioning, internet addiction and depressive symptoms. • A multi-stage, stratified cluster, and random sampling was conducted among 3343 adolescents in rural China. • The interaction between family functioning and IA accounted for 74% of the association between family functioning and depression symptoms. • Intervening with IA can reduce family dysfunction's adverse effects on depressive symptoms by 76.11%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airline pilots are members of a unique occupational group that is often confronted with sleep routine disruptions, yet relatively few studies have examined their mental health status. This study assessed the prevalence and network structure of internet addiction, depression and sleep quality problems in commercial airline pilots. A total of 7055 airline pilots were included in analyses. Internet addiction and depression were measured with the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The network model was constructed based on an Ising model and its association with sleep quality was evaluated using a flow procedure. Internet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots. The prevalence of internet addiction was 8.0 % (95 % CI: 7.3–8.6 %), while the rates of depression and poor sleep quality were 23.3 % (95 % CI: 22.3–24.2 %) and 33.0 % (95 % CI: 31.9–34.1 %), respectively. In the depression and internet addiction network model, "Fatigue" (PHQ4; Expected Influence (EI): 2.04) and "Depressed/moody/nervous only while being offline" (IAT20; EI: 1.76) were most central symptoms while "Fatigue" (PHQ4; Bridge EI: 1.30) was also the most important bridge symptom. The flow network model of sleep quality with internet addiction and depression showed that "Appetite" (PHQ5) had the strongest positive association with poor sleep quality. Internet addiction, depression and sleep quality were common among airline pilots and warrant regular screening and timely treatment. Strategies to improve sleep hygiene may be useful in preventing onsets or exacerbations in depression and internet addiction among airline pilots. • The prevalence of internet addiction was 8.0% (95% CI: 7.3–8.6%), while the prevalence of depression and poor sleep quality were 23.3% (95% CI: 22.3–24.2%) and 33.0% (95% CI: 31.9–34.1%), respectively. • "Fatigue" (PHQ4) and "Depressed/moody/nervous only while being offline" (IAT20) were central symptoms. • "Appetite" (PHQ5) had the strongest positive associations with poor sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Videogaming rates among adolescents in the U.S. are very high. In addition, gaming disorder was recently added to the ICD-11 and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a part of the DSM-5-TR's Conditions for Further Study, suggesting increasing import in the clinical realm. This review is an up-to-date resource for clinicians treating adolescent IGD, highlighting important areas of knowledge, awareness, and skills/behaviors to consider. Given evidence from multiple systemic reviews on the important role family dynamics play related to IGD, Attachment-Based Family Therapy is presented as a model for intervention, utilizing a case study to demonstrate how it may be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Associations between parental anxiety and adolescent internet addiction have been documented in the literature; however, few studies have analyzed the role of the family environment in this relationship. This study aims to explore the relationship between parental anxiety and adolescent internet addiction while also investigating the indirect relationships involving multiple dimensions of the family environment and child emotional behavior issues. Methods: Surveys were conducted among 6,296 parent-child pairs. We administered SDQ, CIAS-R, and FES-CV to assess adolescents’ issues and internet addiction, and evaluate family environment. Additionally, parents completed GAD-7 to assess parental anxiety levels.Results: Correlation analysis revealed that the family environment and adolescent emotional behavior issues played an indirect relationship in the link between parental anxiety and internet addiction. Discussion: The findings emphasize the importance of addressing parental anxiety and fostering a positive family environment as effective measures to alleviate adolescent emotional behavior problems and reduce the risk of internet addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies focused on the escalating prevalence of Problematic Use of Internet (PUI) and its consequential impact on mental health globally. This study investigates the relationship between PUI and associated psychological variables across different cultural contexts in Italy, Spain, Ecuador, and Peru. Method: A total of 675 participants, aged 18 to 54 (M = 22.73; SD = 4.05), completed measures assessing Internet addiction, social media addiction, Fear of Missing Out, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Phubbing. Results: Significant cultural variations were found, with Italian participants showing higher levels of Internet addiction but lower levels of social media addiction compared to other countries. Fear of Missing Out was higher in Italy, while the Italian sample exhibited lower Internet Gaming Disorder levels compared to Peru. As regards the communication disturbance caused by Phubbing, the Italian sample demonstrated significantly higher scores than the Peruvian sample. Linear regression analyses revealed distinct predictors for problematic Internet use in each country, emphasizing the importance of considering the cultural context in understanding this phenomenon. Conclusions: These findings contribute valuable insights into the interplay of cultural factors, psychological variables, and problematic Internet use, guiding future research and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study tested the hypothesis that positive expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will be rewarding) and avoidance expectancies (i.e., the belief that gaming will relieve stress) would mediate the impact of peer social influence on problematic internet gaming behavior. Internet game players (n = 120) accessed the link to the study through the psychology department research pool website as well as through Reddit gaming threads. After providing informed consent and demographic information, participants completed the remaining measures in a randomized order. Social influence was measured using the Peer Influence for Internet Gaming Addiction (IGA) scale which assessed approval of gaming, perceived frequency of gaming, and invitations to play. The Game-Use Expectancies scale assessed positive and avoidance expectancies of online gaming. Problematic internet gaming behavior was assessed using the Internet Gaming Disorder Test-20 (IGDT). Participants played internet games at least once per week and had an average IGDT score of 43.1 (SD = 10.42; Median = 44) with scores ranging from 21 to 68. None of our participants met criteria for IGD. Mediation was tested using Hayes (2022) PROCESS Macro model 4. Stronger peer influence and stronger expectations of relief (i.e., avoidance expectancies) were associated with higher IGDT scores. Moreover, stronger peer influence was associated with more positive outcome expectancies. Neither positive nor avoidance expectancies mediated the association between peer influence and IGDT score. Our results indicate that avoidance, as opposed to positive, expectancies are important predictors of problematic internet gaming behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing use of mobiles phones (MP) and other wireless devices (WD) has raised concerns about their possible effects on children and adolescents' wellbeing. Understanding whether these technologies affect children and adolescents' mental health in positive or detrimental ways has become more urgent following further increase in use since the COVID-19 outbreak. To review the empirical evidence on associations between use of MP/WD and mental health in children and adolescents. A systematic review of literature was carried out on Medline, Embase and PsycINFO for studies published prior to July 15th 2019, PROSPERO ID: CRD42019146750. 25 observational studies published between January 1st 2011 and 2019 were reviewed (ten were cohort studies, 15 were cross-sectional). Overall estimated participant mean age and proportion female were 14.6 years and 47%, respectively. Substantial between-study heterogeneity in design and measurement of MP/WD usage and mental health outcomes limited our ability to infer general conclusions. Observed effects differed depending on time and type of MP/WD usage. We found suggestive but limited evidence that greater use of MP/WD may be associated with poorer mental health in children and adolescents. Risk of bias was rated as 'high' for 16 studies, 'moderate' for five studies and 'low' for four studies. More high-quality longitudinal studies and mechanistic research are needed to clarify the role of sleep and of type of MP/WD use (e.g. social media) on mental health trajectories in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The paper conducts a network analysis of the fragmented literature on brand and addiction. Method: A thematic map, thematic evolution, word cloud, co-citation analysis, and cooperation networks were utilized to identify brand addiction study trends and topics. Results: The data show that marketing and psychiatry have interdisciplinary groupings and multidisciplinary publications. These groups reflect societal changes, particularly the shift from traditional to digital challenges. Fast food addiction is different from alcohol and cigarette addictions due to its ease and extensive marketing. The decline in internet and gambling addiction suggests a shift in priorities. Conclusions: This research helps researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in addiction prevention and intervention. The study also understands brand addiction and its effects on psychology, psychiatry, and management by providing insights into emerging topics, thematic maps and evolution of studies, collaboration opportunities, geographical distribution of studies, and more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The left-behind children (LBC), children and adolescents aged 0–18 whose parents have migrated for economic purposes for extended periods exceeding three months, present a unique social concern. These children remain in their place of household registration, often under the guardianship of relatives, while receiving compulsory education. LBC with growing Internet addiction (IA) have made it urgent to take a close look at the mechanisms and effective interventions for them. Anxiety has been proven to be correlated with IA in adolescents; however, the mechanisms of addiction in this population are less well-fully grasped. Based on the current theories and empirical results, the study examined whether and how social support (SS) and family types moderated the associations between anxiety and IA among left-behind secondary students. Methods: Stratified cluster sampling survey. A questionnaire was administered to 5290 secondary school children (2553 classified as left-behind) to explore the relationships between anxiety, IA, left-behind types, family types, and social support. This cross-sectional study employed a stratified cluster sampling survey of students in the ethnic areas of southeast Chongqing. The study sought to appraise the relationships between anxiety and IA in different types of left-behind children and to assess the potential moderating effect of SS on the relationship among the population and its family types differences. Results: The relationship between anxiety and IA was moderated significantly by social support and family types. Notably, the impact of social support on the moderating effect between IA and anxiety varied among students from both family types. For students from families where both parents had migrated, social support weakened the association between IA and anxiety. Conversely, for students from single-parent families where the parent had migrated, social support seemed to strengthen the relationships between these two issues. Conclusions: The moderating effects of SS on the relationship between anxiety and IA differs based on family type among various groups of left-behind secondary students. Gaining insights into the IA mechanisms can guide the development of targeted intervention strategies aimed at minimizing IA among diverse groups of left-behind students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease has a detrimental impact on the overall quality of life (QoL) in children. The regular visits to doctors, prolonged reliance on medication, frequent hospital stays, and changes in their physical appearance increase their vulnerability to developing psychiatric problems and hinder their daily activities and social interactions, resulting in isolation, poor peer relations, and low self-esteem. These factors may compel these children to depend on digital media to find connections, regulate emotions, and cope with their illnesses. The study aims to determine the prevalence of electronic addiction among minors undergoing regular hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) while simultaneously assessing their parental styles and psychological adaptation. A total of 60 subjects were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups. Group A: Thirty patients undergoing regular hemodialysis for ESKD. Group B: Thirty healthy subjects of matching age and sex. All the recruited participants were subjected to semi-structured clinical interviews according to our institute's sheets, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Digital Addiction Scale for Children (DASC), Parent Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and Psychological Adaptation Scale. Results: Patients patients had a significantly higher prevalence of digital addiction compared to healthy subjects, with an average score of (87.00 ± 21.23) in dialysis patients against (53.00 ± 25.20) in normal participants, demonstrating significant differences (p< 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the duration of dialysis treatment and the prevalence of digital addiction (r = -0.415, p-value = 0.023). A significant inverse correlation was found between digital addiction and the emotional subtype of the psychological adaption rating (r= -0.375, p= 0.041). Conclusion: The findings revealed that dialysis patients have a higher incidence of digital addiction. Prolonged dialysis duration was significantly associated with increased digital addiction among patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive use of the internet, which is a typical scenario of self‐control failure, could lead to potential consequences such as anxiety, depression, and diminished academic performance. However, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the structural basis of self‐control and internet addiction. In a cohort of 96 internet gamers, we examined the relationships among grey matter volume and white matter integrity within the frontostriatal circuits and internet addiction severity, as well as self‐control measures. The results showed a significant and negative correlation between dACC grey matter volume and internet addiction severity (p < 0.001), but not with self‐control. Subsequent tractography from the dACC to the bilateral ventral striatum (VS) was conducted. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity of dACC‐right VS pathway was negatively (p = 0.011) and positively (p = 0.020) correlated with internet addiction severity, respectively, and the FA was also positively correlated with self‐control (p = 0.036). These associations were not observed for the dACC‐left VS pathway. Further mediation analysis demonstrated a significant complete mediation effect of self‐control on the relationship between FA of the dACC‐right VS pathway and internet addiction severity. Our findings suggest that the dACC‐right VS pathway is a critical neural substrate for both internet addiction and self‐control. Deficits in this pathway may lead to impaired self‐regulation over internet usage, exacerbating the severity of internet addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic social media use (PSMU) can have profound and detrimental effects across various domains of life. As a result, scientific investigations into the risk factors associated with this phenomenon can hold substantial practical implications within the clinical and preventive realms. Consistently with this framework, this study aimed to examine the relationship between certain variables and PSMU, with a specific focus on alexithymia, defense mechanisms, and fear of missing out (FoMO). A sample of 340 young adults (Mage = 26.42 years; SD = 3.689) completed an online survey, including the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, FoMO scale, 40-Item Defense Style Questionnaire, and 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results showed a statistically significant mixed serial–parallel mediation model. A significant total effect in the association between alexithymia and FoMO emerged. Furthermore, defense mechanisms and FoMO significantly and totally mediated this relationship. These findings have the potential to provide valuable insights in the field of clinical research on PSMU, and can offer practical information for enhancing clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the relationship between internet addiction, quality of life, and sleep problems among adolescents. Method: This research was conducted with a representative sample of 875 adolescents. This cross-sectional study used the Internet Addiction Test, Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM version 4.0, Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, and sleep duration. Sociodemographic factors were also analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate relationships between variables. Results: After adjusting the model for covariances between the latent variables of daytime sleepiness and correlations between the physical and emotional domains of quality of life, the authors obtained satisfactory fit indices (RMSEA = 0.031, CFI = 0.926, TLI = 0.909, SRMR = 0.058). Internet addiction was positively associated with daytime sleepiness (rho = 0.549, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with quality of life (rho = 0.173, p < 0.001). By contrast, sleep duration was negatively associated with daytime sleepiness (rho = 0.089, p = 0.007), positively associated with quality of life (rho = 0.105, p = 0.014), and dependent on school shift (rho = 0.453, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Adolescents with higher levels of internet addiction had lower perceptions of quality of life and higher daytime sleepiness. Moreover, sleep duration had a positive correlation with quality of life. Given its detrimental effects on quality of life and daytime sleepiness, parents should better supervise internet use in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Internet offers many opportunities for adolescents to facilitate their lives. However, its everyday use may lead to excessive behaviour, including addiction. Our aim was to assess the association between emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) and level of internet use, and whether gender moderates this association. Methods: We used data from a representative sample of 5,433 Slovak adolescents (mean age: 13.51, 48.8% boys) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children-study conducted in 2018, collected through online self-report questionnaires. EBP was measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and excessive internet use (EIU) and internet addiction (IA) by the Excessive internet use scale. We analysed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: More than 25% of the adolescents reported EIU; almost 4% reported being addicted to Internet. EIU was more prevalent in girls, but IA was more prevalent in boys. Adolescents with borderline or increased levels of EBP were more likely to report EIU (odds ratio, OR/95% confidence interval, CI: 1.85/1.60-2.14; 3.16/2.67-3.75, respectively) and IA (OR/95% CI: 2.23/1.57-3.18; 4.89/3.41-7.03, respectively). Adjustment for gender, age or perceived family wealth hardly changed the findings. Moreover, gender did not modify the associations between EBP with EIU. Conclusion: Adolescents with higher levels of EBP are more likely to become excessive Internet users or Internet addicts. This shows a need of early identification of adolescents with EBP as they seem to be relatively vulnerable to develop EIU or IA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies have reported the existence of ADHD symptoms to be risk factors for technology addictions among young adults. In contrast to previous studies, the aim of the present study was to examine different dimensions of technology addiction in a community sample of adults and to examine their association with the individual trait-level ADHD symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. A community sample of one hundred and fifty adults were recruited to participate in this study via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom Checklist, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Smartphone Addiction Scale, Young's Internet Addiction Test, the Compulsive Online Shopping Scale, and a Demographic Information Form. Composite ADHD score, inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were positively associated with technology addictions (internet, social media, smartphone, and online shopping addiction). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity were predictors of social media addiction and smartphone addiction, whereas they were not for online shopping addiction. Furthermore, inattention was the only predictor of internet addiction. People with non-clinical, trait-level ADHD, especially those showing a preponderance of inattention symptoms appear to be more vulnerable to developing some forms of technology addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many studies have explored the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction from different theoretical perspectives; however, the results have been inconsistent. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP electronic databases were searched to identify studies examining the correlation between childhood trauma and adolescent internet addiction. The databases were searched from inception to December 31, 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Then, Stata 17.0 software was used to perform meta-analysis. Results: This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023388699). A total of 19 studies involving 21,398 adolescents were included in this meta-analysis. The random effects model was used for pooled analysis, and the results revealed a strong positive association between childhood trauma and internet addiction (r 5 0.395, 95% CI [0.345, 0.442]). The relationship between childhood trauma and internet addiction was moderated by sample size, survey area, and internet addiction measurement tools. There were significant differences between the associations based on the various child trauma measurement tools and study quality scores. However, interstudy heterogeneity was not significantly affected by study year, sample source, or participant age. Conclusion: Internet addiction is positively correlated with childhood trauma. Therefore, it is extremely important for parents to provide a good growth environment during childhood to enhance the physical and mental development of adolescents. A warm family atmosphere helps individuals develop a healthy personality, thereby reducing or preventing the occurrence of internet addiction. Due to the limited number and low quality of the included studies, the above conclusions need to be verified by additional high-quality studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing long-term separation from their parents, left-behind children are at risk of the co-occurrence of internalizing and externalizing problems. Although previous research has gained substantial information examining the relationship between anxiety, depression, and internet addiction at the aggregate level of variables, little is known about the heterogeneity and interactions between these components at the symptom level with a large-scale purposive sample. Adopting the network approach, two network pathways, depression and anxiety, and associations between these variables and internet addiction were constructed. Our sample included 5367 left-behind children (M age = 13.57; SD age = 1.37; 50.07% females). Relevant bridging, central symptoms, and network stability were identified. Two relatively stable networks were obtained. For the network of anxiety and depression, sleep problems and tachycardia were vital bridging symptoms. Central symptoms, including tachycardia, restlessness, fatigue, and emptiness, were symptoms of depression. For the network of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and internet addiction, the bridging symptoms remained the same, and the central symptoms included tachycardia, restlessness, loss of control, and emptiness. By identifying relevant bridging and central symptoms, those with higher levels of these symptoms could be regarded as intervention targets, providing a reference for the current issue of valuing diagnosis over prevention in left-behind children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a condition characterized by excessive use of the internet to an extent that has detrimental consequences for a person's daily life. After the onset of Covid pandemic, our lifestyles have changed significantly and the reliance on gadgets for education and work has become the way of life. As teenagers are often in conflict with parental authority and norms of society, the developmental effects can lead to a series of defence mechanisms and an increased risk of emotional crises, mood changes and behavioural alteration, which they attempt to fight through by withdrawal from social contact, aggression and addictive behaviour. Our study is mainly to analyse on the prevalence of IAD among this vulnerable group of late adolescence. Aim To estimate the prevalence of internet addiction disorder among late adolescence aged 17 to 19 years. Methodology A Cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among students of a private college between the age group 17 to 19 years. After obtaining informed consent, the pre- defined validated standardised questionnaire (young's internet addiction test questionnaire) (11) was sent to the students as google forms and they were explained that the results would be expressed only as a group data. Around 1000 students were involved in the study. Statistical analysis was done with super version two software. Results: We received around 1143 responses, out of which only 1006 were identified to be satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Around 64.8%(n=652) were females and the remaining 354 were males. Among males, around 80% were using internet mainly for official purposes whereas around 78.4% of females used internet for official purposes. Based on the IAT (internet addiction test) scores, around 45.6%(n=459) of the study population had normal internet usage, 33.5%(n=337) had mild internet addiction, 19% (n=191) had moderate internet addiction and 1.9% (n=19) had severe internet addiction. Hence around 54% had internet addiction. Among 354 boys, 207(58.4%) of them had a IAT score more than 30, and among 652 girls enrolled in the study, 340(52.1%) of them had a score more than 30. Even among those who start using internet for official purposes, 55.5% (n=441) of them had internet addiction with a score more than 30. Among those who use internet for unofficial purposes, 50% of them had internet addiction. Conclusion: IAD is in increasing in the recent pandemic and post pandemic era. Our study found that around 55% of the study population had internet addiction. Among them around 2 % had severe internet addiction disorder. hence it is high time that we have to identify this population and provide proper counselling and seek psychiatric help at the right time to avoid complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological maltreatment is a concern linked to a variety of psychosocial and developmental adjustment problems among Chinese youth. The current study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify profiles of Chinese college students with differing patterns of childhood psychological maltreatment experience (i.e., abuse & neglect). We identified five profiles with varying degrees of maltreatment relative to one another: (1) Low Maltreatment (low abuse, low neglect), (2) Moderately Low Maltreatment (moderately low abuse, moderately low neglect), (3) Neglect (low abuse, moderately high neglect), (4) Moderate Maltreatment (moderate abuse, moderate neglect), and (5) High Maltreatment (high abuse, high neglect). Memberships in the Low Maltreatment and Neglect profile groups were associated with sex, parental education, and family income but no differences were found between the other profiles. These findings suggest that sociodemographic information alone is inadequate for accurately discriminating between moderately and highly maltreated Chinese youth and young adults. Profiles characterized by relatively high psychological maltreatment exhibited greater addiction to online gaming and cyberbullying perpetration. This presents findings relevant to how youths and young adults may seek virtual outlets to cope with their childhood maltreatment experiences amid recent government-mandated internet gaming curfews. Interventions aimed at fostering proper coping skills during critical developmental periods should be considered. Highlights: Five profiles of psychological maltreatment were found for college students in China. Low psychological maltreatment was the most common profile while high psychological maltreatment was the most uncommon. The majority of students reported experiencing some form of psychological maltreatment. Moderate to high psychological maltreatment profiles also reported higher online gaming addiction and cyberbullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Internet addiction disorder (IAD) has grown into public health concern of global proportions. Previous studies have indicated that individuals with IAD may exhibit altered levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are known to play crucial roles in depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and addiction. Therefore, polymorphisms in the receptors that mediate the effects of serotonin and dopamine and affect their functional states as well as their activities are suspect. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between IAD and rs6313 (T102C) polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) gene, (HTR2A). Methods: Twenty patients with IAD and twenty healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Barratt Impulse Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess the severity of internet addiction, mental status, impulsive traits, sleep quality, and social support. Genotyping was performed to identify rs6313 polymorphisms in the HTR2A gene of all participants. Results: The frequencies of the C and T alleles of HTR2A T102C were 28% and 72% in the IAD group and 53% and 47% in the HCs group, respectively, indicating that the differences between these two groups were significant. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of the CC, CT, and TT genotypes of HTR2A gene T102C between the IAD and the HCs groups. Additionally, there was no difference in the distribution of the frequencies of the HTR2A gene T102C CC and CT+TT genotypes between the two groups. However, the distribution between the TT and CC+CT genotypes showed an apparent statistical difference in the HTR2A gene T102C between the two groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the IAT score was positively correlated with the Y-BOCS and BIS scores for the CC+CT genotype in patients with IAD. Moreover, the IAT score was positively correlated with the PSQI score in patients with IAD carrying the TT genotype. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that rs6313 in HTR2A is associated with IAD, and that the T allele of rs6313 in HTR2A may be a risk factor for IAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Editorial: Addiction and social behaviors in the post-pandemic world," discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on addictive and social behaviors. The pandemic led to changes in social interactions and entertainment, such as increased online gaming and social media use. The article presents research on various populations, including US veterans and college students, highlighting the negative consequences of the pandemic on mental health and substance use. It also explores the role of internet gaming and provides insights into measuring problematic online activities. The article emphasizes the need for new measures and strategies to address the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health and addictive behaviors. [Extracted from the article]

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the level of Emotional Intelligence (EI) among adolescents and identify the correlation between emotional intelligence and game addiction among them. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 19 Junior High Schools in Aceh province. Three hundred eighty-two (382) participants engaged in online gaming were involved based on multistage randomized sampling from 2 junior high schools in 9 sub-districts. The data collection tool used the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) and emotional intelligence screening using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQUE-SF). RESULTS: The data was analyzed using the Spearman's Rank two-tailed test with a significance value (a) = 0.05, resulting in a p-value = 0.000 and r = -0.286, which means that there is a unidirectional (negative) relationship between the game addiction variables and emotional intelligence. The results revealed that the EI Status of adolescents engaged in online gaming was slightly higher, with the frequency of 157 respondents (54.9%), while respondents in the low category showed 129 (45.1%). CONCLUSION: Based on this study, to prevent game addiction, EI status needs to be improved by considering several related components, such as developing emotional awareness, self-control, social skills, self-motivation and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Beginning as a wave of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan in December 2019, the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 illness (COVID-19) spread throughout the world and posed a major threat to public health. People's lives were changing quickly, and COVID-19 instances were spreading quickly over the world, making people frightful. One of the ways in which the COVID-19 epidemic impacted people's lives was through the increased use of the Internet, particularly social media platforms. Research from the past undoubtedly connected the pandemic to symptoms of stress, sadness, worry, and suicide thoughts, in addition to increased Internet use. Research undertaken globally showed that an individual's propensity to develop an Internet addiction was positively correlated with the level of stress they experienced related to the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods. We reviewed the scientific literature on Internet addiction, mental health, and COVID-19. Conclusion. We came to the conclusion that more time was spent online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the aforementioned facts led to a decrease in social activities, which in turn caused Internet addiction. This resulted in psychological distress, increasing the feelings of loneliness and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media addiction (SMA) is considered a risk factor for aggressive behaviors in adolescents, while its underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the possible mediating roles of nighttime social media use and sleep quality in the relationship between SMA and aggressive behaviors. A sample of 773 Italian secondary school students (49.9% female, age range = 11–15 years) completed a self-report questionnaire that included information on SMA, nighttime social media use, sleep quality, and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that SMA was positively associated with aggressive behaviors. In addition, SMA was positively related to nighttime social media use and negatively related to sleep quality. Nighttime social media use was associated with a poorer sleep quality, which in turn associated with more aggressive behaviors. Analyses indicated that both nighttime social media use and sleep quality were mediators in the relationship between SMA and aggressive behaviors in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smartphones provide immediate access to information, and nursing students consider them essential tools. However, the addiction to these devices is increasing. Objective: To identify smartphone addiction among nursing students. Methodology: A descriptive correlational study was conducted using the stratified random sampling method. The sample size was calculated based on a confidence level of 0.05, with 90% power, and a median effect size of 0.09. The study included 149 nursing students. Results: The component "Smartphone use, abuse, and addiction" correlated negatively with the component "Personality traits" (rs = -0.228; p = 0.005); the component "Smartphone use, abuse, and addiction" correlated positively with the component "Financial spending" (rs = 0.376; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Smartphone use is high. Understanding the extent of this phenomenon can aid in de- veloping effective strategies to prevent smartphone addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internet Addiction and phubbing are prevalent disruptive behaviours among students. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between phubbing, smartphone addiction and some of the related psychological effects among dental undergraduates. Materials and Methods: A multi-centric cross-sectional pre-validated questionnaire-based study was conducted among undergraduate students of five different dental colleges across India. The questionnaire included the Phubbing Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), Smartphone Application-based Addiction Scale (SABAS), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The data were analysed with IBM SPSS version 21, followed by a t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Spearmen's co-relation to find the association between different psychological variables among study subjects. Results: The total sample comprise of 1226 with mean age of 22.35. The SABAS showed a higher mean ± standard deviation (SD) score (3.17 ± 0.93). The Phubbing Scale showed a positive correlation with the SABAS (0.658), the results were found to be highly statistically significant (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The present study found a higher prevalence of phubbing and smartphone addiction among dental students. Our results showed that impulsiveness leads to internet addiction and thus phubbing is becoming a way to find solace during communication to escape anxiety and distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting isolation measures created an increase in the usage of smart devices and internet among adolescents. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of internet addiction, the prevalence of high level of anxiety as well as to examine factors associated with the high level of anxiety among adolescents in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Data was collected using respondent-driven sampling and Google online survey forms from a sample of 5,325 school students aged 11–17 in Hanoi between October and December 2021. A short scale consisting of 5 items was used to measure internet addiction and the GAD-7 was used to measure adolescent anxiety level. Results: The findings revealed that 22.8% and 7.32% of adolescents experienced moderate and severe anxiety. About 32.7% of the study sample exhibited at least three internet addiction indicators. Logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors for high levels of adolescent anxiety. Being female, family experiencing economic difficulties, and exposure to domestic violence were associated with higher risk of anxiety disorder (OR 1.78, 1.45, and 2.89, respectively). Both average daily online time and internet addiction demonstrated gradient association with high level of anxiety. Conclusion: The prevalence of internet addiction and high level of anxiety were high among adolescents in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the importance of implementing measures at the family and school levels to promote a balanced and healthy approach to smart device use among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internet addiction is an emergent health hazard among adolescents, especially after COVID19. Parenting factors in a family environment specifically, have potential roles in either causing excessive internet usage, or in protecting teenagers from internet addiction. Aim: The aim of the study was to understand factors in parent-adolescent relationship that determine low and excessive internet usage. Methods: A total of 102 adolescents within the age group of 13 to 18 years from two different schools in urban Bengaluru, India were recruited. Data was collected using three instruments namely semi structured tool to assess socio-demographic characteristics, Young's internet addiction test for internet usage and parental bonding instrument for adolescent perception about parenting dimensions. Results: Half of the participants were found to have mild to severe levels of internet addiction, and the remaining half had normal levels of internet usage. The results showed that decreased care and increased control from the mother, high autonomy from father and increased rejection from both parents as risk factors associated with adolescent internet excessive use. No other significant associations were found between adolescents' demographic, academic, peer and school profile and their internet addiction. Conclusion: As internet has become an inevitable part of our life, parent-adolescent relationship forms an essential moderating factor in adolescents' internet usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on the potential of a motivational framework to enhance the understanding of problematic Internet use and facilitate an in-depth analysis of the potentially pathological manifestations that become apparent in individuals' interactions with Internet applications. The motivational framework operates under the assumption that the origins of problematic Internet behaviors can be traced back to the appetitive dimension of these particular behaviors in the context of the individual's specific needs and personal history. In this framework, the Internet is not perceived as a mere instrument for multiple actions but as a genuine environment wherein individuals have the capacity to express and potentially satisfy their distinct needs. Consequently, the motivational framework advocates a model for understanding problematic Internet use that posits active agency on the part of individuals as they actively seek strategies for the management and regulation of their emotions through online activities. As a result, the framework recommends caution in categorizing dysregulated behaviors on the Internet as behavioral addictions. Instead, it advocates for a thorough evaluation of individuals exhibiting problematic use of Internet services and applications, emphasizing an assessment that scrutinizes the persistence and significance of specific Internet behaviors over time, along with an exploration of the underlying motivations driving these behaviors. Through this lens, the understanding of symptom development is significantly enriched. Recognizing the specific motivations that guide individual behaviors within the online environment emerges as a crucial component in improving case formulation and developing personalized treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although physical isolation measures can stem the spread of COVID-19, they can also heighten individuals' perceived isolation and feeling of loneliness, resulting in problematic internet use (PIU). However, studies have rarely investigated both the effects of physical and perceived isolation on PIU. Given the widespread availability and accessibility of digital communication technologies, it is difficult to conclude that the former may necessitate the latter inducing PIU. Using a two-wave longitudinal national survey in Singapore (n = 689), this study found that, at Time 1, both physical and perceived social isolation have direct and independent effects on internet users' preference for online social interaction (POSI), driving PIU. This, in turn, leads to their experience of negative outcomes at Time 2. The results highlight the importance of considering the independent effects of physical and perceived isolation in affecting POSI leading to PIU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internet addiction has negative effects on psychological development, interpersonal relationships, and social adaptation in 10-year-old elementary school students. Objective: This study aimed to identify parental and child characteristics related to Internet addiction in lower-grade elementary school children. Methods: This study used a secondary data analysis. Data from the tenth Panel Study on Korean Children were used. In total, 1224 ten-year-old elementary school students were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included general, parental, and child characteristics. Results: Of all child participants, 18.5% were in the high-risk group for Internet addiction. Lower paternal and maternal spousal satisfaction, maternal education level of high school graduate or lower, and greater permissive parenting by the mother were associated with higher odds of Internet addiction among their children. Moreover, boys and children who spent more than an hour per day without adults showed higher odds of Internet addiction. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the implementation of an intervention that improves parenting and family relationships and positively changes the environment in which children are brought up is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing prevalence of internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents has become a global concern, while gaming plays a large role in many adolescents' lives. While prior research emphasised the significance of investigating IGD through an etiological lens, the interconnections between diverse gaming motivations and IGD symptoms in adolescents remain inadequately understood. This study explored the associations between distinct gaming motivations and IGD symptoms by conducting network analysis in adolescents. Methods: Data from a two-year longitudinal school-based survey (N = 2148) was utilized. LPA was used to offer a straightforward and interpretable solution for identifying adolescents with two-year healthy and deteriorating transitions of IGD profiles. Subsequently, we conducted a network analysis to explore and compare the associations between gaming motivations and IGD symptoms in adolescents with two-year healthy transition profiles and deteriorating transition profiles. Results: Three profiles were delineated: 'low IGD' (T1: n = 808, 37.62%; T2: n = 731; 34.03%), 'middle IGD' (T1: n = 1063, 49.49%; T2: n = 1103, 51.35%), and 'severe IGD' (T1: n = 277, 12.89%; T2: n = 314, 14.62%), classifying adolescents with healthy transitions and those with deteriorating transitions. Three gaming motivations (i.e., 'Daily entertainment', 'I am good at it', and 'Improvement of ability and mindset') were identified as protective motivations. Two others, 'Enjoy being in the gaming world' and 'Preoccupation', were identified as bridge nodes in adolescents with deteriorating transitions. Three core nodes (i.e., 'Sense of victory', 'Enjoy being in the gaming world', and 'Sense of achievement') were identified in both adolescents with healthy profile transitions and deteriorating transitions. Conclusion: Findings suggest that not all gaming motivations contribute to the development of IGD in adolescents. Adolescents with deteriorating transitions showed specific gaming motivation and IGD symptom that is closely connected. Future interventions should consider corresponding gaming motivation when addressing IGD among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The extent to which digital media use by adolescents contributes to poor mental health, or vice-versa, remains unclear. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the strength and direction of associations between adolescent internet use and the development of depression symptoms using a longitudinal modeling approach. We also examine whether associations differ for boys and girls. Methods: Data are drawn from (N = 1547) participants followed for the Quebec longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD 1998–2020). Youth self-reported internet use in terms of the average hours of use per week at the ages of 13, 15, and 17. Youth also self-reported depression symptoms at the same ages. Results: After testing sex-invariance, random intercepts cross-lagged panel models stratified by sex, revealed that internet use by girls was associated with significant within-person (time-varying) change in depression symptoms. Girl's internet use at age 13 was associated with increased depression symptoms at age 15 (ß = 0.12) and internet use at age 15 increased depression at age 17 (ß = 0.10). For boys, internet use was not associated with significant time varying change in depression symptoms. Conclusions: The present findings support the hypothesis that internet use by adolescents can represent a significant risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms, particularly in girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internet addiction affects cognitive function, has a harmful impact on students' academic performance, and increases their risk of experiencing psychological crises. Objectives: Examining the prevalence of internet addiction and its contributing factors among regular undergraduate students at Jimma University in south-west Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among study participants between August 1 and August 30, 2021. A total of 772 Participants were involved in the study using a multistage random sampling technique. Data was collected using pretested and structured questionnaires with self-administered techniques. The Young Internet Addiction Test (YIAT) was used to measure internet addiction. The data was entered into the computer using Epi Data version 4.6, and then it was exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 for analysis. The association between each independent variable and the outcome variable was examined using bivariate analysis. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 in bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression model to determine how each independent variable affected the outcome variable. Result: The prevalence of internet addiction among study participants was 53.6% (95% Confidence Interval (CI)) (49.99%, 57.15%). Findings from multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested a variety of related factors had significant associations with internet addiction. Being dissatisfied with a major study, having a cumulative grade point average of a promoted grade report, using the internet for entertainment, using the internet for Facebook, using the internet for telegram, depression, social anxiety, and poor social support. Conclusion: This study revealed a comparatively high frequency of internet addiction among study participants. Internet addiction has been linked to psychosocial, academic, and purpose-related aspects of internet use. As a result, incorporating stakeholders' efforts to improve the identified variables would be a helpful start toward lowering this high incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital addiction (DA), an umbrella term referring to addiction to any type of digital media, such as the internet, smartphone, digital games, and social media, is a significant factor influencing students' academic achievement (AA). Many scholars have contributed to this line of research from around the world. Nevertheless, the literature lacks a holistic investigation of how the DA–AA research field evolved, which could guide future studies. The current study aims to address this void and conducts a combined bibliometric and science mapping analysis of research addressing the relationship between DA and AA. Data were retrieved from the WoS database, considered one of the optimal databases for such studies with its comprehensive coverage of quality journals. One hundred eighteen articles were included in the final dataset and were analyzed using the SciMAT software, which allowed analysis over three consecutive periods and yielded comparable results regarding the conceptual and thematic evolution of the DA–AA domain. The results indicated an increased research interest in the topic, especially during the last five years. The science mapping analysis showed that the most-studied types of addiction were smartphone addiction for the first two periods and social media addiction for the last. Research in the DA–AA domain which focused on understanding the addictive use of smartphones during the first period, evolved to address factors such as self-efficacy or life satisfaction leading to smartphone addiction and lower grades. During the third period, the number of factors addressed gained significant variety and covered family-related and personal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to adapt the "Digital Addiction Scale for Teenagers" developed by Seema, Heidmets, Konstabel and Varik-Maasik (2022) into Turkish. The study was carried out with 599 students studying in secondary and high schools. Within the scope of translation and language validity, firstly, the scale was translated from its original language, English, to Turkish. Afterwards, the Turkish statements were finalized with the consensus of the field and language experts. As a result of the CFA analysis, it was found that the scale had model fit (1²/Sd= 128.614/28=4.59; p<.05, CFI=.96; TLI=.95; GFI=.95; SRMR=.036; RMSEA=.079). It was concluded that factor load values varied between .56 and .79, and item-total test correlations varied between .62 and .79. As a result of the correlation analysis conducted for similar scale validity, it was determined that there was a high level of positive relationship between the "Digital Addiction Scale for Teenagers" and the "Digital Game Addiction Scale" at the level of .62 and with the "Internet Addiction Scale" at the level of .79. It was determined that the scale was able to distinguish between the upper and lower 27% groups (p<.05) and Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was calculated as .90. According to the validity and reliability analyses, it can be said that the Turkish form of the scale is valid and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, studies highlight the augmentation in the use of Internet and smartphone, especially among the adolescents. However, little is known about the effect of technology addiction on adolescent mental health following reopening of the schools. Aim: The study aims to assess the level of technology addiction, life skills, and mental health impact among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional research was conducted from July 2021 to October 2022. A nonprobability convenience sampling was used to collect the data from 352 adolescents using an Internet addiction test, smartphone addiction scale, life skills scale, and patient health questionnaire. Results: More than half of the adolescents were moderately addicted to the Internet and Smartphone. Three-fourth of the adolescents had mild-to-moderate depression. Those with moderate life skills were found to be moderately addicted to the Internet and Smartphone. Religion was found to be associated with Internet addiction. Age, religion, and parental monthly income were significantly associated with smartphone addiction among adolescents. Furthermore, class and life skills were significantly associated with depression among adolescents. Conclusion: Early-life skills training can help to prevent dysfunctional Internet use and mental and psychological problems among adolescents in schools and colleges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nursing students are valuable human resources in the health profession. During their student life, they face a great deal of stress, which can negatively affect their mental and physical health, as well as their academic performance. However, there is limited evidence regarding stress, anxiety, and depression among nursing students in Karnataka, India. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among nursing students and determine the factors associated with these conditions amongst them. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Community Medicine, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru from March 2022 to August 2022, involving 200 undergraduate nursing students. The study included nursing students from the 1st year to the 4th year. Data was obtained using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire consisting of two parts: the first part collected details on sociodemographic and academic parameters, and the second part assessed psychological parameters using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) 21 Scale. Data were entered into an excel spreadsheet and presented as frequencies and percentages using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 24.0. Factors associated with stress, anxiety, and depression were analysed using the Chi-square test, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 200 nursing students participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 20.22 years, with a standard deviation of 1.42. A total of 39 students (19.5%) reported moderate stress, while 26 (13%) reported severe to extremely severe stress. Approximately 35 (25%) participants experienced moderate to severe depression. Among the participants, 63 (31.5%) reported moderate anxiety, while 78 (39%) reported severe to extremely severe levels of anxiety. Factors such as academic year, lack of time for leisure activities, financial crisis in the family, and addiction to internet use were significantly associated with stress (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was high among nursing students in the study. These statistics can help nursing educators understand the challenges faced by nursing students and assist in promoting the quality of clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe sleep disturbances and identify associated factors in adolescent smokers in South Korea. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and recruited 520 students aged 12-17 years from 35 schools to participate in a smoking cessation program. To compare demographic, smoking-related, psychological, and problem behavior characteristics between adolescent smokers with sleep disturbances and without sleep disturbances, chi-square tests and independent t tests were used. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with sleep disturbances in adolescent smokers. Approximately 45.8% of adolescent smokers reported sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances were more frequent among girls than among boys and more frequent among high school students than among middle school students. Other factors included cigarette use within 1 month, nicotine dependence, smoking cessation self-efficacy, depression, Internet addiction, and suicidal ideation. Gender (girls), school level (high school), depression, Internet addiction, and daily cigarette use (11 or more cigarettes) were significantly associated with sleep disturbances in adolescent smokers. To improve the sleep quality of adolescent smokers, health professionals should focus on sleep disturbances and associated factors and develop appropriate intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In current digital era, adolescents' Internet use has increased exponentially, with the Internet playing a more and more important role in their education and entertainment. However, due to the ongoing cognitive, emotion, and social development processes, youth and adolescents are more vulnerable to Internet addiction. Attention has been paid to the increased use of Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic and the influence of Internet literacy in prevention and intervention of Internet addiction. Methods: The present study proposes a conceptual model to investigate the links between Internet literacy, Internet use of different purpose and duration, and Internet addiction among Chinese youth and adolescents. In this study, N = 2,276 adolescents studying in primary and secondary schools in East China were recruited, and they completed self-reports on sociodemographic characteristics, Internet literacy scale, Internet use, and Internet addiction scale. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between Internet use and Internet addiction. To be specific, the duration of Internet use significantly and positively affected Internet addiction. With different dimensions of Internet literacy required, entertainment-oriented Internet use had positive impact on Internet addiction, while education-oriented Internet use exerted negative effects on Internet addiction. As for Internet literacy, knowledge and skills for Internet (positively) and Internet self-management (negatively) significantly influenced the likelihood of Internet addiction. Discussion: The findings suggest that Internet overuse increases the risk of Internet addiction in youth and adolescents, while entertainment-oriented rather than education-oriented Internet use is addictive. The role of Internet literacy is complicated, with critical Internet literacy preventing the development of Internet addiction among youth and adolescents, while functional Internet literacy increasing the risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the longitudinal trajectories of peer rejection and their predictive effects on Internet gaming addiction among Chinese children. The sample comprised 818 students from Grades 1 to 3 (M = 8.30, SD = 1.11, 51.3% boys). Peer rejection was assessed using peer nominations in five waves over a period of 2.5 years, and Internet gaming addiction was measured using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short Form in the fifth wave. We used a growth mixture model to explore the developmental trajectory of peer rejection and identified four heterogeneous developmental trajectories: low-drop, moderate-drop, moderate-rise, and high-rise rejection. The trajectory categories of peer rejection significantly predicted Internet gaming addiction. In particular, the prediction in the moderate-rise rejection group was higher than that in the low-drop rejection group. This study indicates that exploring the prediction of trajectory categories on Internet gaming addiction is necessary and that it is essential for families and schools to help children establish good interpersonal relationships and to reduce the development of addictive behaviors associated with Internet gaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite studies evaluating the insertion of technology and the use of smartphones in the mental health and learning of medical students, few have investigated these outcomes longitudinally. This study aims to investigate the association between smartphone use and digital addiction with mental health, quality of life, learning, and academic motivation of medical students. Methods: This is a longitudinal study conducted between 2016 and 2018. Socio-demographics, smartphone use, digital dependence (Internet Addiction Test), surface and deep learning approach (Biggs), motivation (Academic Motivation Scale), evaluation of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS- 21) and Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) were assessed. Adjusted regression models were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 269 students were included(51.4% of the total). In the two-year follow-up, despite an increase in the frequency of smartphone use in general and also in the classroom for non-educational activities, no increase in digital dependence was found. In the adjusted models, the frequency of smartphone use and digital dependence were predictors of lower academic motivation and greater surface learning after two years of follow up. However, only digital dependence was a predictor of worse mental health (anxiety, depression, and stress) and worse quality of life. Conclusion: Greater use of smartphones and high addiction scores were associated with worse educational outcomes. Digital dependence was another marker of outcomes in mental health and quality of life. It is important that educators are aware of these negative effects and can guide students on the proper and safe use of these devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID‐19 pandemic period, the level of anxiety and the duration of social media use increased in university students. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and social media addiction in university students. Methods: The sample consisted of 346 university students in Turkey. The data were collected online using the Sociodemographic Data Form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale Short Form and the Social Network Addiction Scale. The data were analysed using one‐way analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney U test, Pearson correlation analysis, chi‐square analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The results showed that the mean coronavirus anxiety score was higher in men than in women. Social media addiction increased as the daily time spent by the students on social media increased. A positive correlation was found between the daily time spent on social media before the pandemic and social media usage during the pandemic. It was concluded that students use social media more during the pandemic than before it and that social media addiction increases as the students' coronavirus anxiety increases. Conclusion: It is important to plan initiatives to reduce coronavirus anxiety to prevent social media addiction in young people. Study Location and Sample: The research population consisted of 1st and 2nd year students who are studying in the Medical Services and Techniques Department of Vocational School of Health Services at a university located in the west of Turkey, during the Fall Term of academic year 2020–2021. Students in this department are studying in anaesthesia, dialysis, first and emergency aid, medical laboratory techniques, medical imaging technique, and medical documentation and secretarial programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet addiction is a pervasive problem among adolescents today. Previous research identifies socialization processes, including parenting, as important for these behaviors. The current study tested the links between perceived maternal monitoring, support, communication, and conflict and Internet addiction among youth, and whether these relationships were mediated by adolescent self-control. It also tested whether these links were moderated by sex. Data were collected from 569 high school students in Turkey (54.1% female, Mage = 15.92, SD = 1.15). Path analyses were used to test study hypotheses. Findings showed that perceived monitoring, support, communication, and conflict were directly associated with self-control and also indirectly with Internet addiction, mediated by self-control. No direct effects were found for monitoring, support, or communication on Internet addiction. Moderation tests by sex found only one significant difference for monitoring. Findings provided evidence that perceived maternal parenting processes as well as adolescent self-control are important in understanding variability in adolescent Internet addiction among youth, albeit indirectly so for maternal parenting processes with the exception of conflict. Thus, improving both parenting, and particularly self-control, appear to be fruitful avenues for prevention and intervention work in addressing Internet addiction among youth. Highlights: Perceived mother-adolescent conflict was directly associated with adolescent Internet addiction, whereas maternal monitoring, support, and communication were not. Perceived maternal monitoring, support, communication, and conflict were consistently associated with adolescent self-control. Adolescent self-control mediated all the links between perceived maternal parenting measures and adolescent Internet addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]