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This longitudinal study aimed to identify the role of psychosocial factors affecting smartphone addiction (SA) among Korean adolescents and predict the trajectory of SA based on the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) 2018 to 2020. The dependent variable was SA score as measured by the Korean Smartphone Addiction Propensity Scale (SAPS), and the independent variables were psychosocial factors (attention, grit, life satisfaction, self-esteem, aggression, depression, social withdrawal and physical symptom). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis (adjusted for covariates) results indicated that attention (B = −0.346, P <.001), grit (B = −0.402, P <.001), life satisfaction (B = −0.150, P <.001), and self-esteem (B = −0.099, P <.001) were protective factors for reducing SA score. Conversely, aggression (B = 0.222, P <.001) and depression (B = 0.067, P =.005) were predicted to be risk factors for increasing SA score. A better understanding of the relationship between behavioral addiction and psychosocial development factors in adolescence will assist in the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pervasiveness of the Internet in everyday life, especially among young people, has raised concerns about its effects on mental health, education, and, recently, oral health. Previous research has suggested a complex relationship between Problematic Internet Use (PIU), lifestyles, and oral health-related quality of life, highlighting the need to examine these interactions further. This study seeks to explore the PIU as a predictor of oral health-related quality of life and examine the mediating role of lifestyles between both in a sample of Peruvian schoolchildren. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 293 Peruvian students aged 12 to 17 years (M = 14.42, SD = 1.5), using structural equations to analyze the relationship between PIU, lifestyles, and quality of life related to oral health. The data collection procedure was through a face-to-face survey. Validated instruments measured PIU, lifestyles, and oral health-related quality of life. The study's theoretical model was analyzed through structural equation modeling with the MLR estimator. The fit assessment was performed using the comparative fit index (CFI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR). Results: They indicated significant correlations between PIU, lifestyles, and oral health-related quality of life. A negative influence of PIU on lifestyles (β = -0.30, p <.001) and on oral health-related quality of life (β = -0.35, p <.001) was observed, as well as a positive relationship between PIU and oral health-related quality of life (β = 0.29, p <.001). The mediation of lifestyles was statistically significant, suggesting that they mediate the relationship between PIU and oral health-related quality of life. Conclusions: The study confirms that PIU can negatively affect adolescents' oral health-related quality of life, mediated by unhealthy lifestyles. It underlines the importance of promoting balanced Internet use and healthy lifestyles among young people to improve their oral well-being. [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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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BACKGROUND: Internet addiction and physical inactivity are often a major public health problem. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and physical activity (PA) levels of university students in a province in eastern Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 638 students. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were administered. Chi-square, independent sample t-test, correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA), Tukey HSD test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: 64.6% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 20.4±2.4 and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 22.3±3.5. 83.4% of the participants were identified as those asymptomatic, 15.2% showed limited symptoms, and 1.4% were pathological internet users according to IAT. A statistically significant difference was found between IAT scores and gender, mother's education level, father's education level, academic success, smoking status, and alcohol use (p < 0.05). According to IPAQ scores, 28.1% of the students were inactive, 56.3% were moderate PA and 15.7% had vigorous PA levels. IPAQ total scores of male participants, smokers, and participants with exercise habits were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05). The mean score IAT and IPAQ was found to be 30.9±18.9 and 1697.7±1847.0. A negative, significant correlation was found between students' PA and IA levels (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: It has been observed that IA negatively affects PA. Seminars, conferences, and panels on the internet and physical activity should be organized for university students. [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: 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]

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]

The aim of this work was to describe the psychological consequences derived from the use and abuse of the Internet and video games. A sample of 260 university students (146 Women and 114 Men) of different academic degrees (Baccalaureate 15%, Bachelor's Degree 76.5%, Postgraduate 8.5%) with an average age of 20 years (S.D. = 2.8) was evaluated, whose main activity is to study (71.6%), through the instruments: 1) Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales- DAAS-21 (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995, 2) Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-CUPI (Pulido-Rull, Escoto)de la Rosa, Gutiérrez-Valdovinos, 2011), and 3) Video Game Dependency Test (Choliz and Marco, 2011; Validation of Sánchez, Telumbre, Castillo and Silveira, 2020). The results were collected through the in-person application of these instruments, with prior informed consent. Extremely high levels of anxiety and depression and high levels of stress were found; These factors were related to excessive use of the Internet; specifically in aspects such as loss of control, recognition of the lack of control and evasion. In the sample studied, no serious psychological consequences were found regarding the use of video games. The implications of these results are discussed, as well as their limitations, and the importance of using appropriate intervention strategies that help people use new technologies in a healthy way to preserve their mental health. [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]

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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]

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]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine a hypothesized model which considers the role of neuro-psychological components (brain-behavioral systems) and emotional insecurity and emotional flexibility in Internet addiction. Method: The design of the present study was descriptive-correlational and structural equation modelling. The statistical population of the study included Iranian adolescents who lived in Shiraz in 2021. Among them, 587 adolescents (318 girls and 269 boys) were selected by cluster sampling method. Subjects filled Jackson's five-factor scale, Young's Internet addiction, emotional flexibility, and emotional insecurity questionnaires. After data collection, the relationship between variables was examined using SPSS and Lisrel software. Results: The findings suggest that the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) neither directly nor indirectly had a significant correlation (P> 0.05) with Internet addiction; the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) is only directly related to addiction to the Internet (P <0.01 and β = -0.18), and finally the Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS) is directly (P <0.01 and β= 0.29); and indirectly (P <0.05 and β= 0.09) correlated with the mediating role of emotional insecurity and emotional flexibility, linked to Internet addiction. Conclusion: Among Gray's brain-behavioral subsystem theory, the FFFS is the strongest predictor of Internet addiction (both directly and indirectly, by influencing emotional flexibility and emotional insecurity), which may indicate that avoidance behavior plays a crucial role in Internet addiction. [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]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Problematic internet use (PIU) negatively affects adolescents' lives biopsychosocially.There is limited qualitative research examining the problem of PIU in adolescents. These studies focused more on the non‐clinical population. Adolescents' perceptions of the internet, their thoughts, feelings and behaviours in situations where they can and cannot access the internet have rarely been examined. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: This research provides an in‐depth look at the experiences of adolescents with PIU in a clinical population.Unlike previous studies, adolescents mentioned that they turned to the internet for reasons such as lack of activity, their need to spend time with their friends and better getting along with people they met on the internet. They also described a world without internet as apocalypse, desert and grave.In this study, a holistic emphasis was placed on the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of adolescents in situations where they could and could not access the internet. This may contribute especially to mental health nurses working in clinics in terms of understanding the thought‐emotion and behaviour patterns of adolescents with PIU.Adolescents also stated that their lives were affected positively and negatively as a result of PIU. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health nurses can use activity therapy, behaviour modification: social skills, coping enhancement, parent education: adolescent, self‐awareness enhancement, cognitive restructuring, emotion and behaviour management interventions to reduce the risk of PIU and the problems it causes for adolescents. What are the implications for practice?: Mental health nurses can use activity therapy, behaviour modification: social skills, coping enhancement, parent education: adolescent, self‐awareness enhancement, cognitive restructuring, emotion and behaviour management interventions to reduce the risk of PIU and the problems it causes for adolescents. Introduction: Studies on problematic internet use (PIU) are mostly on the non‐clinical population. Understanding the experiences of adolescents with PIU is critical in shaping nursing interventions and improving the quality of care. Aims: A comprehensive description of the experiences of adolescents with PIU. Methods: In the study, descriptive phenomenology design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. Data were collected using a personal information form and a semi‐structured interview form and analysed using Giorgi's phenomenological method (n = 11). Results: As a result of the content analysis, five main themes were identified: reasons of PIU, internet‐related perceptions, experiences in accessing the internet, experiences in not being able to access the internet and consequences of internet use. Discussion: Different from previous studies, adolescents stated that they use the internet because of their lack of activity and their need to spend time with their friends. They stated that when they could not access the internet, they thought they could never live without the internet and started quarrel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This is one of the few studies that examines adolescent Internet addiction (IA) among Middle Eastern population. The purpose of this study is to determine whether adolescents' family and school environments play a role in their Internet Addiction. Methods: We conduced a survey that included 479 adolescents in Qatar. The survey collected demographic data, the Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ), the Brief Family Relationship Scale (BFRS) and questions from the WHO Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey that assess school environment, academic performance, teacher support, and peer support of the adolescents. Factorial analysis, multiple regression, and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Family environment and school environment were negative and significant predictors of adolescent Internet addiction. The prevalence rate was 29.64%. Conclusion: Results imply that interventions and digital parenting programs should not only target adolescents, but also include entities in the developmental environment of adolescents, i.e. their family and school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing development of science and technology, the Internet has become an essential part of people's daily lives providing great convenience. However, the Internet also leads to problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents, which has attracted increasing attention from the academic community. Peer victimization is a pervasive stressor among adolescents and has been proven to lead to a series of mental health challenges. Although the association between peer victimization and PIU has been well documented, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to understand how and when peer victimization increases the risk of PIU among adolescents. Building on Agnew's general strain theory, this study hypothesized that depression mediates the relationship between peer victimization and PIU and humor moderates the mediating model. To examine these hypotheses, 469 middle school students were recruited to complete a series of questionnaires on peer victimization, depression, humor, and PIU. The results showed that depression partially mediated the relationship between peer victimization and PIU. A moderated mediation analysis indicated that humor moderated the indirect pathway, consistent with the reverse stress-buffering model, the relationship between peer victimization and depression was stronger for adolescents with high humor. However, the relationship between depression and PIU was weaker in adolescents with high humor, which is in line with the stress-buffering model. These findings could be of significance in understanding the underlying mechanism of PIU associated with peer victimization and provide a new perspective for preventing PIU among adolescents, especially those experiencing peer victimization. The limitations and considerations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facebook has grown to be one of the most widely used communication platforms. A new condition linked with widespread use has emerged with its expanding popularity: Facebook addiction. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used in the current study, in two randomly selected villages (Elmanial and Batra) and one town (Talkha city) affiliated with Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. Data were collected from women only through using a self-administered socio-demographic questionnaire, Facebook addiction scale, Beck depression inventory-II, and emotional regulation scale. The study found 83.7% of the studied women reported moderate emotional regulation; 27.9% had moderate Facebook addiction, and 23.9% reported mild depression. The study concluded there was a significant negative correlation between Facebook addiction and emotional regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the relationships between depression, self-esteem, fear of missing out, online fear of missing out, and social media addiction in a sample of 311 Italian young adults (66.2% women and 33.8% men), ages 18–35 yrs. (M = 23.5; SD = 3.5). The following hypotheses were tested: that depression is positively correlated with fear of missing out, online fear of missing out, and social media addiction, while being significantly negatively correlated with self-esteem; that depression, self-esteem, fear of missing out, and online fear of missing out explain social media addiction scores; that self-esteem mediates the relationship between depression and social media addiction; and that, among Italian participants between the ages of 18 and 35, younger women report higher scores on fear of missing out, online fear of missing out, and social media addiction. Results strongly supported the hypotheses. Taken together, our findings not only contribute to the growing body of research on online addictive behaviors and individuals' well-being, but also provide support for prevention programs in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media addiction has become a serious public health concern due to its adverse psychological effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of social media addiction among medical students in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was designed. Participants (n = 326) from King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia completed the sociodemographic information, patient health questionnaire-9 scale, and the generalized anxiety disorder-7 tool to measure explanatory variables. The Bergen social media addiction scale (BSMAS) was used to measure social media addiction. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to investigate the predictors of social media addiction. The prevalence of social media addiction among study participants was 55.2% (mean BSMAS score: 16.6). According to the adjusted linear regression, male students had higher social media addiction scores than their female counterparts (β = 4.52, p < 0.001). Students' academic performance was negatively associated with social media addiction scores. Moreover, students with symptoms of depression (β = 1.85, p = 0.005) or anxiety (β = 2.79, p = 0.003) had a higher BSMAS score compared to their counterparts. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to identify the causal factors of social media addiction, which would assist intervention initiatives by policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between childhood trauma (CT) and dissociation can contribute to psychiatric disturbances. We explored this phenomenon in relation to behavioral addictions (BAs) in a sample (n = 633) of young adults (age: 18–34 years). Self-report measures investigating CT, dissociation, and symptoms related to gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, problematic social media use, exercise dependence and compulsive buying were used. Scales related to BAs were summarized into a single measure ("Total Behavioral Addiction Index" – TBAI) for inferential analyses. A model analyzing the direct and indirect effects of CT on TBAI through the mediation of pathological dissociation was performed, controlling for confounding factors. Measures on CT, dissociation, and TBAI were significantly associated with each other (all p <.001). The total effect of CT on TBAI was significant (B = 0.063; CI: 0.045; 0.081); pathological dissociation significantly mediated such association (B = 0.023; CI: 0.013; 0.036). Our findings support the possibility that the interaction between CT and dissociation contributes to increase disturbances related to BAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet addiction is a growing behavioral health problem in modern societies. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) and social media addiction (SMA) and their relationship with sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, and internet usage patterns among medical students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 medical students in a medical faculty, in Istanbul. Self-report questionnaires comprised sociodemographic status, lifestyle habits, internet and social media usage behavior, the Young Internet Addiction Test-short form (s-IAT), and the Bergen Social media addiction scale. The total prevalence of IA was 16.1% (11.8–20.4%), 17.2% (12.8–21.7%) in males and 14.8% (10.7–19.0%) in females. The total prevalence of SMA was 6.1% (3.3–8.9%), 4.8% (2.3–7.3%) in males and 7.4% (4.3–10.5%) in females. No significant difference was found between the sexes in terms of IA and SMA. IA was higher in grade 3 students than in grade 6 students. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that reading books at least once per month, high life satisfaction, performing physical activity at least twice per week, and using the internet for communication purposes were independent preventive factors for IA. The current study shows that IA and SMA are common in medical school students. Moreover, IA is associated with socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle habits such as reading books, life satisfaction, and physical activity. To protect medical school students from IA and develop healthy behaviors, it is necessary to develop prevention strategies and design and implement awareness and education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people with intellectual disability seem to be more vulnerable on the Internet than youth in general. Therefore, it is important to investigate not only their strategies for managing negative online experiences but also how they experience Internet-related support. This study applies a qualitative and interpretative approach drawing on individual and pair interviews with pupils in upper secondary special programme schools in Sweden. A thematic analysis resulted in the following themes: 'a lesson to be learned', 'the important role of siblings', 'the dilemma of support' and 'negotiation of control'. With regard to negative online experiences, strategies for managing privacy, safety and risky situations are understood as problem-focused coping and efforts to manage external/internal demands. The central role of social networks is emphasised with regard to Internet-related support. It is concluded that online restrictions may discourage open dialogue. A perspective of positive risk-taking, focusing on opportunities rather than risks, is advocated. This article investigates the participants' perspectives in their own words. The key contribution of the paper is finding out how young people with intellectual disability in Sweden handle negative online experiences and how they experience Internet-related support. The study highlights a range of themes from lessons learned and sibling relationships to problems of support and control that reflect many social and individual characteristics. The participants use different coping strategies to handle negative online experiences. They seem to manage privacy and safety on their own and refuse control in risky situations. With regard to Internet-related support, the participants prefer turning to their social network (family and friends) rather than public authorities (teachers in school). This type of research is important because it focuses on young people with intellectual disability and their vulnerability online as well as the development opportunities for Internet-related support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The frequency of using the internet and social media increases in childhood, which leads to a decrease in physical activity. We aimed to investigate the effects of such technological applications on the internet and food addiction in obese and nonobese children. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 obese and 180 nonobese children were included in this study. Turkish version of the Parent-Child Internet Addiction Scale and Dimensional Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0 for Children were applied. Results: The frequency of internet addiction in the sample was 1.7%. The mean internet addiction scores of males were found to be significantly higher than females (34.9 ± 20.6, 26 ± 17.2; P < .001). Children, who used the internet for information and homework had significantly lower internet addiction scores and food addiction scores, respectively (P = .002, P = .009). Watching movies, TV series, or sports events (P < .001, P = .009); following food recipes, campaigns, or advertisements (P = .04, P < .001); and eating snacks in front of the screen (P < .001, P < .001) were found to cause higher internet addiction scores and food addiction scores. It was observed that body mass index showed a positive and significant correlation with internet addiction scores and food addiction scores. Conclusions: Internet addiction and social media applications were found to be significantly related. Considering the relationship between body mass index and addiction, the effect of internet usage style and internet addiction and food addiction on obesity is striking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet usage among adolescents has increased substantially over the last years, concurrently with emerging concerns that an abusive use is associated with detrimental health outcomes. Our objective was to examine the association between age of first exposure and heavy Internet usage in different domains. Data from the 2018 wave of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) were retrieved. This included a total of 317,443 participants (49.2% boys) aged 15 and 16 years from 52 countries. Data from both Internet use and age of first exposure were retrieved and used to conduct metanalyses with random effects. Adolescents reporting an age of first exposure of Internet usage at ≥ 13 years old had the lowest odds for heavy Internet use (> 2 h/day) (reference group: ≤ 9 years) during weekends (odds ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.35–0.48]), weekdays (odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.37–0.56]), and during school time (odds ratio (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.77–0.96]) even when adjusted for sex, socioeconomic status, and country. A stronger association was observed in adolescents from South and Central America and Eastern Mediterranean regions in the domain of weekends and weekdays. The results indicate that early internet exposure is associated with heavy Internet use, particularly during weekends and weekdays, regardless the geographical region, in a linear fashion. Further research should aim to examine if better education and parental control in specific areas may avoid excessive Internet use that possibly have a negative influence on both mental and physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, computer games have taken a prominent place in the lives of children and teenagers, and statistics indicate that online gaming constitutes the majority of computer usage. Numerous studies have explored the detrimental effects of internet gaming on individuals. However, to date, no comprehensive research has been conducted specifically investigating the effect of online gaming on academic performance within a medical education context. To address this gap, we have conducted this study, focusing on the impact of online gaming on the academic performance of Iranian medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 185 medical students from four disciplines ((basic sciences, Physiopathology, extern, intern) were selected through a multi-stage sampling method at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) test as well as the grade point average (GPA) of the last academic semester, the average study hours on normal days and near the exam, the efficiency of study hours, the number of failed semesters, and academic satisfaction were assessed. Results: In this study, a total of 185 medical students participated, of which 62.2% (115 students) were females. The prevalence of IGD was found to be 3.8%. Interestingly, the prevalence of IGD was approximately four times higher in males than in females (7.1% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.106). Furthermore, both the overall daily study time (P < 0.001) and the daily study time on days near exams (P = 0.031) were found to be significantly higher in students without IGD compared to those with IGD. However, factors such as age, gender, being native to Mashhad, discipline level, last GPA, number of failed semesters, and satisfaction with education showed no correlation with IGD. Conclusion: These findings may serve as a cautionary signal for educational authorities within the Iranian medical education system. However, to obtain more robust results, further investigations are recommended, particularly in other academic majors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Internet is gradually reshaping adolescents' behaviors in China. It is important to identify the prevalence and risk factors to predict Internet addiction among adolescent psychiatric patients. Methods: The survey was conducted among inpatient or outpatient adolescent patients with mental disorders. All participants were interviewed face-to-face and completed Young Internet Addiction Test and other relevant assessments. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to exam between-group differences of internet addiction. Result: The prevalence for internet addiction (mild to severe) in adolescent psychiatric patients was 80.2%, where the prevalence for "medium and severe internet addiction was 25.5%. Logistic regression analysis identified two independent predictors for "medium and severe internet addiction" including the total score of Adolescent Non-suicidal-self-injury (NSSI) Behavior Function Assessment Scale (ANBFAS) and the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (R2 =0.27, p =.02 for total ANBFAS score, p =.01 for GAD) in psychiatric adolescent patients. Conclusion: The prevalence of internet addiction is notably high among adolescent psychiatric patients in China. Coping for Internet addiction in adolescent psychiatric patients should conclude the coping of NSSI and GAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Throughout human history, there have been structured games among all cultures. Playing can be enjoyable, fun, and relaxing and can be used as a way to escape from everyday life (1). In addition to being a fun pastime, gaming is a social activity in which people with common interests interact with each other. With the popularity of computers, tablets, and smartphones and the use of the Internet in recent years, playing online and offline games has become a common activity, especially for young people, and increasingly, as an important part of recreational activities (3). Numerous studies show that in parallel with the spread of the Internet, overuse of it can lead to problems such as addiction and dependence, so that even Internet addiction is defined as a 21st-century epidemic (4, 5).Online games are a type of Internet games that have become widespread due to increasing people's familiarity with the Internet, especially the youth, increasing the speed of the Internet, as well as the existence of highspeed and wireless connections (6). Addiction to online games is considered obsessive, extreme, uncontrollable, and physically and mentally destructive. Therefore, addiction to these games can be defined as: Extreme and impulsive use of online games, in a way that leads to social and emotional problems, and despite these problems, a person can not control his extreme use of the game Slowly Internet addiction is an impulse control disorder characterized by overuse of the Internet, which is associated with significant functional impairment, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of psychiatric pathology (7). Internet addiction is sometimes associated with suicide, even after modulating potentially disturbing variables such as depression. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental neurological disorder that has three main characteristics: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Hyperactivity Disorder, and Impulsivity. People with ADHD have abnormalities in parts of themselves (9). Some psychologists report about the related between depression, anxiety and symptoms of ADHD with Addiction to online games (10). Also relation is between internet addiction with d reducing of academic hope and sleep quality (20, 21). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: This follows a pattern of health, not illness, and assumes that human psychological problems are related to unhappiness and emotional disorders caused by language, thus helping human beings cope with Cognitive and emotional problems mainly work on language (26). The effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment on sleep quality, academic hope and anxiety in students with internet game disorder, with and without comorbidity of ADHD in Khorramabad in 2020 became necessary. Methods: The statistical population was students with internet game disorder in Khorramabad city. The sample size was 42 people (14 people for each of the experimental and control groups) so that each group consisted of an equal number of students with internet game disorder with and without comorbidity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Therapeutic intervention sessions were performed in 9 sessions of two hours and one session per week. To measure the research variables, questionnaires of Internet Gambling Disorder -20 test, mental health assessment of children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 years (CSI-4), Petersburg quality of sleep (PSQI), academic hope scale (date and waist), and Beck anxiety (1988) and an acceptance and commitment-based treatment package were used. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance in SPSS22 and Smart PLS. Results: The results show that the univariate test is significant for each of the dependent variables in both post-test and follow-up stages (P <0.01). Also, the univariate test is significant only for dependent variables of academic achievement (P <0.05). And is not significant for other variables (P <0.05). Conclusion: The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy on sleep quality, academic hope and anxiety of students with internet gambling disorder has an effect and this effect persists over time. In explaining the present study, it can be said that the results of this study are consistent with the mentioned studies, meaning that the ACT treatment approach has an effect on the dependent variables and this effectiveness has continued and shows that the treatment is based It is an effective treatment approach for acceptance and commitment for different types of behavioral, psychological, mental, mood disorders, etc. Obviously, it is moderated by the individual's relationship to these experiences. Therefore, these people are taught that to the extent that they can accept and tolerate their experiences, they can act independently of the experiences. According to the results of the present study, it can be said that acceptance and commitment-based therapeutic education can reduce the symptoms of Internet gambling disorder and reduce the severity of dependence and thus the desire for treatment in a positive way., Be effective. Therefore, by teaching these ACT skills, an effective step can be taken to treat students with internet game disorder with and without co-occurrence with ADHD. Acceptance and commitment therapy affect the quality of sleep and this effect persists over time. In the explanation of the present study, it should be said that according to Table 4-12, the treatment based on acceptance and commitment on the quality of sleep of students with internet game disorder is effective and this effectiveness has continued in a one-month follow-up period. Explaining the results of the present study, it should be said that the therapeutic approach based on acceptance and commitment of ACT is effective on students' academic achievement with internet gambling disorder and this effectiveness has continued in a one-month follow-up period. Acceptance and commitment therapy has an effect on anxiety and this effect has persisted over time. According to the results of the present study, it can be said that therapeutic training based on acceptance and commitment can be effective in reducing the symptoms of internet gaming disorder and reducing the severity of mental disorders. Therefore, by teaching these treatment skills based on acceptance and commitment, an effective step can be taken in the direction of treating students with internet gaming disorder with and without comorbidity with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, internet use and gaming of adolescents had been elevated. On the one hand, internet use and gaming in the period was a good approach to killing quarantined time. However, the increased use of the internet and game of adolescents may also increase the risk of internet addiction. This study aimed to describe the internet behavior changes of adolescents and to understand the impact of clinical features on internet addiction after the adolescents back to school in COVID-19 period. We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study using data collected through online investigation in China. Six hundred and twenty-five adolescents completed the online survey. Results indicated that internet addiction, having gaming use behaviors, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Conduct subscale scores and the SDQ Prosocial subscale scores before the COVID-19 outbreak were significant in predicting the internet addiction after the adolescents back to school. The proportion of internet addiction and gaming behaviors among adolescents in China was changed across the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical features before the COVID-19 pandemic could predict Internet addiction risk after the adolescents back to school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with sub-threshold autistic traits (SATs) are more prone to develop addictive behaviors such the ones linked to Internet abuse. The restrictions for anti-COVID-19 distancing measures encourage social isolation and, consequently, increase screen time, which may lead to Internet addiction (IA). However, a better quality of life (QoL) may have function as a protective factor against the development of IA. This study wanted to investigate the relation between SATs, QoL, and the overuse of the Internet in a group of 141 university students in the North of Italy. Participants completed a battery of tests. Results suggest that QoL is a predictive factor of IA and that the relationship between QoL and IA is significantly moderated by SATs. This could mean that SATs might represent a risk factor for IA, even when people have a better quality of life. Differences between female and male students are discussed, as well as possible implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: College students appear more vulnerable in developing a dependence on the internet. Individuals with hikikomori are frequently reported to have social contact predominantly via the internet. Objectives: To find the prevalence of internet addiction, gaming addiction, hikikomori trait and insomnia amongst medical undergraduates and to study their association with various determinants. Methodology: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among first to final-year medical students studying at various medical colleges in Indian city from February to May 2021. Data collection was done after obtaining the ethical permission of the Institute. A total of 400 students who gave consent were sent an electronic questionnaire. Results: The mean age of study participants was 20 ± 1.58 years. Internet addiction was present in 189(47.2%) participants, gaming addiction in 128 (32%) students and hikikomori trait was found in 98(24.5%) students. There was a statistically significant association between different grades of insomnia and internet, gaming addiction, and hikikomori trait (< 0.0001) in the present study. Conclusion: Internet addiction was present in almost half of the medical students while gaming addiction was seen in nearly one third of the students. Male gender and hostel stay had a statistically significant association with internet addiction, gaming addiction, insomnia and hikikomori trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Problematic Internet use (PIU) remains a significant social concern in Japan and across the globe. Numerous studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence of PIU, and its association with lifestyle habits and mental health status. To the best of our knowledge, few studies have examined the association between parental attachment and PIU in Japan. Furthermore, preventive measures in Japan have primarily targeted adolescents via education. Therefore, in this study we explored the association between PIU and attachment styles among adolescents to seek a new approach for the development of appropriate, effective measures. Methods: A self‐administered survey was conducted at one private (in 2018) and two public junior high schools (in 2020) in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan. We used the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Experiences in Close Relationships–Relationship Structures (ECR–RS) questionnaire, and the Birleson Depression Self‐Rating Scale for Children (DSRS‐C). Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between IAT scores and attachment styles. Results: Of 1,413 participants (grades 7–9; 700 boys and 713 girls), 39% of the students showed possible PIU and 3% showed PIU. Students with PIU tended to sleep for shorter durations, access the Internet for long hours, and have a poor mental health status (p < 0.01). PIU was significantly associated with insecure attachment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The findings of our study imply that improving attachment styles and developing secure attachment between the child and parent might help mitigate and/or prevent PIU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet addiction (IA) has become a global concern among college students. To explore the psychophysiological mechanism that is related to IA, this study investigated the role of resilience, loneliness, and resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in IA through a moderated mediation model. A group of 108 (Mage = 18.93, SD = 0.914; 68 male) Chinese undergraduate students completed questionnaires of resilience, loneliness, and IA. Physiological data were collected during their visit to a university laboratory. Results revealed that loneliness mediated the negative association between resilience and IA, with resting RSA and resilience interactively predicted loneliness. Specifically, resilience was negatively related to loneliness only when students had low, rather than high, levels of resting RSA. These findings enrich our understanding of how resilience is related to college students' IA and highlight the protective role of resting RSA in this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working remotely from home within lockdown conditions can have implications on wellbeing and how people perceive and interact with technology to coordinate, communicate and collaborate with others. Previous research has shown relationships amongst life satisfaction, loneliness and problematic internet use and, also, between the latter and cyber security behaviours. We re-examine these relationships during the UK COVID-19 lockdown through an online survey completed by 299 participants working from home. The survey included demographics and work conditions questions and also the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale, Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form-6 (PIUQ-SF-6), and Security Behavior Intentions Scale (SeBIS). Structural equation modelling revealed that most notably, loneliness positively predicted problematic internet use, life satisfaction negatively predicted problematic internet use and that problematic internet use negatively predicted cyber security behaviours Implications includes educational and therapeutic interventions which could be applied by employers/governing bodies to target those at risk of loneliness and problematic internet use with the hope of mitigating these experiences and improving cyber security behaviours. The current findings may be especially relevant should waves of COVID-19 or similar crisis are experienced, and when working from home becomes a norm for some organisations and jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in recent years and especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown a significant increase in the problematic use of computer games and social media. Adolescents having difficulties in regulating their unpleasant emotions are especially prone to Problematic Internet Use (PIU), which is why emotion dysregulation has been considered a risk factor for PIU. The aim of the present study was to assess problematic internet use (PIU) in adolescents after the third wave (nearly 1.5 years after the onset in Europe) of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the German region of Siegen-Wittgenstein, all students 12 years and older from secondary-level schools, vocational schools and universities were offered a prioritized vaccination in August 2021 with an approved vaccine against COVID-19. In this context, the participants filled out the Short Compulsive Internet Use Scale (SCIUS) and two additional items to capture a possible change in digital media usage time and regulation of negative affect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of PIU. The original sample consisted of 1477 participants, and after excluding invalid cases the final sample size amounted to 1268 adolescents aged 12–17 (x = 14.37 years, SD = 1.64). The average prevalence of PIU was 43.69%. Gender, age, digital media usage time and the intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were all found to be significant predictors of PIU: female gender, increasing age, longer digital media usage time and higher intensity of negative emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher SCIUS total scores. This study found a very high prevalence of PIU among 12- to 17-year-olds for the period after the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic prevalence rates. PIU is emerging as a serious problem among young people in the pandemic. Besides gender and age, pandemic-associated time of digital media use and emotion regulation have an impact on PIU, which provides starting points for preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The growing popularity of computer games has attracted the attention of researchers in this field. The underlying psychological motives of gamers are important to prevention of disorders related to online gaming. This study was aimed at evaluating the psychometric characteristics of the Iranian version of the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire (I-MOGQ) and its association with Internet Gaming Disorders (IGD). Method: Four hundred and fifty-two Iranian adult gamers (mean age = 21.5 years, SD = 4.14) voluntarily responded to the anonymous survey online. All participants in this study were males. The questionnaires used in this study were MOGQ and IGD Scale. We performed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for MOGQ. Also, the correlation between MOGQ and IGD was evaluated. Results: CFA supports the construct validity of the questionnaire (RMSEA < 0.08). Cronbach's alpha, as an indicator of internal consistency of the questionnaire, was 0.91 (Social = 0.85, Escape = 0.84, Competition = 0.83, Coping = 0.79, Skill Development = 0.89, Fantasy = 0.85 and Recreation = 0.83). Also, the scale displayed adequate convergent validity, as shown by significant positive correlations with IGD scores. The highest correlation was found with the Escape motive (0.57) and the lowest was found with Recreation (0.15). Conclusion: This study showed that the Iranian version of the MOGQ is a valid and reliable scale for identifying the motives for online gaming among young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was set out to explore the structural relationships between fear of COVID‐19, cyberchondria, intolerance of uncertainty, and obsessional probabilistic inferences. The data were recruited online from a community population (n = 1,049) subjected to a confirmatory factor analytic procedure. The structural model specified according to the previous findings in the literature showed that a general tendency to negative expectations in terms of probabilistic thinking was significantly associated with both COVID‐19‐related‐fear and intolerance of uncertainty. Fear of COVID‐19 was significantly associated with cyberchondria. Probabilistic thinking style and intolerance of uncertainty contributed to cyberchondria through fear of COVID‐19 as well. We concluded that a tendency to engage in a probabilistic thinking style and intolerance of uncertainty seems to play role in the etiology of fear of infection and cyberchondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) and explore its related factors among undergraduates during widespread online learning in China. Design and Methods: The online survey was conducted in April 2020. The Young diagnostic questionnaire and academic burnout scale were respectively used to measure IA and academic burnout. Findings: A total of 28.4% of 7562 participants developed IA, which correlated with academic burnout. Additionally, positive attitude and practice towards COVID‐19 and exercise were protective factors of it. Practice Implications: IA was associated with academic burnout, and better cognition of COVID‐19 and positive lifestyles might reduce its risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Selfie' means "A photograph that one has taken of oneself or a self portrait photograph typically taken with a smart phone or digital camera and shared via social media". Considering the dependency on Internet and selfie taking behavior among professional students, the study was undertaken. Aims and Objective- to determine the demographic profile of selfie users and different variables related to selfie taking and posting and its association with risky dangerous selfie. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted among 220 undergraduate medical students were using smartphone. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Male students of middle class family of urban areas were more involved in taking selfie. Females were comparatively spending more time (2-3 hrs) on Internet (χ² =19.494 and p = .001).Total 14% students were taking 3-5 selfie and posted on social media(Statistically significant, χ² =7.882,p =0.019). 19(8.63%) participants admitted of taking dangerous selfie of which male 13(14.0%) more than female 06(8.4%). Conclusion: Age and gender affects the number of selfies one clicks. This is developing a new mental disorder 'selfitis' as well as desire to take dangerous selfie. There is need of health awareness programme, IEC regarding importance of healthy life style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the association between hours spent online (HOS), positive parenting, negative parenting, autism parental stress and Internet addiction among Singapore based boys and girls (aged 6 to 14 years old) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research participants included 59 parents (41 females and 18 males) aged between 28 and 74 years old (mean age 37.95). Results indicated HOS, negative parenting and autism parenting stress predicted 54.8% of the total variance in Child Internet Addiction scores of children with ASD. Autism parental stress was the most significant predictor explaining 25.3% of the total variance with time spent online explaining another 23.5% and negative parenting predicted 6%. Positive parenting was not found to be significant. The findings reinforce the importance of according greater consideration for the role of parents when working with such children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]