Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, Lucia Romo, Laurence Kern, Amélie Rousseau, Bernadeta Lelonek-Kuleta, Joanna Chwaszcz, Niko Männikkö, Hans-Jürgen Rumpf, Anja Bischof, Orsolya Király, Ann-Kathrin Gässler, Pierluigi Graziani, Maria Kääriäinen, Nils Inge Landrø, Juan José Zacarés, Mariano Chóliz, Magali Dufour, Lucien Rochat, Daniele Zullino, Sophia Achab, Zsolt Demetrovics, Mark D. Griffiths, Daria J. Kuss, Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid [Madrid] (UCM), Université Francisco de Vitoria = Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz [Madrid, Spain], Centre de recherche en épidémiologie et santé des populations (CESP), Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)-Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP)-Hôpital Paul Brousse-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Paris-Saclay, Clinique, Psychanalyse, Développement (CliPsyD), Université Paris Nanterre (UPN), Hôpital Raymond Poincaré [Garches], Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) (AP-HP), Centre de Recherche sur le Sport et le Mouvement (CeRSM), Adaptation, mesure et évaluation en santé. Approches interdisciplinaires (APEMAC), Université de Lorraine (UL), Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé (CERPPS), Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Toulouse Mind & Brain Institut (TMBI), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J), Université de Toulouse (UT)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université de Toulouse (UT), John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Université de Nîmes (UNIMES), Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale (LPS), Aix Marseille Université (AMU), University of Oslo (UiO), Universitat de València (UV), Geneva University Hospital (HUG), Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospital of Geneva, Université de Genève = University of Geneva (UNIGE), Neuroscience Center [University of Geneva], Hôpital Universitaire de Genève = University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Universität zu Lübeck = University of Lübeck [Lübeck], Oulu University Hospital [Oulu], Université du Québec à Montréal = University of Québec in Montréal (UQAM), University of Gibraltar [Gibraltar] (UG), Nottingham Trent University, European Commission, EC: FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF-627999, Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal, NKFIH: KKP126835, This research was funded by the European Commission, grant title: Technological use disorders: European cross-cultural longitudinal and experimental studies for Internet and smartphone problem uses project, code: FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF-627999. It was also supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (KKP126835)., and European Project: 627999,EC:FP7:PEOPLE,FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF,TECH USE DISORDERS(2014)
International audience; Background: The present study compared adult usage patterns of online activities, the frequency rate of problematic internet use (PIU), and risk factors (including the psychopathology associated with PIU, i.e., distress and impulsivity) among adults in 15 countries from Europe, America, and Asia. Methods: A total of 5130 adults from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, UK, Norway, Peru, Canada, US, and Indonesia completed an online survey assessing PIU and a number of psychological variables (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity). The sample included more females, with a mean age of 24.71 years (SD = 8.70). Results: PIU was slightly lower in European countries (rates ranged from 1.1% in Finland to 10.1% in the UK, compared to 2.9% in Canada and 10.4% in the US). There were differences in specific PIU rates (e.g., problematic gaming ranged from 0.4% in Poland to 4.7% in Indonesia). Regression analyses showed that PIU was predicted by problematic social networking and gaming, lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depression. Conclusions: The differences in PIU between countries were significant for those between continental regions (Europe versus non-European countries). One of the most interesting findings is that the specific PIU risks were generally low compared to contemporary literature. However, higher levels of PIU were present in countries outside of Europe, although intra-European differences existed.