Abstract
The link between autonomic stress reactivity and subjective urge/craving has been less systematically examined in behavioral addictions (i.e. problematic Internet use) than in substance use disorders. The present study investigated whether problematic Internet users (PU) show enhanced autonomic stress reactivity than non-PU, indexed by lower Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and higher Skin Conductance Level (SCL) reactivity during the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), whether greater reactivity is related to stronger Internet craving, and whether problematic Internet usage is associated with some dysfunctional psychological features. Based on their Internet Addiction Test scores, participants were divided into PU (N = 24) and non-PU (N = 21). Their heart rate and skin conductance were continuously recorded during baseline, social stressors, and recovery. Craving for Internet usage were collected using a Likert scale before and after the TSST. The SDNN, an overall measure of HRV, was significantly lower in PU than non-PU during baseline, but not during and after stressful task. Furthermore, only among PU a significant negative correlation emerged between SDNN during recovery and craving ratings after the test. No group differences emerged for SCL. Lastly, PU endorsed more mood, obsessive-compulsive, and alcohol-related problems. Our findings suggest that problems in controlling one’s use of the Internet may be related to reduced autonomic balance at rest. Moreover, our results provide new insights into the characterization of craving in PIU, indicating the existence of a relationship between craving for Internet usage and reduced autonomic flexibility.
Highlights
In the last decade, the Internet has become part of our daily life, changing the way we work and communicate
The goals of the present study were to investigate (i) whether individuals with Problematic Internet Use (PIU) show enhanced autonomic reactivity to a standardized psychosocial stress task; (ii) whether greater autonomic reactivity is related to higher craving ratings; and (iii) whether the presence of PIU is associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, impulsivity, alexithymia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and more frequent use of alcohol and cannabis
This is the first study to our knowledge to investigate the relationship between autonomic stress reactivity and Internet craving in PIU
Summary
The Internet has become part of our daily life, changing the way we work and communicate. Many people spend more time than necessary on the Internet and sometimes a psychopathological condition may result. Despite the growing number of studies in this context, researchers are still not yet in agreement on the conceptualization of Internet-related psychological problems, and a specific diagnosis is not included in any established diagnostic system of mental disorders [1,2,3]. Psychological problems regarding Internet use were first described as Internet Addiction Disorder, defined as an impulse-control disorder that does not involve an intoxicant [4].
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