Structural relations between brain-behavioral systems, social anxiety, depression and internet addiction: With regard to revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST)

Abstract

The exclusion of Internet addiction as a diagnostic category in DSM-V does not detract from the importance of this problem. Based on the literature, we have examined a model that comprises neurobiological factors (brain-behavioral systems) and psychopathologies (depression and social anxiety) predicting Internet addiction on a sample of Iranian students (240 females and 213 males), using Jackson-5 Scale, 2nd version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, and Young's Internet Addiction Test. Data analysis showed that r-BIS is not related to Internet addiction, directly or indirectly, and r-BAS is related to Internet addiction only through depression and social anxiety. Finally, FFFS is related to Internet addiction both directly and indirectly; i.e. through depression and social anxiety. In sum, findings dismissed the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST) in favor of the original Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (o-RST). In addition, it seems that the conceptualization of Internet addiction as a secondary disorder is more appropriate than a primary disorder.