Intensive Use Of Internet Research Articles

Does internet use benefit health?-PSM-DID evidence from China's CHARLS.

Amid the increasing global internet penetration, understanding the impact of internet use on residents' health is crucial. This aids in formulating more effective health policies and provides empirical evidence for promoting health equity and improving overall public health. Drawing on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this paper employs the Propensity Score Matching-Difference in Differences (PSM-DID) method to examine the impact of the internet on individual health and further explores the pathways through which the internet affects health. We introduce the research background and significance in the introduction. Then, in the theoretical analysis, it incorporates internet variables into the Becker health demand model to analyze changes in health demand and impact pathways. The empirical analysis tests the theoretical findings, leading to empirical results. Finally, the study discusses the results and provides relevant recommendations. The findings indicate significant positive effects of the internet on both physical and psychological health. These effects are realized through reducing health information asymmetry, lowering health costs, and increasing exposure to health-promoting environments. In the heterogeneity analysis, economic-related internet content shows a significant positive impact on resident health. Intensive internet use adversely affects psychological health. The beneficial effects of the internet on health are more pronounced among older individuals, those covered by medical insurance, and regions with higher levels of digital economy. Based on these findings, the study offers policy recommendations concerning individuals' internet use patterns, the digital evolution of the healthcare industry, and government infrastructure development.

Cost of Being Online for Brain: Changing Working Memory Attributes, Associated Metacognitive Knowledge and Long-Term Memory Processing

Converging evidence from neuroscience and psychological sciences demonstrates that continuous sensory stimulation within the intensive internet use affects brain functioning on a broad scale. This includes essential memory, and metacognitive functions extend to the healthiness and disorders which are critical for the adaptive behavior and learning processes. This study aims to show the relation between intensive internet use and the responds of the brain in neural and behavioral levels through some working memory attributes and associated metacognitive functions and long-term memory processing. Accordingly, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies suggest that being online intensively has an impact on activation levels in Anterior Cingulate Cortex, Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex, Orbitofrontal Cortex, Medial and Medial frontal Gyrus, ventral striatum, and the dynamic connectivity pathways including frontal, medial and parietal networks such as Default Mode Network and Task Network which are important for memory and metacognitive functions. Moreover, intensive internet use habits affect some cognitive skills such as the selection of information cues, manipulation and retention of the information and attentional control; evaluation of one’s present knowledge, and regulation of the learning processes for; encoding, consolidation and retrieval of information for long-term memory processes are the effected features. As a conclusion, intensive internet use has a critical impact on neural processes in modular and whole brain level and could play a strong role for the alteration of memory and metacognitive processes.

Cyberbullying and PIU Among Adolescents Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Association With Adolescents Relationships

This study examines the role of adolescents-parents/teachers/peers relationships as explanatory variables of cyberbullying and problematic Internet-use (PIU) pre-and during COVID-19 pandemic. Questionnaires were delivered to 348 adolescents ages 13 to 18 years ( M = 15.05) at two time-points, provided a rare opportunity for assessment the pandemic effect. A significant increase was found in Internet-usage and PIU from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic-lockdown, although no change was found in cyber-perpetrating/victimization, but a decrease in cyber-witnessing. An increase was found in adolescents-teachers/peers relationships, while adolescent-parent relationships remained unchanged and strong. Intensive Internet-use was a positive explanatory variable for stronger teachers/peers relationships. When adolescent-peer relationships were stronger, the cyber-perpetrating/victimization were lower. Also, reinforcements in adolescents-teachers relationships during the lockdown may have influenced the decrease in cyberbullying.

How the internet and social media reduce government approval: empirical evidence from Russian regions

ABSTRACT In this paper we study the effect of the internet and social media on government approval. On the one hand, the internet exposes people to independent information, which makes them possibly more critical of the government. On the other, many countries use the internet for propaganda, which might increase support for the government. We study these effects via the example of Russia. We utilize data from an existing survey: the resulting dataset contains data on 17,824 individual-level observations from 64 regions in Russia, 2010–2019. We find that more intensive internet use and access to social media are associated with a decrease in government approval. Yet, the influence of social media is more nuanced. The Russian-language homegrown network VKontakte increases public approval of the government. To partially account for self-selection bias, we use the propensity score matching method. Our results remain robust and allow us to make causal inferences.

Использование интернета как фактор рискового поведения молодежи в условиях дистанционного обучения при Сovid-19

We selected Problematic Internet Use (PIU) as our research object. PIU is a behavioral addiction or a type of addictive behavior that can have negative influence on users’ emotional and social functioning. In our case, these users were students who had to learn distantly. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate use of the Internet by students and associated risks by performing the validated screening (Problematic Internet Use – PIU). The first stage was accomplished under routine full-time education; the second stage took place during the COVID-19 pandemic under the forced lockdown in the spring term 2020. Medical students who participated in this pilot study were asked to estimate how much time they spent using the Internet on their mobile devices or PC and to report risks associated with problematic Internet use, both under ordinary circumstances and under forced self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening – PRIUSS, Midwestern University, USA, both paper version and Google survey, to question the participants. Overall, 230 students took part at the first stage of the survey; one year after there were 90 students participating in the survey. The research results show it is truly vital to examine risky behavior since it can pose certain threats for young students’ health due to growing volumes and shares of information obtained from information network channels and Internet resources. In addition, we established an increasing share of risky behavior when using the Internet under restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a substantial growth in the number of students exposed to the intensive Internet use. The scores as per the subscales “social disorders” and “emotional disorders” grew by 2.7 and 2.1 times accordingly. The score describing risky/impulsive Internet use went up from 7.8 to 16.3. All the differences were statistically significant (р < 0.001).

Problematic internet use as youth’s risky behavior under distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

We selected Problematic Internet Use (PIU) as our research object. PIU is a behavioral addiction or a type of addictive behavior that can have negative influence on users’ emotional and social functioning. In our case, these users were students who had to learn distantly. The aim of this pilot study was to estimate use of the Internet by students and associated risks by performing the validated screening (Problematic Internet Use – PIU). The first stage was accomplished under routine full-time education; the second stage took place during the COVID-19 pandemic under the forced lockdown in the spring term 2020. Medical students who participated in this pilot study were asked to estimate how much time they spent using the Internet on their mobile devices or PC and to report risks associated with problematic Internet use, both under ordinary circumstances and under forced self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We applied Problematic and Risky Internet Use Screening – PRIUSS, Midwestern University, USA, both paper version and Google survey, to question the participants. Overall, 230 students took part at the first stage of the survey; one year after there were 90 students participating in the survey. The research results show it is truly vital to examine risky behavior since it can pose certain threats for young students’ health due to growing volumes and shares of information obtained from information network channels and Internet resources. In addition, we established an increasing share of risky behavior when using the Internet under restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a substantial growth in the number of students exposed to the intensive Internet use. The scores as per the subscales “social disorders” and “emotional disorders” grew by 2.7 and 2.1 times accordingly. The score describing risky/impulsive Internet use went up from 7.8 to 16.3. All the differences were statistically significant (р < 0.001).

Comparing Survivors of Cancer in Population-Based Samples With Those in Online Cancer Communities: Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study.

BackgroundMost Western countries have websites that provide information on cancer and the opportunity to participate in online cancer communities (OCCs). The number of patients with cancer that participate in these OCCs is growing. These patients are relatively easy to approach for research purposes.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine the differences and similarities between survivors of cancer in population-based samples and survivors participating in OCCs who use the internet in relation to their illness.MethodsIn 2017, we drew a sample of 539 population-based patients and 531 OCC patients. The population-based patients were sent a paper-based questionnaire, and the OCC patients were sent the same questionnaire on the web. In the questionnaire, we asked patients about their sociodemographics, internet use, sources of information, media use, and wishes regarding future internet use for health care–related purposes, and the effect of internet use on their health care consumption.ResultsThe response rate of population-based internet users was 47% (233/496), and that of the OCC group was 40.3% (214/531). The OCC group had a significantly higher education level (P<.001), was younger (P<.001), had more survivors that were employed (P<.001), and attached greater importance to the internet (171/214, 79.9% vs 126/233, 54.1%; P<.001) and fellow survivors (107/214, 50% vs 60/233, 25.8%; P<.001). Compared with the population-based group, the OCC group reported more intensive internet use immediately after diagnosis, during treatment, and during follow-up (P<.001 in each case). There were similarities in terms of the relative importance that survivors attach to the various sources of information, the topics on which they seek information, and their wishes for future eHealth possibilities. The OCC group reported a greater need to participate in a web-based class or chat with others (92/214, 43% vs 44/233, 18.9%).ConclusionsWe conclude that survivors who are members of an OCC are not representative of survivors of cancer in general. There are significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics, internet use during their treatment journey, internet search frequency during their cancer journey, and participation wishes. Using web-based information and communication can support shared decision-making and may facilitate the active participation of patients during their treatment. For research purposes, it is important to take the bias in OCC groups into account.

Measurements and Analysis of Personal Exposure to RF-EMF Inside and Outside School Buildings: A Case Study at a Kosovo School

Today, society is facing the challenge of intensive Internet use. In addition to real-life situations, intense social media activity has raised concerns about personal exposure to RF-FEM from wireless communication systems, particularly indoors. We present the results of the measurements of personal exposure to children in school. In this case, it is about a large school in the capital of Kosovo-Pristina. This study aimed to obtain measured values that indicate the level of personal exposure to RF-EMF from wireless communication systems and usage of mobile phones and other wireless devices by students and staff during class hours. We compared the measured values on weekdays with those on weekends seeking changes and valid assessments of real-life situations. The exposure levels from Wi-Fi networks and cell phone systems were below the international reference levels and some EMF limits of precautionary laws in sensitive places. The values recorded for a typical Kosovo school were comparable to those in other countries, especially in indoor microenvironments. However, we noticed intense activity on mobile phones during classes. The average power density doubled on weekdays compared with weekends. The intensive traffic of mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices connected to the Internet outside the school building is also detected.

Hygienic Assessment of the Influence of Factors of Digital Environment on Adolescents in the Process of Educational and Leisure Activities

Background: The wide use of digital tools in teaching requires a hygienic assessment of their impact on the health and lifestyle of students. The objective of the study was to assess the impact of the digital environment on the health and lifestyle of adolescents, depending on the duration of use of electronic learning tools in educational and leisure activities. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire-based survey of 111 high school and college students was conducted to establish their screen time in the educational process, when performing homework and at leisure, as well as indicators of wellbeing and lifestyle and health complaints. In addition, learning conditions in college computer classes, such as illumination, microclimate, air ionization, levels of electromagnetic fields, airborne concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde were assessed. Modern statistical methods (Student’s t-test, chi-squared test) and methods of evidence-based medicine were applied. Results and discussion: Almost 66 % of the respondents reported using electronic teaching aids (a computer or laptop) at school three or more times a week and severer symptoms of fatigue after such classes. Complaints typical of adult professional users were not common in adolescents, except for visual impairment over the past year (48.6 %). In computer classes, microclimate parameters were far from being optimal: illumination was lower than the regulated values; the levels of electromagnetic fields, ionization, and indoor air concentrations of phenol and formaldehyde were comparable to the appropriate standard values. We observed a high involvement of adolescents in the use of digital tools at home for educational purposes and especially at leisure. The intensive use of Internet (more than 4 hours a day) was associated with frequent complaints of headaches, visual impairment, sleep disorders, and poor self-assessment of the physical shape that may be attributed to the established decreasing number of teenagers engaged in physical culture and sports. Conclusion: The length of time spent in the Internet space for homework and leisure activities affects students’ health and lifestyle. This indicates the need to develop and implement preventive and educational programs for adolescents in order to minimize health risks posed by digital environment and confirmed by outcomes of distance learning.

Impact of Cybersex and Intensive Internet Use on the Well-Being of Generation Z: An Analysis Based on the EPOCH Model

This study aimed to assess the impact of Internet use on the well-being and health behaviours of Generation Z members by evaluating the associations between the Internet habits (i.e. intensive Internet use and cybersex use), aspects of psychological well-being, and negative emotions of Italian Generation Z members. Study participants comprised 113 Italian youth who were divided into two groups: a cybersex user group (n = 48) and an intensive Internet user group (n = 65). The psychological battery applied was composed of the EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-Being and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale test. This initial investigation suggests that there are no significant differences in positive psychological patterns between intensive Internet users and cybersex users. However, this study demonstrated gender differences in their levels of engagement. Overall, women appeared to be more focused on life activities, and men were more active and performance oriented. Despite this, intensive Internet use and cybersex use were not found to be related to emotional fragility. Our findings suggest that cybersex use and intensive Internet use may not necessarily be related to mental health risks; on the contrary, these might even be related to positive psychological patterns.

Exploring the Relationship Among Free-Time Management, Leisure Boredom, and Internet Addiction in Undergraduates in Taiwan.

Internet addiction has become a significant concern with a variety of negative outcomes among the younger generation in today's modern society and has been investigated and discussed in many studies. Of all the influencing factors, boredom has been proven to be a common trigger for intensive internet use and can result in particularly problematic internet use behavior. A number of studies have indicated the importance of time use as a treatment. Thus, using free time well might serve as a solution to reduce leisure boredom and internet addiction. The current study aims to test a structural model with a sample of university students to investigate the relationships among free-time management, leisure boredom, and internet addiction. The sample consisted of 475 undergraduate students. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed between March 1 and April 30, 2016. Totally, 446 valid questionnaires were received. The structural model was examined after the competent measurement model was processed. Results from the structural model supported that free-time management decreases boredom during leisure time, and boredom during leisure time enhances internet addiction. Furthermore, leisure boredom was revealed to play a role as a distinct mediator between free-time management and internet addiction. Finally, managerial applications and recommendations for future research are suggested based on the research results.

Bullying victimization and poor relationships with parents as risk factors of problematic internet use in adolescence

During adolescence, adolescents move away from their parents in order to establish their place in society. Therefore, there are two arenas that have a significant impact on adolescents; the family and the social one. Adolescents’ intensive internet use leads to concern about Problematic Internet Use (PIU) (Siciliano et al., 2015). Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine if stressful environments such as being a victim to bullying and/or cyberbullying, and poor relationships with parents could be linked directly and indirectly to PIU. Data was collected from a representative sample of 1000 Israeli adolescents aged 12–17 (53% females, average age 14.19 (SD = 1.34)). Measures included demographics, a short problematic internet use test, relationships with parents' questionnaire, cyberbullying scale and, separately, a traditional bullying test. Path analysis model revealed that both poor parent-child communication and being a cyberbullying victim were related to PIU. Correspondingly, Poor parent-child communication had an indirect effect on PIU through bullying and/or cyberbullying victimization. Conversely, both positive mother-child communication and positive father-child communication had an indirect effect on PIU through bullying or cyberbullying victimization, implying that good communication with parents actually can assist reducing bullying victimization and PIU behavior. Limitations, conclusions, and suggestions for further research are discussed.

The role of posttraumatic stress and posttraumatic growth on online information use in breast cancer survivors.

Changes perceived as both positive (eg, posttraumatic growth [PTG]) and negative (eg, posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]) have been associated with intensive Internet use among breast cancer survivors. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the role of PTG and PTSS on the amount of time spent looking for online cancer information, its content, and its psychological impact. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG were assessed in 182 breast cancer survivors by using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and Post-traumatic Growth Inventory questionnaires. Subjects also completed a questionnaire about their behavior when looking for online illness-related information (ie, time spent, type of contents, and psychological impact). Posttraumatic stress symptoms positively correlated with the amount of time spent looking for cancer-related information, including both medical and psychosocial content. By contrast, PTG showed no relationships with the amount of time, but with a predominant search for cancer-related psychosocial information. The psychological impact of online information was associated with participants' levels of PTG and/or PTSS. Whereas PTG was related to a decrease of women's hope, PTSS was linked to the perception of being less conscious or inadequately informed about the illness, thereby increasing feelings of distress. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and PTG show relationships with the amount of time spent online, the type of information accessed online, and the psychological impact of Internet use. Health professionals should prescribe online information according to the psychological response to cancer. There is a need for professional-led online resources to provide patients with timely information as well as support sites to facilitate psychological adjustment.

The partial truths of compensatory and poor-get-poorer internet use theories: More highly involved videogame players experience greater psychosocial benefits

Research has established loneliness as a good predictor of intensive Internet use. But it is not fully understood whether Internet activity lessens lonely individuals' felt distress (known as positive psychosocial “compensation”), or by contrast further magnifies it (the “poor-get-poorer” hypothesis). Focused on online videogames in particular, we use qualitative cultural psychiatric interviews (N = 20) and path analysis of online survey data (N = 3629) to model pathways connecting loneliness, videogame involvement, and positive and negative online gaming experiences. Informed by social signaling theory, we hypothesize that lonely individuals who are intensively involved in online videogames (as opposed to playing casually) will experience more positive play experiences, given the way that such gamers’ costly expenditures of time, energy, and resources “signal” their commitment and also their insiderness to gaming communities, thus fostering for them a greater sense of social inclusion and support. By contrast, lonely gamers who fail to engage videogames in this intensive and socially supportive manner can instead compound their life distress with additional problems related to their online play. Ironically, it is thus gamers displaying dimensions of what seems on the surface to be “addictive” play—but is better described in this context as intensive gaming involvement—who experience the greatest psychosocial benefits from their play. Our research aims to add nuance to debates about how the Internet shapes the mental health of distressed emerging adults in particular. Rather than posing a single solution, we posit that the answer depends on the manner in which lonely and distressed individuals engage with life online.

The impact of daily emotional demands, job resources and emotional effort on intensive internet use during and after work

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become a popular leisure platform. Psychological recovery during leisure time is vital to replenish resources spent at work. The present diary study comprised a sample of employees with high exposure to emotional demands and integrates the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) and addiction literature to examine whether engaging intensively on the internet may be conductive or inhibitor to psychological recovery. A total of 84 employees completed four consecutive daily diary survey three times a day comprising 880 data points. Multilevel analysis was used and results confirmed that intensive internet use was higher on days of high demands and low resources for those with higher baseline levels of compulsive use, and intensive use was weaker on days of high resources. Additionally, intensive use increased recovery experience before bed and the morning after only low compulsive users. The opposite was true for more compulsive users. These findings contribute to both JD-R and addiction theory by showing how the unfavourable effects of daily intensive use on recovery can be ameliorated by daily work resources. It also contributes to the recovery literature demonstrating how intensive internet use can trigger recovery and the circumstances under which this happens.

Screening of Problematic Internet Use Among Spanish Adolescents: Prevalence and Related Variables.

The opportunities and challenges related to Internet use continue to grow, as well as the social concern around problematic Internet use (PIU), online risky behaviors, and the intensive use of Internet, mainly among adolescents. The aim of this study was to conduct a general screening of PIU in a large sample of school-based adolescents in Spain (n = 40,955), providing updated prevalence data of PIU and different online risky practices, as well as rates of Internet and social network use. Differences between problematic and nonproblematic users were explored in terms of demographics, parental control, and motivations for using. The association between PIU and the involvement in other online risky behaviors was also analyzed, as well as the role of intensive use. The findings show that the global prevalence of PIU among Spanish adolescents is 16.3 percent although this is higher among females, those in their late teens, intensive users, and those without parental control. Logistic regression confirmed that both PIU and intensive use are risk factors for being involved in any online risky behavior. A tentative explanation could be that there is a common deficit of personal and social skills underlying PIU, intensive use, and most online risky practices. From our perspective, value-based education and life skills training are the best way to reach responsible and sensible use of Internet among adolescents. Parents, schools, institutions, and adolescents themselves are called upon to actively engage in facing this problem.

Internet Use and Subjective Well-Being in China

Using data from the 2010 China Family Panel Studies, we analyze the association between Internet use and various measures of subjective well-being (SWB) in a sample of 16- to 60-year-old Chinese. Our analysis shows that although intensive Internet use is significantly associated with lower levels of SWB, we hardly observe any associations when the focus is on participation in specific online activities. Nevertheless, SWB depends on the reasons for using the Internet and the extent to which individuals feel that their Internet use is displacing other activities. Our results suggest that, contrary to previous findings, differences in beneficial outcomes (the third level digital divide) do not necessarily arise from individuals’ actual Internet use (the second level digital divide) but rather may result from their subjective perceptions of such usage. Our findings also point to a possible cultural factor that puts Chinese Internet users at psychological risk.

Consumo informativo y competencias digitales de estudiantes de periodismo de Colombia, Perú y Venezuela

El objeto del presente artículo es profundizar en los hábitos de consumo informativo que se perfilan en estudiantes del grado de comunicación en Colombia, Perú y Venezuela, en particular sobre la tendencia a la infoxicación y sobresaturación informativa de su propio ecosistema comunicativo, así como indagar sobre las competencias comunicativas que han obtenido en su formación. La metodología se centró en un cuestionario autoadministrado digital de carácter cuantitativo, aplicado a 1.603 estudiantes de tercer año en universidades privadas de Medellín, Lima y Caracas. Entre las principales conclusiones se destaca un intensivo consumo de internet y redes sociales que supera las cinco horas diarias, con especial atención a que la mayor parte de los contenidos recibidos a través de sus redes son pseudoinformaciones y que la formación en competencias mediáticas para el consumo informativo se hace preminentemente de manera autodidacta.

Self-Medication, Health and Online Orders: An Online Survey

Background: The intensive use of Internet as health guide is proved by a current representative survey. Online orders of OTC pharmaceuticals and prescription medicine represent a special way of utillisation. Intention: The aim of the following study is to investigate motives and backgrounds of self-medication in coherency of health and ordering of OTC pharmaceuticals via Internet. Method: With an online questionnaire developed in particular for this thesis N=104 internet users (mean age M=32,7; SD=11,1 consisting of 73 female and 31 male participants) were questioned concerning the relevant topics. Furthermore, the subjects were interviewed with regard to identification of their quality of life (with the German version of the EUROHIS-QOL 8 item index), their well-being (by using the German version of the WHO-5 well-being index, version II). Results: The wish for (especially temporal) independence from a physicians treatment and the idea of a faster convalescence or prevention of worse ailment could be identified as motives for self-medication. The most frequently selected advantages of ordering drugs via internet were the lower price, organisational aspects such as direct home delivery or saving time without a consultation. In contrast, the lack of advice was often mentioned as a possible disadvantage, just like the risk of undetected and undiagnosed diseases. Compared to participants who did not do any Internet orders, participants who ordered their non-prescription drugs on the Internet were less aware of possible risks and they also used painkillers available without prescription more frequently. However, there were no differences in the total amount of applied OTC medications, which made a drug abuse less likely. Overall, self-medication of the users of Internet forums interviewed within this thesis seemed to be quantitatively and qualitatively appropriate. Conclusion: Self-medication by Internet users in this study seems to be reasonable in a quantitative and qualitative way.

Citizens’ Use of New Media in Authoritarian Regimes: A Case Study of Uganda

AbstractBy subsidizing the costs of civic participation, the use of the Internet use is believed to stimulate participation but there are fears that intensive Internet use causes withdrawal from public life. This paper investigates the connection between the way individuals participate online and offline in authoritarian, low‐income regimes, and the nature of eParticipation among citizens in authoritarian regimes such as Uganda. Based on personal interviews with 116 Internet users, the study found that common drivers of eParticipation, such as low cost, security and anonymity are hard to transplant into the offline world for citizens of authoritarian states such as Uganda. Perceived risks of retribution and intimidation for expressing a particular opinion or supporting a political cause mean that citizen‐to‐citizen participation is the predominant form but still at low levels, while citizen‐to‐government participation is negligible.