Association of Internet use disorder and the use of traditional watches.

Objective: Although compulsive internet use reflects interactions between personal vulnerabilities and situational triggers, adolescents' day-to-day screen time patterns, especially in non-Western contexts, remain understudied. We aim to examine temporal patterns of screen time among Moroccan adolescents and their associations with compulsive internet use (CIU) and sociodemographic factors. Methods: This study uses an intensive daily design to capture short-term fluctuations in screen use across a week, identifying weekday-weekend shifts and other dynamics. A total of 334 Moroccan high school students (Mage = 16.02 years, 52% female) from three public schools in urban and rural areas reported their daily screen time and CIU over seven consecutive days, their platform-specific usage and their scores on the CIUS. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subgroups with distinct weekly trajectories, and latent growth modeling (LGM) was used to assess temporal change. Linear mixed-effects models tested predictors, including age, sex, CIUS scores, school type, device preference, and primary internet activity. Results: Two distinct usage profiles emerged: steady-low and weekend-high. The weekend-high profile was more common among older girls and showed strong Sunday peaks. Mixed-effects and latent class models showed that higher CIUS scores, being female, and the day of the week (especially Sunday, with an increase of 74min compared to weekdays) predicted heavier, multi-platform engagement. Conclusions: Moroccan adolescents show heterogeneous temporal patterns of screen use, with compulsive use linked to heavier, weekend-centered engagement. Prevention efforts should target overall exposure and high-risk time windows, especially on weekends.

Effectiveness of a residential treatment camp for adolescents with problematic Internet use in Japan: A 3-month follow-up pilot controlled study.

Gender differences in problematic internet use and psychological distress among Chinese early adolescents: A cross-lagged panel network analysis.

This work analyses policies related to the Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) and its relationships to adolescent mental health across the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Canada, the United States, and New Zealand. Using a policy path dependency framework, national legislation was examined to assess relationships with PUI. The study maps policy by reviewing governmental legislation and databases, analysing them on macro (societal), meso (market/intermediary organisations), and micro (citizen rights, duties, and protection) levels. It explores legal instruments related to PUI, including data protection, cybersecurity, content regulation, and harassment, offering both historical and comparative analyses across the eight countries. Findings indicate that while several countries have policies indirectly regulating PUI, significant legislative gaps persist relating to adolescent mental health. Most policies address broader internet concerns without specifically targeting PUI or its effects on mental health. Overall, the analysis highlights the need for more targeted public health policies to address the root causes of PUI, advocating for tailored interventions focused on adolescent well-being.

Associations of psychological capital latent profiles with depression and anxiety: A cross-sectional study in Chinese college students.

Why is problematic social media use more prevalent among Chinese adolescents with probable depression than their non-depressed peers? A longitudinal examination of the mediating roles of peer acceptance and loneliness.

Phenotypes associated with problematic online gaming and gambling: A clustering approach among young adults.

Trust in physicians across generations: The role of internet use in reshaping physician–patient relationships

In 2022, Hispanic/Latino men accounted for 26% of all HIV infections in the US (CDC, 2024). Social media can facilitate behaviors associated with HIV exposure, such as sexual encounters. Therefore, understanding the use of social media is relevant to improving the reach of public health strategies that aim to increase HIV testing among Hispanic/Latino Men. This study analyzes data from 668 Hispanic/Latino Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) participants residing in Los Angeles County who responded to a six-wave survey conducted between February 2017 and January 2022. This study collected information at baseline and 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups about the participants' sociodemographic information, internet, and social media use, sexual health, and HIV risk behaviors. We ran a logistic regression to explore the relationship between HIV testing and the interaction between being a native Spanish speaker and the use of social media. Participants who used social media for sexual encounters and were native Spanish speakers were less likely to have been tested for HIV in the previous six months compared to those who were not native Spanish speakers (interaction OR = 0.387; p < 0.01; 95% CI: (0.190, 0.787)). Our findings show that participants who used social media for sexual encounters were also more likely to engage in HIV risk behaviors. Therefore, our results highlight disparities in HIV testing among Hispanic/Latino communities and the need to target native Spanish speakers in HIV prevention and outreach strategies. These strategies should also consider internet and social media use and their relationship with HIV risk behaviors.

Considering the critical role of sleep and stress in mental health, it is important to examine the relationships between these factors and problematic internet use (PIU). The study was conducted to determine PIU, sleep quality, and perceived stress levels among young adults, and to examine the determinants of sleep problems and perceived stress levels. A cross-sectional and correlational design was used in the study of 807 young adults. Data were collected using a personal information form, Jenkins Sleep Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form. PIU, being female, having a chronic disease, income being less than expenditure, and using the internet to listen to music positively predicted sleep problems. Perceived stress levels positively predicted PIU, being female, and having a chronic disease. Interventions for young adults with problematic internet use should use a holistic strategy to mitigate and avoid sleep disturbances and stress.

The present study investigated problematic internet use (PIU) among 61 patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) compared to a cohort of 354 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's dementia. PIU was identified in 22.9% of FTD patients compared to only 0.8% of AD patients (p < 0.001). Behaviors included compulsive social media use, gaming, and online shopping. These findings suggest that PIU may represent an emerging behavioral feature associated with FTD, significantly more prevalent than in MCI and Alzheimer's dementia. Recognizing these digital behaviors could provide valuable clinical insights for diagnosis and management in the digital age.

Digitalisation has changed how we learn and share knowledge. The rapid growth of technology has transformed how people interact with themselves, each other, and their environment, impacting their well-being. Despite increasing attention in this area, existing studies often examine related constructs, such as technostress, problematic internet use, or digital addiction, in isolation rather than conceptualising digital well-being as a multidimensional and integrative construct. This review aimed to systematically map the functional elements of digital well-being among higher education learners and their relation with overall well-being outcomes. Primary literature from January 2018 to October 2023 was collected using the three-phase search strategy according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review guideline. Terms 'digital well being' OR 'digital well-being' OR 'digital wellbeing' AND 'higher education' AND 'learners' were searched from the Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus databases. In this review, functional elements were conceptualised as both characteristics of the digital environment and the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional processes through which learners engage with these environments. All peer-reviewed articles that describe the effects of digitalisation on the well-being of all learners in higher education institutions were included. Out of the 348 articles initially identified, 34 were reviewed, covering 10,838 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 23 countries. Among studies that reported age, participants ranged from 17 to 48 years, reflecting variation across study populations. Eight interconnected themes emerged: digital self-regulation, digital self-efficacy, digital intention, digital conduct, digital engagement, digital support, digital resources, and digital safety. Among these, digital self-efficacy is conceptualised as a central enabling component within the proposed framework, shaping learners' ability to engage meaningfully in a digital environment. Poor self-regulation was the most frequently reported source of adverse outcomes, while digital conduct and safety remained underexplored with limited evidence of their direct impact on well-being. Digital well-being appears to be shaped by the interaction of individual capabilities, behavioural patterns, and digital environments. The proposed framework offers a conceptually grounded synthesis that may inform future research, particularly in the development of measurement tools and context-sensitive strategies to support digital well-being in higher education.

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is prevalent and harmful, yet findings regarding narcissism remain inconsistent. We meta-analyzed 143 effects from 74 studies (N = 68,705) using random-effects models and relative weight analyses to examine global, dual-dimensional, and trifurcated narcissism across PIU domains. Global narcissism was positively associated with PIU (r = 0.26, 95 percent confidence interval (CI) [0.22, 0.30]) and remained significant after trim-and-fill, selection model, and outlier analyses. Subgroup analyses showed a positive association for social media addiction (r = 0.26, 95 percent CI [0.21, 0.30]), whereas the Internet addiction subgroup showed a smaller but still significant association (r = 0.16, 95 percent CI [0.07, 0.26]). Given the substantial heterogeneity across pooled outcomes, these findings should be interpreted as indicating an overall positive pattern rather than uniform consistency across studies. Dimensional analyses indicated that estimated associations varied according to the dimensional composition of narcissism measures. In dual-dimensional models, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism showed similar estimated associations with general PIU (r = 0.20-0.24) and problematic social media use (r = 0.21-0.22). For Internet addiction, however, the estimated association increased from r = 0.09-0.47 as vulnerable narcissism increased and decreased from r = 0.47-0.09 as grandiose narcissism increased, suggesting a stronger estimated role for vulnerability in this comparatively small subgroup. In trifurcated models, interpersonal antagonism showed the strongest positive estimated association across PIU domains, whereas narcissistic neuroticism showed inverse estimated associations in several analyses, and agentic extraversion showed minimal or nonsignificant effects. Conventional study-level moderators were not statistically significant, but relative-weight-based dimensional composition analyses suggested that estimated associations varied as a function of dimensional composition. Overall, these findings suggest that antagonistic and vulnerable aspects of narcissism may be especially relevant to PIU while also highlighting the importance of moving beyond global narcissism scores and interpreting dimensional estimates cautiously.

ABSTRACTAimTo explore longitudinal trajectories of health literacy and identify the associated factors throughout nursing education.DesignA prospective longitudinal design with a four‐year follow‐up.MethodsThe present study was performed at a state university's nursing department in the capital city of Türkiye. The population consisted of 240 nursing students who studied in the selected faculty between 2015 and 2019. Overall, 191 nursing students were included in the final analysis (n = 191). The data were collected via a questionnaire and the Adult Health Literacy Scale. The first follow‐up was performed between September and December 2015. The other three follow‐ups were applied 12 months after each participant's enrollment date, every year from September to December. The data were analysed via the IBM SPSS 25.0 program. Descriptive statistics, Repeated Measures ANOVA, and Linear Mixed Model were used to present the data.ResultsThe mean age was 18.49 ± 0.99, and 86.4% were women. Of the students, 50.8% lived in an urban area, 97.9% were internet users, 38.7% had visual impairment, and 38.2% had glasses. A statistically significant difference existed between the health literacy mean scores over time. Nursing students' health literacy levels decreased among rural area residents and increased among students who had no vision problems and were internet users.ConclusionsThis study suggests that the health literacy levels of nursing students increased during the education period. Internet use, place of residence, and having a visual problem affected the alterations in health literacy levels over time.Relevance to Clinical PracticeFindings can be a valuable resource for nurse educators and faculty managers to produce effective strategies to increase the health literacy level of prospective nurses.Patient and Public ContributionsIt was not appropriate or possible to involve patients or the public in the design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plans of our research.

BackgroundDigital health literacy (DHL) has the potential to improve health among older adults by enhancing access to health-related information and health care services.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between DHL and technology commitment in adults aged 65 years and older, while also investigating possible gender differences.MethodsThe analytical sample consisted of 1824 individuals. The analysis included descriptive comparisons in terms of DHL, technology acceptance, competency, support, and internet use. Multivariate regression models (generalized linear models) were applied in order to test the association between DHL and technology commitment, controlling for internet use as well as health-related and sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsMale and female participants did not differ in terms of DHL (mean score: 3.5, SD 1.2 [men] and 3.5, SD 1.3 [women]; P=.70); however, male participants reported significantly higher technology acceptance (P<.001) and higher technology competencies (P<.001), but less support with regard to technology use (P<.001). Within regression models, only higher technology acceptance (coefficient=0.023, 95% CI 0.006‐0.041; P=.01) and support (coefficient=0.027, 95% CI 0.014‐0.040; P<.001) were significantly linked to greater DHL. The subgroup analysis revealed that DHL was significantly associated with technology acceptance among men (coefficient=0.036, 95% CI 0.012‐0.060; P=.003) but not women (coefficient=0.024, 95% CI 0.008‐0.040; P=.44).ConclusionsAccording to the current results, DHL is highly related to technology commitment. Gender differences should be taken into account when developing and evaluating appropriate interventions to improve DHL by addressing the acceptance of technologies and optimizing support infrastructures.

Functional decline and high disease prevalence increases medication needs among older adults, making medication safety a pressing concern. Yet older adults often face limited access, uneven quality, and comprehension barriers. This study investigates medication information sources and associated factors among older adults in Nanjing, China, to guide improved dissemination and safety strategies. A questionnaire survey based on the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) was conducted among older adults in Nanjing, China. Descriptive statistics assessed use of seven medication information sources, and binary logistic regression identified factors associated with source selection. Among 165 participants, 90.3% used multiple sources in the past six months, averaging 4.7 per person. Doctors (86.7%), non-professional interpersonal networks (68.5%), and professional medical materials (66.1%) were most common, whereas internet use was lowest (32.1%). Higher perceived information-seeking ability significantly increased use of the internet (OR = 2.90), professional materials (OR = 2.68), doctors (OR = 4.46), pharmacists (2.21), nurses (OR = 2.40), and traditional media (OR = 2.37). Source characteristics also influenced choices: information quality affected doctors (OR = 19.33), pharmacists (OR = 2.39), and nurses (OR = 3.16); comprehensibility influenced pharmacists (OR = 2.67), nurses (OR = 3.16), traditional media (OR = 3.01), non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 4.75), and professional medical materials (OR = 5.40); accessibility was associated with traditional media (OR = 3.33) and non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 5.61); and credibility strongly predicted non-professional interpersonal networks use (OR = 19.69). Medication experience and perceived utility were additional predictors. Older adults in China rely on doctors, professional medical materials and heavily on non-professional interpersonal networks, with limited use of internet sources. Enhancing physician-family communication, improving source content, and strengthening health information literacy may improve medication information access and safety.

This commentary complements the arguments by Tam etal. (2025) and offers a comprehensive approach when considering light conditioning in the context of the development and maintenance of problematic Internet use. Thereby, we illustrate the impact of light on humans also within the context of theoretical considerations and empirical studies. We agree with Tam etal. (2025) that there is a need for a better understanding of habit formation within addictive behaviors and we acknowledge the empirical challenges which are proposed in the article mentioned. At the same time, this commentary emphasizes that light should not be considered as an isolated reinforcer, but rather as a complementary component of other conditioned and cognitive tendencies (e.g., use expectancies), as well within the interplay of further processes in addiction research such as craving, attentional biases, and self-control abilities.

Mobile device proficiency is critical for older adults’ well-being, independence, and social connectivity. The Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ) is widely used but shows factor structure inconsistencies across cultures, and no validated Chinese version existed despite China’s unique digital ecosystem. This study translated and psychometrically validated the MDPQ for Chinese older adults. The MDPQ was translated and evaluated with 792 Chinese older adults (mean age = 67.08 years; 70.6% female) using a multi-method approach combining Classical Test Theory (exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling) and Rasch analysis. The Chinese MDPQ revealed a culturally relevant three-factor structure comprising 31 items: Basic Operations, Email Management, and Advanced Functions. Rasch analysis identified monotonicity violations in the original five-point response scale, leading to a collapsing of response categories from five to three points to improve measurement precision. Adequate external validity was demonstrated through medium to large correlations with frequency of internet use and eHealth literacy. The adapted Chinese MDPQ demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, supporting its use for assessing mobile device proficiency among Chinese older adults. The findings suggest that adapting mobile device proficiency measures requires careful consideration of domestic digital ecosystems and usage contexts, as cultural and technological factors influence both the structure and scaling of such instruments.

For adolescents with emotional problems, internet use can provide coping strategies. These can be maladaptive (e.g., excessive use) or adaptive (e.g., engaging in social online activities). However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying both positive and negative outcomes. This study investigates whether a preference of online communication mediates associations between emotional problems and online coping strategies. Survey data from 14,550 adolescents (ages 11-16, 51% female) across 18 European countries were analyzed using mediation models. Emotional problems were associated with both maladaptive and adaptive strategies, and these effects were partially mediated by preference of online communication. The findings provide further empirical support for the model of compensatory internet use among vulnerable populations and demonstrate that similar mechanisms may underlie seemingly divergent outcomes. Implications include digital mental health interventions tailored to vulnerable youth and guidance for schools, families, and online platform providers to foster adaptive internet use whilst mitigating the risks of excessive or maladaptive use.