Pathological Internet Research Articles

Perceived Social Mobility and Smartphone Dependence in University Students: The Roles of Hope and Family Socioeconomic Status.

Drawing upon the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use (PIU) and tunnel effect, this study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model from the perspective of social ecology. Specifically, the model investigated the relationship between perceived social mobility and smartphone dependence, with a focus on the mediating role of hope and the moderating effect of family socioeconomic status (SES) underlying this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 718 Chinese university students (Mage = 19.19, 70.2% female) from Beijing, Henan, and Tianjin, who anonymously filled out the Perceptions of Socioeconomic Mobility Scale, Mobile Phone Addiction Index Scale, Openness to the Future Scale, and family socioeconomic status questionnaire. Preliminary data analysis was executed using SPSS 22.0, and the moderated mediation effect was tested using the latent moderated structural equations approach in Mplus 8.3. The results showed that (a) less perceived social mobility was linked with greater smartphone dependence; (b) hope mediated the aforementioned relationship; and (c) family SES moderated the first-stage path of the indirect effect through hope. For university students with low (rather than high) family SES, their level of hope increased with the improvement of perceived social mobility, and in turn, that of smartphone dependence decreased. These findings suggest that positive perceptions of upward social class mobility and hopeful attitudes toward future opportunities and personal development among disadvantaged university students may alleviate their reliance on smartphones. Researchers and policymakers should pay attention to the role of individuals' perceptions of the macro environment in motivating specific risky behaviors among university students. Future interventions are essential to mitigate pessimistic environmental perceptions and foster a sense of hope among university students.

The Effects of Problematic Internet Use and Emotional Connotation on Internet Slang Processing: Evidence from a Lexical Decision Task.

Young people use slang for identifying themselves with a particular social group, gaining social recognition and respect from that group, and expressing their emotional state. One feature of Internet slang is its active use by youth in online communication, which, under certain conditions, may cause problematic Internet use (PIU). We conducted two studies in young Russian speakers (n1 = 115, n2 = 106). In study 1, participants were asked to rate a set of slang and common words using Self-Assessment Manikin. The study revealed that the most reliable predictor of higher emotional ratings was word familiarity. There were no significant effects of slang vs. common words or word frequency. In study 2, we used a dual lexical decision task to reveal the effects of word characteristics and propensity for PIU on reaction time (RT) for Internet slang words in pairs with semantically related vs. unrelated common words. Study 2 did not reveal any significant semantic priming effect. Word frequency was a significant predictor of lexical decision facilitation. Common, but not slang, word valence and dominance significantly affected RT in the opposite direction. Individuals with higher cognitive preoccupation with the Internet responded significantly faster, while those more likely to use online communication for mood regulation responded significantly slower to the stimuli. Apparently, on explicit and implicit levels, in-depth knowledge of Internet slang can be one the PIU markers. The results are discussed in line with Davis' approach to determining the general pathological Internet use.

Prevalence of variants of the FAD-dependent amino oxidase gene in adolescents with internet addiction

The aim of the research was to study the prevalence of rs1137070 MAOA polymorphism in Tuvan, Khakass and Russian adolescents, as well as the degree of their Internet addiction, assessed on the Chen scale. Materials and methods. The study included 559 adolescents of the Angara-Yenisei macroregion (Tuvinians, Khakas, Russians). The type of Internet addiction was assessed on the Chen scale, polymorphism was detected using real-time PCR. Results. It was revealed that the frequency of the TT rs1137070 genotype of the MAOA associated with low activity of the MAOA enzyme is significantly higher in Tuvan adolescents compared to Russians (31.1% vs. 21.2%, p=0.020). Pathological Internet addiction is more often observed among Khakas compared to Russian adolescents (26.4% vs. 15.5%, p=0.028). Thus, it is shown that the presence of a tendency to Internet addiction is potentially observed in carriers of the allele variant T rs1137070 MAOA, and Tuvans and Khakas, like other Asian populations, are more susceptible to the development of pathological dependencies, relative to Russians.

The Impact of Internet Use on the Parameters of Attention in Adults

IntroductionInternet use in the adult population is growing at alarming rates. The latest statistical data show an average internet usage time of 6 hours and 58 minutes (2023), an increase of 1% compared to 2021. Research studies on the influence of the excess use of internet on attention is in its prime years, and clear steps need to be made in an attempt to clarify current hypotheses and to find effective methods for prevention. Nowadays, one of the most powerful influences on attention is the use of the internet, which, more often than not, crosses the line of addiction.ObjectivesThe initial hypothesis is that in the event of exposure to a high number of stimuli, the ability to switch attention to a single task may only be possible at a superficial level. The aim of this study was to assess the impact that excess internet use has on the ability to maintain attention in the adult population. The present study aims to sketch a well-established structure and direction of research in the field of attention and its effects on human functioning.MethodsUsing the DSM 5-TR diagnostic criteria for pathological Internet gaming disorder we enrolled 60 people who expressed their consent to participate in the study. We check psychiatric comorbidities using SCID II. As a method for evaluating changes in the level of attention, we used of the Stroop test. The results were analysed with the SPSS program (version 23).ResultsThe results showed a marked decrease in the ability to maintain attention, without increasing the number of stimuli. Although excessive Internet use leads to changes in attention parameters, research in this area is scarce and incomplete. Currently, most of the published studies focus on a causal relationship between the pathological use of the Internet and the appearance of attention deficit/hyperkinetic disorder, especially in children and adolescents. Although the results are promising, we cannot neglect the multitude of additional consequences of excess Internet use, which these studies targeting a single pathology overlook. Moreover, using the Internet involves exposure to an ever-increasing number of stimuli, which is why switching attention and maintaining it is currently an insufficiently researched parameter. Regarding the impact of Internet use on individual functioning, there is a relatively modest number of studies in the literature that outline a correlation between excess Internet use and various psychiatric comorbidities.ConclusionsThe impact of the research on the general population could be an increased awareness of negative effects and the development of prevention programs.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Риски и угрозы сетевой коммуникации детей в цифровом обществе

The article examines the risks and threats of children’s network communication in the context of the modern digital society development. The author presents analysis of the adolescents’ cybersocialization process, and the classification of content depending on its impact on the children and adolescents’ development (constructive, neutral, destructive). The article describes risks and threats of information-psychological impact exerted using various technologies common on the Internet and in social networks. In addition to information-psychological impact, it is possible to form the mobilization potential of children and adolescents through social networks. The research considers the types of social networks communities capable of having a destructive impact on children and adolescents, as well as technologies for involving children and adolescents in these communities. The author deliberates consequences of the Internet’s negative impact on children and adolescents, such as the formation of mosaic thinking, lack of critical thinking, changes in norms and values, pathological Internet addictions that contribute to the vulnerabilities of children and adolescents.

Internet addiction and health-related quality of life in adolescents: The mediating role of sleep disturbance

Internet addiction (IA) has emerged as a recognized risk factor associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents. However, the role of sleep disturbance in this association remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of IA with HRQOL in Chinese adolescents and to evaluate the potential mediating role of sleep disturbance. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents attending six randomly selected middle schools in Guangzhou, China. Adolescents self-reported their internet use using the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire. HRQOL and sleep disturbance were assessed by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory version 4.0 and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to assess the association between IA and HRQOL. Baron and Kenny's causal steps method was used to examine the possible mediating role of sleep disturbance. Of the 6473 adolescents included, 23.5% had maladaptive internet use (MIU) and 16.6% had pathological internet use (PIU). Compared to adolescents with adaptive internet use (AIU), those with IA had significantly lower scores across all HRQOL dimensions and summary scales. Mediation analysis revealed that sleep disturbance was a significant mediator. Specifically, sleep disturbance mediated 34.55% of the effects of MIU and 34.06% of the effects of PIU on the HRQOL total scale score , respectively. IA was associated with poorer HRQOL, indicating the needs of preventing IA in Chinese adolescents. Additionally, our findings underscored the importance of enhancing sleep quality to mitigate the adverse impact of IA on adolescents' well-being.

Problematic smartphone use among russian and foreign medical students: prevalence, content consumed, associations with other forms online behavior

Aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of problematic smartphone use, the characteristics of the content consumed and associations with other forms of online behavior among Russian and foreign medical students. Material and methods. 296 medical students were examined using the online survey method: 219 Russians (main group) and 77 foreigners (comparison group); 107 (36.2 %) boys and 189 (63.8 %) girls; age 20 [18; 21] years (median [lower quartile; upper quartile]). The structure of online behavior was assessed: adaptive, non-adaptive, and pathological (PIU) Internet use; specific forms of PIU: problematic use of computer games and social networks, mixed and undifferentiated form of PIU. The values of the total score of the scales of the applied psychometric questionnaires were determined. The indicators were compared in the general group of subjects, in groups of Russians and foreigners, including gender. Results. Problematic smartphone use is typical for 14.2 % of all surveyed. The share of smartphone addicts is higher among foreigners than among Russians (27.3 and 8.0 %, respectively), both boys and girls. PIU prevailed among foreigners (16.1 and 7.4 %), they are more often dependent on social networks (34.5 and 2.4 %). Foreign women were distinguished by a high incidence of problematic use of computer games (20.0 and 3.6 %) and social networks (25.0 and 3.1 %), as well as a mixed form of PIU (20.0 and 2.5 %). The content consumed by Russians (boys + girls) was dominated by being on social networks (77.6 Russians and 46.7 % foreigners) and listening to music (50.7 and 31.2 %, respectively). Gender differences in content included more frequent use of social networks by Russian students, both boys (81.1 and 48.1 %) and girls (76.5 and 43.5 %); more frequent listening to music by Russian males in comparison with foreign males (66.0 and 29.6 %) and Russian females (66.0 and 45.8 %). Foreign boys use smartphones for games more often than foreign girls, the preoccupation with smartphone games is higher among Russian women as well. Conclusions. The prevalence of problematic smartphone use, the characteristics of the content consumed and associations with other forms of PIU among Russian and foreign students were established. In our opinion, it is necessary to carry out further research aimed at solving an urgent medical and social problem of timely diagnosis of smartphonedependent behavior and prevention of somatic and neuropsychic health disorders associated with it in young people. The current range of indicators to be studied in people with problematic smartphone use should include an analysis of comorbid psychosomatic disorders (recurrent pain: headaches, abdominal pain, back pain) and features of psychosocial characteristics, taking into account age, sex and ethnic differences of electronic gadget users.

How Peer Victimization in Childhood Affects Social Networking Addiction in Adulthood: An Examination of the Mediating Roles of Social Anxiety and Perceived Loneliness

ABSTRACT Research to date has rarely addressed the association between peer victimization in childhood and social networking addiction in adulthood, much less the internal mechanism underlying that association. By integrating the relational self-system processes model and the cognitive–behavioral model of pathological internet use, our study marked an initial effort to explore whether social anxiety and perceived loneliness independently and/or sequentially mediate the impact of peer victimization on social networking addiction. Using school-based random cluster sampling, we recruited 1,136 students at various colleges in eastern, central, and western China (mean age = 21.98 years, 56.2% women) to complete an online survey. The results confirmed social anxiety’s single mediation effect, perceived loneliness’s single mediation effect, and the serial mediation effect of social anxiety and perceived loneliness between peer victimization and social networking addiction. The findings suggest that certain psychopathological and cognitive factors mediate the effect of peer victimization in childhood on individuals’ symptoms of social networking addiction in adulthood both independently and sequentially. Our research contributes to clarifying how interpersonal stressors lead to psychopathological symptoms, maladaptive cognitions, and, in turn, addictive behavior, which has important implications for theory, interventions, and future research.

Internet addiction among MBBS students at a New Delhi medical college: Prevalence and determinants of a silent pandemic.

The 21st century has witnessed a surge in global internet usage, particularly in developing nations like India. Internet addiction, also known as pathological internet use (PIU) or internet addiction (IA), has emerged as a mental health concern, especially among university students. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IA among MBBS students in a medical college in Delhi, India, and explore the association of IA with sociodemographic and internet usage patterns. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 300 undergraduate medical students. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which included the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) developed by Dr. Kimberley Young. The IAT measures various aspects of internet use, and scores are categorized as normal user, mild addiction, moderate addiction, and severe addiction. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The mean age of onset of internet use was 14.4 ± 1.6 years. Smartphones were the most common devices used for internet access (96.3%), and the mean daily internet usage was 2.9 h ± 0.9 (standard deviation [SD]). The study found that 70.7% of students maintained a permanent login status. The majority of subjects used the Internet for coursework (89.7%) and information searches (88.7%). The prevalence of IA was significant, with 90% of participants being addicted to varying degrees. The grading of IA revealed 10% with no addiction, 54.6% with mild addiction, 32% with moderate addiction, and 3.3% with severe addiction. IA is a prevalent public health concern among medical students in Delhi, with a majority of participants being addicted to some extent. Females showed a higher proportion of addiction compared to males. Certain internet activities, such as social networking and watching online videos, were significantly associated with IA. The study highlights the need for recognizing IA as a public health concern and further research to understand its impact on the youth. Longitudinal studies are recommended to observe the development and progression of IA over time.

The relationship between internet addiction and physical activity levels of university students in a province in eastern Turkey.

Internet addiction and physical inactivity are often a major public health problem. This study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction (IA) and physical activity (PA) levels of university students in a province in eastern Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 638 students. Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were administered. Chi-square, independent sample t-test, correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA), Tukey HSD test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. 64.6% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 20.4±2.4 and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 22.3±3.5. 83.4% of the participants were identified as those asymptomatic, 15.2% showed limited symptoms, and 1.4% were pathological internet users according to IAT. A statistically significant difference was found between IAT scores and gender, mother's education level, father's education level, academic success, smoking status, and alcohol use (p < 0.05). According to IPAQ scores, 28.1% of the students were inactive, 56.3% were moderate PA and 15.7% had vigorous PA levels. IPAQ total scores of male participants, smokers, and participants with exercise habits were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05). The mean score IAT and IPAQ was found to be 30.9±18.9 and 1697.7±1847.0. A negative, significant correlation was found between students' PA and IA levels (p < 0.01). It has been observed that IA negatively affects PA. Seminars, conferences, and panels on the internet and physical activity should be organized for university students.

The effect of mothers' pathological internet use and psychopathology on children's pathological internet use

The effect of mothers' pathological internet use and psychopathology on children's pathological internet use

A cross-sectional study on prevalence of internet addiction and factors associated with it among medical college students in Bengaluru

Background: The use of the internet by medical students is unavoidable since it has transformed medical practice with the increasing use of telemedicine and evidence-based medicine. Because the internet is readily available and reasonably priced, students use it to seek pertinent medical information as well as literature. However, sensible usage of internet is strongly suggested by psychologists and educators since over consumption can lead to related medical and psychological disorders. It can be difficult to identify problematic internet use among college students because they use the internet for almost everything in their daily lives, including communication, shopping, business, travel, research, entertainment, and more. It is also difficult to imagine living without the internet. Aims and Objectives: (i) The aims of the study were to estimate the proportion of internet addiction among the students of a private medical college in Bengaluru and (ii) to identify the factors associated with internet addiction. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out among 225 undergraduate medical students. Young’s internet addiction test was used to assess the prevalence of internet addiction. Results: The mean age of the study was found to be 19.6 ± 1.03 years. Among the 225 students who participated in the study, 16.45% and 4.45% had moderate and severe internet addiction, respectively. It was found that place of residence, internet use per day (hours), monthly data usage, and most common location and time of internet access significantly affect the extent of pathological internet use among medical students. Conclusion: Most of the students showed mild-to-moderate use of the internet. With the availability of high-speed internet on mobile phones, constant monitoring of internet use is essential to prevent severe addiction.

Влияние онлайн-поведения подростков на функциональное состояние центральной нервной системы, возможности коррекции

Aim. A study of the relationship between indicators of central nervous system functioning in adolescents and various types of Internet use: adaptive (AIU), non-adaptive (NIU) and pathological (PIU). Design. Comparative clinical study. Materials and methods. The study included 202 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old (median age: 14 [13; 15] years old), pupils from general educational establishments of Abakhan (Republic of Khakassia) with various online behaviours: 86 (42.6%) boys and 116 (57.4%) girls. The observation groups were formed on the basis of their online behaviour: 71 (35.1%) adolescents with adaptive Internet use, 107 (53.0%) — with non-adaptive Internet use, and 24 (11.9%) — with abnormal Internet use. The examination program involved the study of the following parameters and characteristics: type of online behaviour, quantitative parameters of the simple sensomotor reaction to visual stimulation and its integral characteristics (levels of CNS activation, accuracy, speed and stability of reactions). The functional state of the CNS (optimal, satisfactory, unsatisfactory) was assessed using the characteristics of the simple sensomotor reaction to visual stimulation using Psikhofiziolog computer appliance. Results. In adolescents with PIU, a tendency was revealed to deteriorate certain indicators of the sensorimotor test, which was manifested by a decrease in concentration and stability of attention (in terms of error-freeness and stability) and slower reactions (in terms of speed of action). The results of the study indicate the predominance of inhibition processes in the central nervous system, a state of fatigue, a decrease in mental performance and cognitive activity in adolescents with PIU. Conclusion. The data obtained prove the relevance of the problem of pathological Internet use and its impact on health in the ontogenetic period under study, and indicate the need for its further study in order to optimize preventive and corrective measures in the teenage population of Internet users. Keywords: teenager, online behavior, central nervous system, functional state, visual-motor reaction, correction.

Sense of security and problematic mobile phone use among freshmen: the mediating role of negative attention bias and the moderating role of relatedness needs satisfaction

AbstractBased on the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use and the risk buffering model, the current study explored how and when the sense of security reduces problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) among Chinese freshmen. Specifically, we investigated the underlying mechanism of PMPU by testing a moderated mediation model, in which relatedness needs satisfaction moderated the mediating role of negative attention bias on the relation between sense of security and PMPU. A sample of 458 freshmen in China (76.20% females), with a mean age of 19.58 years (SD = 1.03, range = 16–23), were surveyed using the sense of security scale, the attention to negative information subscale, the relatedness needs satisfaction subscale, and the mobile phone addiction index. Mediation analysis indicated the sense of security decreased freshmen’ PMPU by reducing negative attention bias. Moderated mediation analysis further demonstrated that high relatedness needs satisfaction ameliorated the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen, while low relatedness needs satisfaction sharpened the adverse impact of negative attention bias on PMPU among freshmen. This study highlights the mediating and moderating mechanisms linking the sense of security to PMPU. More importantly, it has prominent implications for the prevention and intervention of PMPU among freshmen.

Polymorphism of the &lt;i&gt;MAOA&lt;/i&gt; Gene (rs1137070) and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes the degradation of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, i.e. neurotransmitters involved in the pathogenesis of pathological addictions, including internet addiction (IA). Gene MAOA has been actively studied in terms of genetic predisposition to the development of aggressive behavior potentially involved in the formation of IA. The study included 602 adolescents (9–18 years old, mean age = 14.6, SD 1.7) from the Angara-Yenisei macroregion (Russians n = 329, Tuvans n = 158, Khakasses n = 158). The type of IA was assessed according to the Chen scale (Chen Internet Addiction Scale, CIAS), gene polymorphism was detected using real-time PCR. The distribution of the TT genotype of MAOA rs1137070 polymorphism associated with low activity of the monoamine oxidase A enzyme and aggressive behavior affected by IA, was found to be significantly higher in Tuvan adolescents compared with Russians (31.1/21.2% p = = 0.02). Pathological internet addiction (more than 65 points by Chen scale) often observed among Khakass adolescents compared to Russian (26.4/15.5%, p = 0.03). Thus, the allelic variant T of MAOA rs1137070 polymorphism appears to be potential marker for dependent and aggressive behavior to form, Asian representatives being more susceptible to the development of pathological addictions than Caucasian populations.

Pattern and Prevalence of Internet Gambling Behaviors among Bet9ja users in Sokoto Metropolis, Northwest Nigeria

Background: Nigeria has seen an unparallel surge in the number and sophistication of gambling activities taking place on a daily basis. The scope of the gambling investigation has expanded to include online lotteries, promotions, pool betting, sports betting, and casino slots. Nigeria leads the African continent in the number of Internet gamblers. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among Bet9ja users in the Sokoto metropolis. The participants were selected using a cluster sampling technique. The biodata and South Oak Gambling Screening questionnaire were administered. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for Windows and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 390 participants were studied, the majority were single males, between the ages of 18 and 39 years, with a mean age and standard deviation of 28.5 ± 7.3 years. We found 4 (1%) of the respondents to be highly skilled (social class I) workers, while the semi-skilled (social class IV) workers amounted to 155 (39.7%) of the participants, and 61 (15.6%) were unemployed. Seventy-five percentage of the participants were probable pathological gamblers, with 263 (89.5%) being males and 31 (10.5%) females. Furthermore, 96 (24.6%) of the participants were nonpathological gamblers, among whom, 77 (80.2%) were males, while 19 (19.8%) were females and this was statistically significant, P = 0.019. Conclusion: Single males and young adults were likely to experience pathological Internet gambling, many of whom were semi-skilled. We also found that the male gender was significantly associated with probable pathological Internet gambling.

Eye movement verification and evaluation of initial sandplay picture system for internet addiction symptoms in Chinese adolescents

BackgroundSandplay therapy is a psychotherapeutic technique, based on the psychoanalytic theory of the unconscious. Nearly a century after it was developed, sandplay can now be applied for the initial diagnosis tools for sand players. The goal of the current research is to demonstrate the role of sandplay in identifying internet-addicted adolescents in China. The study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity for sandplay as a diagnosis and evaluation tool for internet addiction symptoms, and to verify the consistency that exists between results based on sandplay pictures and those based on the Pathological Internet Usage Scale for Adolescents (APIUS).MethodsThe research was conducted with a 2 × 2 mixed factorial design – two types of participants (addicts and non-addicts) and two types of sandplay pictures (pictures for addicts and pictures for non-addicts). An absolute recognition-judgment paradigm was used along with eye movement evaluations to evaluate the existing initial sandplay picture system for internet addiction symptoms (22 sandplay pictures, 11 related to addicts and 11 related to non-addicts, respectively). Sixty Chinese adolescents were selected as the participants (30 as addicts and 30 as non-addicts) according to the APIUS.Results(1) The initial sandplay pictures for internet addicts are clearly preferred by Chinese internet-addicted adolescents, which are more familiar and easier to process; (2) Such pictures have a higher level of emotional arousal and cognitive resonance for the addicts; (3) Track and heat maps indicate that young internet addicts mainly fixate on the initial sandplay pictures for internet addicts.ConclusionThis initial sandplay picture system can be used to screen and identify young Chinese internet addicts based on symptoms, and the evaluation results are consistent with those based on the APIUS.

The relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction: a cross-sectional study of the athlete university students in Turkey.

Mental health research exists for university students in the areas of prevalence and association of depression, internet addiction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, the studies examining prevalence rates and these relationships in athlete university students are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction among athlete university students in Turkey. A cross-sectional design was conducted, measuring depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, healthy lifestyle behaviors (HPLP-II), and internet addiction (YIAT-SF). Predictive factors associated with depressive symptoms were estimated using binary logistic regression. Of the 501 participants, 61.3% were male, with a mean age of 21.45 years (SD: 3.19). Student-athletes were at risk of depressive symptoms (76.4%), internet addiction (34.4%) and had moderate healthy lifestyle behaviors (130.41 ± 22.93). No significant differences were found for age, smoking, time spent on social network, number of sports days, number of social networks use for depressive symptoms (p > 0.05), however significant differences were found for depressive symptoms by sex and living with family status (p < 0.05). Pathological internet addiction (OR: 12.74, 95% CI: 2.91-55.77) and low spiritual growth (OR: 0.854, 95% CI: 0.79-0.92) were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms within the athlete university students (p < 0.001). The athlete university students are at increased risk for depressive symptoms and internet addiction and decreased healthy lifestyle behaviors. It is essential to establish programs to improve the mental health of students in universities and to strengthen the psychological counseling services offered to students. These findings can assist universities in establishing effective measures to improve mental health outcomes.

The relationship between pathological internet use and psychiatric difficulties in adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: Internet addiction has been attracting widespread interest due to the increase in screen time related to lectures, decrease in social activities and spending more time at home due to the education restriction all over the world. It was aimed to determine the psychiatric difficulties for before pandemic period and distance education period, separately and to evaluate the relationship between adolescents' pathological internet usage and difference in psychiatric difficulties. Methods: Four hundred thirty-eight adolescents aged 11-17 years, secondary and high school students were included in the study. An online survey was created consists of “Young Internet Addiction Test-brief form” (IAT), “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” (SDQ) and researcher form using Google forms application. Youths completed the SDQ retrospectively for two separate time points: during the school restriction period and before the pandemic. Results: According to the results of our study, the number of changed areas (sleep, eating habits, leisure/social/physical activities) (B= 3.071, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and the change in SDQ-Peer relationship subscale score (B=1.193, p = 0.019) were among the factors significantly predict pathological internet use levels, respectively. Conclusions: Studies enable understanding the relationship between pathological internet usage and psychiatric difficulties would be useful for the organization of preventive interventions in case similar outbreaks occurred in the future.

The loss outweighs the gain: teacher criticism as a moderator in the relations between pathological internet use, learning maladaptation, and academic performance

The loss outweighs the gain: teacher criticism as a moderator in the relations between pathological internet use, learning maladaptation, and academic performance