Internet Addiction Research Articles

Unravelling fame-seeking motive and narcissism: the roles of problematic internet use and acculturation to Western culture

ABSTRACT Recent research suggests that narcissism levels among young adults are increasing. Grounded in the Uses and Gratifications Theory and the Theory of Globalization-based Acculturation, this study examines the relationship between fame-seeking motive and narcissism, with problematic internet use as a mediator. It also explores the moderating role of acculturation to Western culture in the mediation model. A sample of 298 young adults (66.1% female, Mage = 20.789, SD = 1.608) completed self-report questionnaires on fame-seeking motive, narcissism, problematic internet use, acculturation, and demographic information. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the study hypotheses. Results indicated a positive relationship between fame-seeking motive and narcissism, with problematic internet use serving as a partial mediator. However, acculturation to Western culture did not significantly moderate these relationships. These findings highlight the potential role of problematic internet use in understanding the fame-seeking motive and narcissism connection, which could inform strategies to address narcissistic tendencies in young adults.

The Association between Academic Stress and Problematic Internet Use among Adolescents: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis.

Despite previous studies examining the relationship between problematic Internet use and academic stress in adolescents, significant limitations remain, especially in terms of the nature of the stress and moderators. This study systematically examines the association between academic stress and problematic Internet use in adolescents, using a three-level meta-analysis. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, it conducted a comprehensive database search including 49 studies, with 166 effect sizes and 189,483 adolescents. The results indicate a positive correlation between academic stress and problematic Internet use in adolescents. Additionally, moderation analysis revealed that both sources of academic stress and academic stress measurement tools significantly moderated the association. The association between mixed academic stress (intrapsychic and external stressors) and problematic Internet use was significantly stronger than that between external academic stress and problematic Internet use. The association was weaker when using the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory than other scales. These findings highlight that problematic Internet use is often an maladaptive coping strategy for adolescents under academic stress, and this behavior does not vary with the specific use of the Internet. However, it also suggests that under certain cultural contexts, external academic stress can be transformed into motivation for learning. This study deepens our understanding of how academic stress influences adolescent Internet use and underscores the need for improved measurement tools to capture the complexity of academic stress.

The Chain Mediating Effect of Anxiety and Inhibitory Control and the Moderating Effect of Physical Activity Between Bullying Victimization and Internet Addiction in Chinese Adolescents.

This study aimed to investigate the chain mediating roles of anxiety and inhibitory control in the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents, as well as the moderating effect of physical activity. A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 1,585 adolescents from 5 provinces in China during February-March 2024. Data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control, and physical activity were collected and analyzed using a moderated chain mediation model. The data suggest that bullying victimization is associated with internet addiction, and this association is also mediated by anxiety and inhibitory control. Furthermore, physical activity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety and inhibitory control. This study contributes to the understanding of how bullying victimization, anxiety, and inhibitory control are interrelated in the context of internet addiction development, with physical activity influencing this interplay. It highlights the potential of physical activity as a factor in mitigating the impact of bullying and its association with internet addiction.

Emotional Regulation in Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Emotions play an undeniable role in addictive disorders. Given the high relapse and drop-out rates still prevalent in current treatments, it is crucial to explore curative alternatives that take greater account of emotions. The primary objective of this systematic review is to gather literature related to emotion regulation in psychological addictive disorders treatments. The aim is to describe its use for individuals with behavioral (such as gambling disorder, problematic Internet gaming, and Internet addiction) or substance-related disorders. Following a screening of nearly 12,000 articles from six databases and the grey literature, 38 studies that met the selection criteria were included. The results show that 63.2% of the studies had a psychological treatment predominantly based on emotional regulation, with 81.6% (n = 31) of third-wave cognitive-behavioral interventions. The most frequently utilized intervention techniques for emotional regulation were those that facilitated an individual's awareness of their emotional state or provided psychological education to assist in identifying emotions. It would be valuable for future research to explore the most effective content for emotional regulation in treating substance-related and addictive disorders and to determine the specific client population that would benefit the most from this treatment.

Psychometric Analysis of Young’s Internet Addiction Test among High School Students of North India

Abstract Background: Internet addiction is a serious problem that can negatively impact both the physical and mental health of adolescents. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is the most commonly used instrument to screen internet addiction worldwide. The study investigated the psychometric properties of the Hindi version of young’s IAT. School-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study design. Methods and Materials: The Hindi version of the IAT questionnaire was used to estimate internet addiction. Factor structure was analyzed by exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor (CFA) analyses, whereas reliability was measured with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. EFA, CFA, MANOVA, and logistic regression model. Results: Factor analysis revealed that the Hindi version of IAT consisted of a two-factor model, and had good validity (χ2 P < 0.000; RMSEA = 0.039; CFI = 0.969; SRMR = 0.031). Cronbach’s alpha score was 0.92. A significant association was also observed between the level of internet addiction with the duration of internet use per day (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The Hindi version of IAT provides good validity and reliability in a two-factor model. Therefore, it can be utilized as a tool for screening internet addiction in the Hindi-speaking population of India.

The impact of emotional abuse on Internet addiction in Chinese children: the sequential mediation roles of emotional dysregulation and regulatory emotional self-efficacy

BackgroundIn China, emotional abuse and Internet addiction are increasingly prevalent among children, with significant negative effects on their development. Previous research has identified childhood emotional abuse as a major risk factor for Internet addiction in both adolescents and adults. However, the immediate impact of emotional abuse on children’s Internet addiction within Chinese culture remains unclear.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of emotional abuse on Internet addiction through emotional dysregulation and regulatory emotional self-efficacy in Chinese children.MethodsA sample of 556 fourth to sixth grade primary school students (girls, 46.6%) with an average age of 10.30 ± 0.93 years were recruited from a central province in China. Participants completed the paper-and-pencil survey on emotional abuse, emotional dysregulation, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and Internet addiction. The hypothesized model was tested using Mplus 8.3 with 5,000 bootstrap samples.ResultsEmotional abuse positively predicts Internet addiction in children; emotional dysregulation and regulatory emotional self-efficacy mediate this relationship independently, and have chain-mediating effects in this relationship.ConclusionEmotional abuse impacts children’s Internet addiction through the development of emotional regulation and self-perception of their abilities in emotional regulation. The findings offer potential strategies for preventing children’s Internet addiction.

Relationship between Anxiety and Problematic internet use among adolescents

The Present study is an attempt to study the degree of association between Anxiety and Problematic internet use among Adolescent. In this study, qualitative analysis was done on the sample by asking them to fill up the questionnaires of Anxiety and Problematic Internet use. A sample consists 100 girls & boys. Statistical Method applied on the data was Pearson’s ‘ product movement correlation. Anxiety Scale is developed by A.K.P. Sinha and L.N.K. Sinha and Problematic and Risky internet use screening scale. There is a relationship between those who are over & risky use the Internet and those who use the internet in a Productive manner. Because Problematic internet use is one of the most closely relevant variable with anxiety and other related mental health issues. There are many researches who also supported that Problematic internet use causes several mental health problems.

The effect of physical activities on internet addiction in college students: the mediating effect of self-control

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between college students' physical activities and Internet addiction, to investigate the role self-control control plays in this relationship, and to provide a theoretical foundation for the alleviation of college students' tendency to Internet addiction and intervention treatment.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted on 471 college students using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), and the Self-Control Scale (SCS).ResultsInternet addiction was significantly negatively correlated with physical activities (overall; min/WK, r = −0.115, P < 0.05), with high-intensity physical activities (min/WK, r = −0.179, P < 0.01), and with low-intensity physical activities (r = −0.103, P < 0.05); self-control was significantly positively correlated with physical activities (overall; min/WK, r = 0.150, P < 0.01), with moderate—intensity physical activities (min/WK, r = 0.139, P < 0.01) while it was significantly negatively correlated with Internet addiction (min/WK, r = −0.349, P < 0.01). The mediating effect follows the path: physical activity → self-control → internet addiction.ConclusionPhysical activity can have a direct negative effect on college students' Internet addiction, and also influence Internet addiction through the mediating effect of self-control.

Longitudinal relationship between internet addiction and psychotic-like experiences among Chinese college students.

While previous cross-sectional studies have suggested a link between psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and internet addiction (IA), longitudinal evidence remains scarce. This study aimed to explore the prospective relationship between IA and PLEs among college students. A total of 636 college students (80% female) were assessed in November 2022 and again one year later. IA was measured using the Internet Addiction Diagnosis Questionnaire (IADQ), and PLEs were assessed with the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ-16). Demographic, psychological, and environmental factors were collected and controlled. Multiple logistic regression and cross-lagged panel analyses examined the longitudinal associations between IA and PLEs. At baseline, the prevalence of IA and PLEs was 11.3% and 16.8%, respectively. Higher baseline IADQ scores (Adjusted odds ratio=1.035; 95% confidence interval=1.002-1.069; p=0.036) were independently associated with an increased risk of PLEs at follow-up, while baseline PQ-16 scores were not linked to later IA. Cross-lagged panel analysis revealed that IA at baseline predicted later PLEs (β=0.082, p=0.043), whereas baseline PLEs did not predict IA (β=0.049, p=0.255). Specifically, IA predicted unusual thoughts (β=0.122, p=0.003) and negative PLEs (β=0.111, p=0.008), but not perceptual abnormalities (β=0.040, p=0.301). IA may be an independent risk factor for PLEs in college students, particularly for unusual thoughts and negative PLEs, but not for perceptual abnormalities. Targeted interventions addressing IA may help reduce PLEs.

Global Research on Cyberchondria: Scientometric and Visual Analysis From 2003 to 2022.

This study aims to summarise the research themes, hotspots, and boundaries in the field of cyberchondria using scientometrics and visual analysis methods. Until 31 December 2022, 181 publications (165 articles, 16 reviews) were identified under the topic of 'cyberchondria' in the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer was used for analysis. It was observed that publications related to cyberchondria have rapidly developed into a research area in the last 4years, constituting 79.0% (n=143) of the total publications. The most common co-occurring keywords are 'cyberchondria', 'health anxiety', and 'COVID-19'. Clusters representing three different themes were obtained by conducting co-occurring keyword analysis. The first and largest cluster comprises 'COVID-19', 'anxiety', and 'internet addiction', the second cluster includes 'cyberchondria' and 'health anxiety', and the third cluster centres around 'health information' and 'health education' keywords. This study has mapped out the information landscape of cyberchondria research over the past 20years using scientometric and visual analysis methods. The significant increase in recent years indicates a diversification and continued growth in studies conducted in this field. By presenting the general state of the field, this study provides valuable insights for future research endeavours.

Relationship between parents’ problematic internet use levels and child abuse potential

Relationship between parents’ problematic internet use levels and child abuse potential

Characteristic Structure of the Relationships Among Depression, Maladaptive Cognition, and Internet Addiction and Its Temporal Evolution in University Students: A Network Analysis.

This study explored the structure and temporal evolution of the relationship among depression, maladaptive cognition, and internet addiction (DMI) among university students by focusing on topological and dynamic properties in a network analysis. A 3-year longitudinal survey was conducted with 873 university students (Mage=18.32, SD=0.74). The results of network analysis showed "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" as part of internet addiction and "depressive emotions" as part of depression were the core characteristics in the DMI relational structure. Additionally, "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" was most pronounced for freshmen, whereas "depressive emotions" were most pronounced for sophomores and juniors. These findings suggest that interventions addressing DMI among university students should not only focus on the key aspects of "compulsive internet use and withdrawal symptoms" and "depressive emotions," but also consider differences between students at different years of study.

The experiences in close relationship and internet addiction among college Students: A moderated mediation model of anxiety and information cocoon

The experiences in close relationship and internet addiction among college Students: A moderated mediation model of anxiety and information cocoon

Assessing the Impact of Mobile Phone Exposure on Aggression in Early Childhood

This study uses an ex-post facto research design to examine the connection between mobile phone dependency and aggression in school-going adolescents aged 7 to 12 years in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. A sample of 120 adolescents, comprising 60 boys and 60 girls, was chosen through convenience sampling, and data were gathered via questionnaires. The study utilized the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) and the Aggression Scale (Buss & Perry, 1992). Results indicated a significant positive correlation between internet addiction and different aspects of aggression. Further, regression analysis showed that internet addiction significantly predicted aggression levels. Gender differences were notable only in the anger dimension of aggression. The study highlights the critical role of understanding the relationship between mobile phone addiction and aggression among young adolescents, with implications for intervention and future research. However, given the small sample size and reliance on self-reported data, the findings are exploratory, and future research with stronger methodologies is recommended.

The adolescent Internet Adaptability Scale: Development and psychometric properties

This study presents the development and validation of the Adolescent Internet Adaptability Scale (AIAS), designed to assess adolescents’ adaptive capacities in Internet use. The scale development encompassed multiple phases with diverse sample sizes: item pool generation through interviews (n = 15), scale structure analysis via Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA, n = 553) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA, n = 4,637), along with reliability (n = 4,637) and validity (n = 4,637) analyses. The reliability phase included alpha, composite reliability, and retest reliability (n = 132), while the validity phase covered structural, convergent, discriminant, criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance tests. The AIAS, comprising eight dimensions—Internet curiosity, Internet self-efficacy, Internet learning ability, Internet socialization ability, Internet information search ability, Internet information protection ability, Internet self-control ability, and Internet positive coping ability—demonstrates strong reliability and validity. It shows positive correlations with Internet use—parental active help, well-being, and meaning in life, and negative correlations with Internet addiction and depression, with stronger associations observed with positive indicators. These findings highlight the Internet’s potential as a platform for strength acquisition. The AIAS, with its comprehensive nature, is promising for tailoring adolescent support from a positive psychology perspective, enabling holistic assessment and targeted interventions. It also advances understanding of youth development in the digital era, proving valuable for clinical and research applications. Ongoing evaluation, cross-cultural validation, and longitudinal research are essential for realizing its full potential. This multidimensional scale significantly advances the assessment of adolescent Internet use, equipping stakeholders to effectively address adolescents’ digital behaviors for enhancing well-being.

Internet Addiction as Predictor in Marital Relationship among a Sample of Divorced Women

This study investigates the predictive relationship between Internet addiction and marital incompatibility among a sample of divorced women. Given the rapid technological advancements and the pervasive influence of the Internet on marital compatibility, this research examines the extent to which Internet addiction serves as a predictor for marital enhancers and inhibitors of compatibility. Utilizing a sample of 123 divorced women, the study employs the Internet Addiction Scale (IAS) (Cronbach’s alpha= .86) and the Marital Compatibility Inhibitors and Enhancers Scale (MCIES) (Cronbach’s alpha= .76, .72, respectively). The findings reveal a high prevalence of Internet addiction (M=4.23, SD=.57), elevated levels of inhibitors (M=4.18, SD=.64) affecting marital adjustment, and a diminished presence of enhancers (M=1.75, SD=.60) promoting marital compatibility. Statistical analysis demonstrates significant and robust correlations between Internet addiction and both marital adjustment inhibitors (r = .789) and enhancers (r = -.991) among divorced women. Furthermore, Internet addiction accounts for 61.9% of the variance in inhibitors and negatively correlates with 98.2% of the variance in enhancers. The study concluded that the Internet addiction affects the marital relationship, and thus negatively affecting the cohesion of the family and society.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNET ADDICTION AND LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

Internet usage has increased sharply due to technological developments, especially since the pandemic that occurred some time ago. Limitations in meeting face to face, finally gave rise to ideas for using internet media to complete tasks or achieve certain goals both in education and work. People who are addicted to the internet show an uncontrolled life so that sufferers cannot leave the internet. Internet addiction is the inability of an individual to control their internet usage, which can cause psychological, social and work (educational) problems in the individual's life. This study aims to analyze the effect of internet addiction on learning achievement.This study is a Spearman Rank correlation study. The respondents were 100 students of Nurul Huda Kapongan Middle School. The sampling technique was purposive sampling. Data collection using an internet addiction test questionnaire with 20 question items, while for learning achievement using report card scores. The results of the study based on the hypothesis test carried out obtained p = 0.809 (> 0.05). Where these results indicate that there is no relationship between internet addiction and learning achievement

Relationship Between Digital Nativity and Internet Addiction Among University Students in Ghana

This research explores the relationship between digital nativity and internet addiction among university students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. The Digital Native Assessment Scale (DNAS) and Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were administered to 411 undergraduate students from various academic disciplines, with 49.15% (n=202) males and 50.85% (n=209) females. College of Arts and Built Environment (21.90%, n=90), College of Engineering (15.33%, n=63), College of Science (14.35%, n=59), College of Humanities and Social Sciences (22.63%, n=93), College of Health Sciences (15.82%, n=65), and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (9.98%, n=41). Results demonstrated moderate to high levels of digital nativity based on their DNAS scores, with significant positive correlations between DNAS and IAT (r = 0.569, p < 0.001). Suggesting that students with higher scores in digital nativity may be at risk of developing addictive internet behaviours. Interestingly, academic level and college affiliation emerged as factors influencing internet addiction, with students at a higher level and those in the College of Science showing intensified vulnerabilities.

Resilience as a predictor of internet addictive behaviours: a study among Ghanaian and Saudi samples using structural equation modelling approach

This study aimed to examine the relationship between resilience and internet addictive behaviours, focusing on cross-cultural contexts involving tertiary education students in Ghana and Saudi Arabia. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 738 students across selected universities in both countries. Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques were employed to analyse the data. The findings indicated that most respondents exhibited low resilience levels alongside a high prevalence of internet addictive behaviours. A significant positive relationship was identified between resilience levels and various dimensions of internet addiction, as well as the overall composite of internet addictive behaviours. Interestingly, while low resilience levels were found to increase the risk of internet addiction, higher resilience levels also appeared to heighten susceptibility to addictive behaviours. These results suggest the need for targeted interventions to address internet addiction. Programs should focus on enhancing resilience through resilience-building initiatives, promoting digital well-being, and integrating mental health support services. These approaches can help mitigate the risks associated with internet addiction while fostering healthier coping mechanisms in students across diverse cultural settings.

Investigation of the effect of internet addiction on cyberchondria

ABSTRACT This research was conducted to examine the effect of internet addiction on cyberchondria. The research is important to understand how today’s digital technologies contribute to health-related concerns and affect individuals’ perceptions of health. Quantitative research design was used in this research conducted in Konya, a metropolitan city in Turkey. The study was conducted using the convenience sampling method on 403 participants. In the research, ‘Personal Information Form’, ‘Internet Addiction Scale’ and ‘Cyberchondria Scale’ were used. The data were analyzed with the SPSS program. As an analysis method, upon determining that the data were normally distributed, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and simple linear regression analyzes were applied in independent groups. The majority of participants (69%) were female, 52.9% were between the ages of 18–27 and 53.8% were married. In terms of education level, 44.9% had a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 59.6% earned minimum wage or less. Among the occupational groups, the largest proportion was students (31.5%), and their daily internet use was mostly 2–3 hours (44.4%). Internet is most frequently used for social media (47.4%) and news/agenda follow-up (25.1%). Within the scope of the research, internet addiction varies significantly according to the participants’ age groups, education levels, professions, average daily internet usage time, and internet usage purposes; it was found that the cyberchondria levels of the participants showed significant differences according to the variables of income level, profession, daily internet usage time and internet use purpose. The research revealed a positive and significant relationship between the level of internet addiction and the level of cyberchondria. It has also been observed that internet addiction has a positive and significant effect on cyberchondria. These results show that cyberchondria tendencies become stronger with the increase in internet use among individuals.