Types Of Psychological Distress Research Articles

Adolescent Trauma and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the School Context

This study examines the significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent trauma and its subsequent consequences in the school setting. The pandemic has brought about a worldwide health emergency that goes beyond physical health, significantly impacting the mental and emotional well-being of teenagers. This demographic, which is already vulnerable to different types of psychological distress during a crucial period of growth, encountered intensified difficulties as a result of the disruptions caused by the pandemic. The study employs a mixed-method methodology, combining quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights gathered through interviews and focus groups that include students, teachers, and school counselors. The objective is to evaluate the prevalence of trauma-related concerns among adolescents during the pandemic and investigate how these concerns have become apparent in educational environments. Primary concerns include the consequences of extended school closures, the transition to remote learning, social seclusion, and the broader psychosocial pressures associated with the pandemic. The findings indicate a notable surge in the number of reports concerning anxiety, depression, and other symptoms associated with trauma among adolescents. The interruption of typical school schedules and the lack of a physical school setting have decreased academic involvement and drive. Moreover, the absence of face-to-face social engagement and participation in extracurricular activities has intensified sentiments of isolation and social detachment. The study emphasizes the crucial role of schools in offering assistance and resources to tackle these difficulties. It highlights the necessity of implementing trauma-informed educational strategies and mental health support systems in schools to address the increased emotional and psychological requirements of students. Furthermore, the study identifies successful tactics schools utilize to lessen the consequences of the pandemic, such as incorporating mental health education into the curriculum, offering virtual counseling services, and cultivating a supportive online community.

Sentiment Analysis of Insomnia-Related Tweets via a Combination of Transformers Using Dempster-Shafer Theory: Pre- and Peri-COVID-19 Pandemic Retrospective Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed additional stress on population health that may result in a change of sleeping behavior. In this study, we hypothesized that using natural language processing to explore social media would help with assessing the mental health conditions of people experiencing insomnia after the outbreak of COVID-19. We designed a retrospective study that used public social media content from Twitter. We categorized insomnia-related tweets based on time, using the following two intervals: the prepandemic (January 1, 2019, to January 1, 2020) and peripandemic (January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021) intervals. We performed a sentiment analysis by using pretrained transformers in conjunction with Dempster-Shafer theory (DST) to classify the polarity of emotions as positive, negative, and neutral. We validated the proposed pipeline on 300 annotated tweets. Additionally, we performed a temporal analysis to examine the effect of time on Twitter users' insomnia experiences, using logistic regression. We extracted 305,321 tweets containing the word insomnia (prepandemic tweets: n=139,561; peripandemic tweets: n=165,760). The best combination of pretrained transformers (combined via DST) yielded 84% accuracy. By using this pipeline, we found that the odds of posting negative tweets (odds ratio [OR] 1.39, 95% CI 1.37-1.41; P<.001) were higher in the peripandemic interval compared to those in the prepandemic interval. The likelihood of posting negative tweets after midnight was 21% higher than that before midnight (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.19-1.23; P<.001). In the prepandemic interval, while the odds of posting negative tweets were 2% higher after midnight compared to those before midnight (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.07; P=.008), they were 43% higher (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.40-1.46; P<.001) in the peripandemic interval. The proposed novel sentiment analysis pipeline, which combines pretrained transformers via DST, is capable of classifying the emotions and sentiments of insomnia-related tweets. Twitter users shared more negative tweets about insomnia in the peripandemic interval than in the prepandemic interval. Future studies using a natural language processing framework could assess tweets about other types of psychological distress, habit changes, weight gain resulting from inactivity, and the effect of viral infection on sleep.

Tailored internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals with chronic pain and comorbid psychological distress: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Comorbid psychological problems are commonly related to chronic pain but addressing heterogeneous comorbidities in traditional settings is often difficult. Delivering individually tailored treatment using the internet could be a viable alternative. The present study investigates whether a guided, individually tailored and internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) could improve mood and reduce disability in individuals suffering from chronic pain and comorbid psychological distress. Participants were recruited from a pain clinic and randomized to either ICBT or waiting list. The participants (n = 187) individually tailored treatments included 6–13 modules targeting different types of psychological distress. Modules were designed to be completed weekly, and feedback was provided by clinicians. Participants completed an average of 5.1 (49.7%) modules, with 22.9% completing all assigned modules. Intention-to-treat analyses showed significantly larger improvements in depression, disability, pain acceptance, catastrophizing, and quality of life in the ICBT-group compared to the control group. Between-group effect sizes were very small or small at post for the primary outcomes depression (d = 0.18) and pain interference (d = 0.22). Other effect sizes ranged from very small to small, with the largest effect being improvements in pain acceptance (d = 0.3). All significant changes were stable at 12-month follow up.

COVID-19 in Brazil: Are there any differences in Mental Health Literacy between young and aged men?

to analyze the Mental Health Literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil in the COVID-19 pandemic context. a qualitative study conducted with 87 men by means of an asynchronous online survey. The data were processed in the NVIVO12® software, structured with the Collective Subject Discourse method and analyzed through Anthony Jorm's theoretical concept of Mental Health Literacy. six central ideas emerged from the analysis of a synthesis discourse on the components of the Mental Health Literacy, namely: Ability to recognize specific disorders or different types of psychological distress; Knowledge and beliefs about risk factors and causes; Knowledge and beliefs about self-help interventions; Knowledge and beliefs about available professional help; Attitudes that facilitate recognition and the search for adequate help; and Knowledge on how to seek information on mental health. there are differences in the mental health literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aged men were more competent for mental health care management and protection than young men, in relation to the Mental Health Literacy levels.

COVID-19 no Brasil: existem diferenças no letramento em saúde mental entre homens jovens e idosos?

Objective: to analyze the Mental Health Literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Method: a qualitative study conducted with 87 men by means of an asynchronous online survey. The data were processed in the NVIVO12® software, structured with the Collective Subject Discourse method and analyzed through Anthony Jorm’s theoretical concept of Mental Health Literacy. Results: six central ideas emerged from the analysis of a synthesis discourse on the components of the Mental Health Literacy, namely: Ability to recognize specific disorders or different types of psychological distress; Knowledge and beliefs about risk factors and causes; Knowledge and beliefs about self-help interventions; Knowledge and beliefs about available professional help; Attitudes that facilitate recognition and the search for adequate help; and Knowledge on how to seek information on mental health. Conclusion: there are differences in the mental health literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aged men were more competent for mental health care management and protection than young men, in relation to the Mental Health Literacy levels.

Cohabitation dissolution and psychological distress among young adults: The role of parenthood and gender

Cohabitation has become a normative experience for American young adults and a common setting for childbearing in recent decades. However, the high dissolution rate of cohabitation exposes young adults to the potential stress of intimate relationship dissolution and single parenthood during early adulthood. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, we apply growth curve models to analyze how cohabitation dissolution associates with trajectories of depressive symptoms and binge drinking behaviors for young adults (aged 17 to 35). We investigate how the presence of children moderates this association for men and women. We find that cohabitation dissolution is associated with increased depressive symptoms for both men and women. However, cohabitation dissolution is only positively associated with binge drinking behaviors for men, and a significant gender difference is observed. The presence of children when cohabitation dissolves strengthens the positive association between cohabitation dissolution and depressive symptoms among women, and this positive moderation fades away as young women age. These findings suggest that gender differences in the association of cohabitation dissolution with psychological distress are contingent on the types of psychological distress under consideration and also reveal that cohabitation dissolution intertwined with non-marital parenthood is harmful to mental health, especially for young women.

Student Perceptions of a Reflective Writing-based Wellness Course: "Good in Theory, But..."

To offset disconcerting trends showing alarming rates of burnout and other types of psychological distress amongmedical students, many medical schools have implemented wellness initiatives for first year students as they are first adjusting to the rigors of medical school. This study examines students' attitudes toward a reflective writing-based wellness course. We conducted a thematic analysis of 97 writings that students wrote in response to a prompt asking them what they thought of the wellness course at an American Midwestern medical school. The most consistent perception that students expressed was that while they were deeply appreciative of the effort to integrate wellness into the curriculum (what we call Good in Theory…), they did not think it was implemented efficaciously and even, in some cases, felt that the wellness course contributed to their distress rather than alleviated it (what we call …But…). Specifically, while the wellness course helped them prioritize wellness and fostered connection between fellow medical students, it also conflicted with their individualized notions of health and was a burden on their limited time. We discuss the findings in the context of their implications for medical education and argue that the implicit messages students internalized from the mere existence of a wellness program-that the university/faculty cares about them, they do not need to feel guilt when taking a break from medicine, they are not alone, and it is acceptable to express emotions-are all important for their professional socialization and personal well-being.

Clinical study of preoperative psychological distress and its related factors in the primary caregivers of patients with glioma

ObjectiveTo investigate the preoperative psychological distress in the primary caregivers of glioma patients and its influencing factors and to determine the relationship between preoperative psychological states of glioma patients and their caregivers. MethodsUsing a mixed methods design, the caregivers of patients with malignant glioma were interviewed and completed questionnaires about anxiety/depression and family function during preoperative period. ResultsCaregivers of glioma patients had different types of psychological distress before surgery. A total of 46 caregivers (36.5 %) had preoperative psychological depression or anxiety symptom; 30 caregivers (23.8 %) had depression symptoms, 39 caregivers (31.0 %) had anxiety symptoms, and 23 (18.3 %) had both preoperative anxiety and depression symptoms. Female gender was an influential factor for both preoperative depression and anxiety symptoms in caregivers, surgical information was a risk factor for caregivers' preoperative depression symptoms and residence was a risk factor for caregivers' preoperative anxiety symptoms. The preoperative psychological states of patients was positively correlated with the preoperative anxiety and depression symptoms of caregivers. ConclusionThe rural female caregivers are more likely to experience psychological distress before surgery, and the preoperative psychological states of patients was positively correlated with the psychological distress in caregivers.

Migrant Women-experiences from the Mediterranean Region

Introduction: The phenomenon of migration is characterized and influenced by a number of different variables; and the different stages of journey are related to different levels and types of psychological distress. Women, in particular, are exposed to further specific risks during migration. Aim: To determine the factors that affect the psychological health of migrant women during the different stages of the migration journey. Methods: We provide a narrative review of the literature around the experiences of women during migration process, with a geographical focus on women migrating to the Mediterranean area. Results: Little data is currently available on the burden of mental health disorders for female migrants. Most studies about the mental health status of migrants were not gender-disaggregated or focused specifically on migrant women’s experiences of violence. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) was found to be a common risk factor faced by all the women who leave their native country to migrate to other countries.Conclusion: Despite the importance of the issue and the gender-specific variables related to the experience of migrant women, few studies have looked specifically at psychological variables and mental health status in the female migrant population. It is crucial that future studies are conducted around female migration, violence towards women, and women’s mental health, in order to provide an evidence-base for promoting adequate policies and prevention/treatment programs for women.

Co-morbid psychological distress groups among incarcerated men

Purpose This study aims to examine the behavioral health disorders and trauma exposure are disproportionately represented among incarcerated men. Historically, prisons have been inadequately equipped to respond to the behavioral health needs of incarcerated people. Given the abundance of behavioral health need and the relatively limited availability of prison-based treatment resources, population health management strategies, particularly need stratification, are vital. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 943 male inmates from three Spanish prisons completed a structured questionnaire. Need groups are based on current depression, anxiety and stress symptoms assessed by the DASS-21 and were validated using adverse childhood experiences (ACE), prison-based abuse, prison-based substance use, social support and resilience. Findings Three need groups were identified, namely, minimal, mild/moderate and severe, each representing about one-third of the sample. The severe group had the highest level of all three types of psychological distress, ACE and prison-based adversity and substance use. No statistical differences in social support and resilience were found among the groups. These findings provide a platform for future research to explore how the complexity of behavioral health care need can be identified and stratified for strategic and rational treatment matching. Proving whether a population health management approach improves behavioral health and personal safety outcomes within funding-constrained carceral environments is the next research priority. Originality/value This study is the first to group co-morbid psychological distress into need categories using a social determinants of health framework for validation.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO E DEMANDA DE UM SERVIÇO DE ATENDIMENTO PSICOLÓGICO ON-LINE NO CONTEXTO DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been considered the most serious and important public health crisis at this time. In addition to the alarming rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, this disease has been triggering various types of psychological distress, due to social isolation, fear of falling ill or contaminating friends or family. Therefore, it is necessary to develop psychological treatment services for those who have some form of mental disorder resulting from this pandemic and its effects. This paper describes the experience and results of an online psychological care service developed by the Municipal Department of Health in Guaratinguetá, in the state of Sao Paulot, hat aimed to provide a psychological treatment to the general population and health professionals in order to alleviate suffering and favor a better quality of life. The results show that 145 people were treated remotely, predominantly female (79.3%), aged between 41-59 years (35.2%) and between 60-80 years (22.1%). A large part of the population treated has completed high school (38.0%), is a housewife (26.9%) or is unemployed (16.6%). About the complaint, it was observed that the vast majority referred to anxiety (45.4%) or depression (18.9%). From these data, it is concluded that the continuity and expansion of this type of service is necessary for protection and promotion of the mental health of the population in general and, more specifically, of the health professionals who are on the front line of combat to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychological distress in pregnancy and postpartum

PurposeDepression, stress, and anxiety, termed ‘psychological distress,’ are common in pregnancy and postpartum periods. However, it is unclear whether prenatal psychological distress predicts postpartum psychological distress. We studied the prevalence, comorbidity and associations of maternal depression, stress, and anxiety in the prenatal period in relation to the occurrence of these same measures in the postpartum period. MethodsData originated from the MotherToBaby study of pregnant women residing in the U.S or Canada (2016–2018). Risk ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals using modified-Poisson regression models were used to investigate associations between prenatal psychological distress and postpartum psychological distress. ResultsOf the 288 women in the analysis, 21.2% and 26.7% of women had evidence of prenatal and postnatal psychological distress, respectively. Among those with prenatal psychological distress, 43 (70.5%) also had postpartum psychological distress. Twenty-five (41%) of those with prenatal and 46 (60%) of those with postpartum psychological distress had comorbidity of at least two of the measures. Prenatal measures independently predicted the same postnatal measures; prenatal anxiety also independently predicted postpartum stress. Participants who experienced more types of prenatal psychological distress were at higher risk for postpartum depression, stress, and anxiety. ConclusionDepression, stress, and anxiety are common in pregnant women and often occur together. Prenatal psychological distress measures are associated with postnatal psychological distress measures, with stronger associations among women with more than one type of psychological distress in pregnancy. Interventions during pregnancy may reduce the risk of postpartum psychological distress.

Chronic psychological distrest and man-made disaster

재난으로 인한 심리적 충격은 심각한 사회적 문제가 된다. 그 중 자연재해보다 인간에 의한 재해에 대한 정신건강과 개인의 안녕의 심각성이 사회에서 중요한 문제로 인식되고 있다. 그러나 국내에서는 대형 인간에 의한 재난이 발생하였음에도 불구하고 관련 연구가 매우 드물어 이에 대한 적절한 정책적 대안이나 사회적 이해가 부족하다. 이에 딸 이 연구는 지난 세월호 사건 이후 청년들을 대상으로 인재로 인한 다양한 유형의 장기화된 심리적 충격(공포, 분노, 놀람, 절망, 모욕감, 불안감)을 분석하고자 하였다. 분석결과를 바탕으로 인재로 인한 청년들의 심리적 충격이 장기화되어 남아있는지 여부와 그 현황을 이해하고자 한다. 그리고 이러한 재난사건의 발생으로 인해 청년들의 심리적 충격에 영향을 미치는 관련 요인들을 분석하고자 하는 목적이 있다. 이 같은 연구목적으로 위해 이 연구는 국내의 청년들을 대상으로 재난 사건 6개월 후의 심리적 충격을 측정하여 수집한 데이터를 사용하였다. (총=354명) 분석결과, 청년들은 공포, 분노, 놀람, 절망, 불안감 등의 다양한 심리적 충격을 경험하는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 심리적 충격에 영향을 미치는 요인들은 심리적 충격의 유형에 따라 달리 나타났다. 그 중 과거 정신건강문제유무, 성별, 그리고 세월호 사건 피해자를 직접적으로 알고 있는 것 등이 유의미한 관련요인으로 나타났다. 결론적으로 연구결과는 청년들에게서 만성화 될 수 있는 심리적 충격이 여전히 발견된다는 점과, 청년들이 재난관련 정신건강에 위협을 받을 수 있는 세대라는 점을 인식하여 재난 사건 등이 발생하였을 때, 직접적인 피해자들 이외에도 청년세대가 경험할 수 있는 심리적 충격과 정신건강문제를 분석하고 대응할 수 있는 정책적 고려가 실제 필요하다는 정책적 함의를 내포한다. 이 연구의 공헌점, 제한점, 정책적 함의 등이 결론 및 논의에서 논의되었다.Korean has experienced a catastrophic man-made disaster, Selwol ferry incidence, in 2014. After the incidence, it is assumed that there are huge potential trauma and psychological problems threatening the mental health of Korean palpitations. Yet, there is still lack of studies investigating the impact of man-made disaster and left a gap of knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between man-made disaster and individuals’ development of long-lasting psychological distress. More specifically, this study investigates various types of psychological distress after incidence among college students. Further, it examines potential risk and protective factors related to psychological well-being of individuals experienced man-made disasters. To fulfill the purpose of this study, it collected data from four different university in three different region. Especially, survey for data collection were conducted after six month later of the incidence to examined the long-lasting psychological distress among young generation. The results of this study showed that there are long-lasting psychological distress among college students. Also, the findings suggested that some of factors correlated with the risk of developing chromic psychological problems, such as past mental health problems, gender, and knowing some directly damaged from the incidence. The findings suggest the public health policy implications indicating mental health service policies need to consider young generations as vulnerable population at great risk of being potential victims of disaster.

Obligatory and Voluntary Identity Discrepancies, Self-Evaluation, and Psychological Distress

In identity theory, inconsistencies between self-views and perceptions of others’ views of self (identity discrepancies) are considered stressors that can compromise well-being. The particular outcome(s) affected by a given identity discrepancy may depend upon the type of identity being considered. Using telephone survey data ( n = 501) from a national probability sample of adults in the United States and structural equation modeling techniques, the author compares the impact of discrepancies in obligatory and voluntary identities on two components of self-evaluation (self-esteem and self-efficacy) and three types of psychological distress (depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms). Results confirm that discrepancies associated with obligatory and voluntary identities differentially affect these outcomes. Obligatory identity discrepancies have a direct association with somatic symptoms, whereas voluntary identity discrepancies are indirectly related to depressive, anxiety, and somatic symptoms through self-esteem. Implications of these findings for identity and mental health research, directions for future research, and study limitations are discussed.

Factors Associated With Burnout Among Active Duty versus National Guard/Reserve U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen

Mental health problems among U.S. military personnel remain an important public health problem. However, little research exists concerning burnout, which is comprised of three interrelated experiences: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and (lack of) personal accomplishment (Maslach & Leiter 1997). Burnout may be especially relevant to U.S. Air Force (USAF) pararescuemen (PJs) due to their high deployment and operations tempo relative to conventional military forces. We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach & Jackson, 1981) to 194 male PJs from six military bases. Results of regression analyses indicated depersonalization was significantly higher among National Guard/Reserve personnel (β = .203, p = .029). Emotional exhaustion was associated with depression (β = .286, p = .004) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (β = .194, p = .053), whereas depersonalization was associated with PTSD symptoms only (β = .353, p < .001). Greater personal accomplishment showed a nonsignificant inverse relationship with depression (β = −.205, p = .064). Results suggest that different dimensions of burnout are associated with different types of psychological distress among PJs and may be related to mental health problems in this population. Burnout warrants further attention among researchers.

The mediating effect of psychological distress on functional dependence in stroke patients.

To explore varied forms of psychological distress and to determine the mediating influence of psychological distress on functional outcomes in stroke patients. Previous studies attest to the influence of depression on poststroke functional recovery. While there is evidence for neuropathological deficits that occur after stroke to be associated with psychological distress, few studies have explored the effect of various types of psychological distress on functional recovery. A cross-sectional study was used. Data were collected from 178 first-time stroke patients. Study variables included demographic and disease characteristics (stroke location and stroke syndrome classification), psychological distress (the Chinese language version of the Emotional and Social Dysfunction Questionnaire) and functional outcome (Barthel index). Regression and mediation models were used to evaluate the effect of psychological distress on functional outcome. Results revealed that stroke patients experience various forms of mild psychological distress, including anger, helplessness, emotional dyscontrol, indifference, inertia and euphoria, after stroke. Regression and mediation analyses further confirmed that various forms of psychological distress significantly mediated the effect of severe stroke syndromes on functional dependence. The various forms of psychological distress after stroke might play a mediating role in functional recovery and explain how stroke severity affects functional dependence. By understanding the nature of various forms of psychological distress, healthcare professionals should adopt appropriate assessment instruments and design effective interventions to help improve mental and physical function of stroke patients.

Interrelation Between Adult Persons With Diabetes and Their Family

Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease all over the world. Self-management plays a crucial role in diabetes management. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize what is known about the interactions between adult persons with diabetes, their family, and diabetes self-management. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCHINFO, LINDA, and MEDIC databases were searched for the years 2000 to 2011 and for English language articles, and the reference lists of the studies included were reviewed to capture additional studies. The findings indicate that family members have influence on the self-management of adult persons with diabetes. The support from family members plays a crucial role in maintaining lifestyle changes and optimizing diabetes management. Diabetes and its treatment also affect the life of family members in several ways, causing, for example, different types of psychological distress. More attention should be paid to family factors in diabetes management among adult persons.

3025 – The role of sleep in depression and anxiety in youth

Introduction Adequate sleep is essential for good health. Several research show that sleep problems may increase risk to develop different disorders. In particular, the high prevalence and comorbidity of anxiety and sleep problems suggest an important relationship between these two disorders. Importantly, there is evidence that sleep complaints are more common in suicidal patients. Indeed, poor sleep and sleep disturbances are common in depressive disorders and other psychopathological conditions potentially associated with suicidal risk. Sleep problems in children and adolescents are common, and sleep disruption is associated with a wide range of behavioral, cognitive, and mood impairments, including hyperactivity, lower school grades, and depression. Objectives increasing the knowledge about the relationship between sleep problems, anxiety and depression disorders and mental health disorders in young. Through the new knowledge to develop strategies in order to prevent the risk conditions among young. Aims improve mental health among young. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the correlation between number of hours of sleep per night by the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (Z-SAS), the Paykel suicidal Scale (PSS) and the Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) was performed on 11,788 students (mean age: 14.9±0.9 M/F: 5181/6552) from 11 different European countries involved in the SEYLE project (Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe). Conclusions . Sleep problems are very common among adolescents and often, as other at-risk behaviors, occur with some types of psychological distress. It's important to identify strategies of interventions that pay more attention of unhealthy sleep patterns

Psychological problems in patients with type 2 diabetes - clinical considerations

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Predicting Problematic Internet Use in Men and Women: The Contributions of Psychological Distress, Coping Style, and Body Esteem

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is becoming a prevalent and serious problem among college students. Rates of PIU are higher in men, which may be due to psychological variables, such as comorbid psychological disorders and beliefs about one's body. We examined the ability of psychological distress, coping style, and body esteem to predict levels of PIU in men and women in a sample of 425 undergraduate students (46.8 percent male; mean age = 19.0, SD = 1.7). For men, phobic anxiety, wishful thinking, and overweight preoccupation were significant predictors of increased PIU. For women, depression, keeping to oneself, and decreased tension reduction were associated with increased PIU. The findings suggest that men and women may have different psychological reasons for excessive Internet use, including different types of psychological distress and coping styles. Unlike women, men may use the Internet because of weight concerns.