Abstract
Background and Objectives: The concept of ‘Internet addiction’ has been used to refer to various problematic online behaviours (POBs). This study aimed to ascertain rates and predictors of POBs in an Australian community sample.
Methods: Australians (1626) aged between 16 and 60 years completed instruments assessing levels of anxiety and depression. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and six POBs: problematic online gaming, cyberchondria, problematic cybersex, problematic online shopping, problematic use of social networking sites and problematic online gambling. Each POB was presumed present based on the cut-off scores on the corresponding instrument and at least one indicator of interference with functioning. Generalised linear models analyses identified predictors of each POB.
Findings: The most common POB was problematic online shopping (12.2%), followed by problematic online gambling (11.4%), problematic use of social networking sites (6.0%), problematic cybersex (5.3%), problematic online gaming (5.2%) and cyberchondria (4.6%). Rates of all POBs were the highest in the age group 27–36 years. The intensity of ADHD symptoms predicted all POBs. Younger age predicted all POBs except for problematic cybersex and online gambling, whereas male gender predicted problematic online gaming and cybersex. Levels of anxiety and depression predicted no POB.
Conclusion: Rates of the specific POBs in the community vary markedly between different age groups. A strong relationship between ADHD symptoms and all POBs may reflect a role of online environments in soothing ADHD-related distress. Findings of this study have implications for prevention and treatment of POBs. Specific POBs should be investigated separately instead of lumping them together as ‘Internet addiction’.
Methods: Australians (1626) aged between 16 and 60 years completed instruments assessing levels of anxiety and depression. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and six POBs: problematic online gaming, cyberchondria, problematic cybersex, problematic online shopping, problematic use of social networking sites and problematic online gambling. Each POB was presumed present based on the cut-off scores on the corresponding instrument and at least one indicator of interference with functioning. Generalised linear models analyses identified predictors of each POB.
Findings: The most common POB was problematic online shopping (12.2%), followed by problematic online gambling (11.4%), problematic use of social networking sites (6.0%), problematic cybersex (5.3%), problematic online gaming (5.2%) and cyberchondria (4.6%). Rates of all POBs were the highest in the age group 27–36 years. The intensity of ADHD symptoms predicted all POBs. Younger age predicted all POBs except for problematic cybersex and online gambling, whereas male gender predicted problematic online gaming and cybersex. Levels of anxiety and depression predicted no POB.
Conclusion: Rates of the specific POBs in the community vary markedly between different age groups. A strong relationship between ADHD symptoms and all POBs may reflect a role of online environments in soothing ADHD-related distress. Findings of this study have implications for prevention and treatment of POBs. Specific POBs should be investigated separately instead of lumping them together as ‘Internet addiction’.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 131-132 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 1_suppl |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2023 |
| Externally published | Yes |