DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2017.10.003
Abstract
Doel
Internetverslawing, is 'n term wat patologiese, kompulsiewe internetgebruik beskryf en het 'n geskatte voorkoms van 6% onder die algemene bevolking en hoër in studente [1]. Uiterste internetgebruik kan belangrike publieke gesondheidsbelang hê aangesien dit aan verskeie kardio-pulmonale sterftes en ten minste een moord toegeskryf word. Alhoewel die patologiese gebruik van alkohol of dwelms histories as 'n verslawing aanvaar is, bly vrae oor die vraag of ekstreme internetgebruik as 'n verslawing gekonseptualiseer moet word. Die Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is ontwikkel in 1998, voor die wydverspreide gebruik van Smartphone en ander mobiele toestelle, om internetverslawing [2] op te spoor. Dit is onduidelik of hierdie instrument in staat is om problematiese moderne internetgebruik vas te lê. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die konstruksie van "internetverslawing" te ondersoek in 'n voorbeeld van kollege-ouderdomsgebruikers.
Metode
'N Opname is aan die eerstejaar voorgraadse studente by McMaster Universiteit geadministreer en op ons sentrum se webwerf geplaas www.macanxiety.com. Following acknowledgment of a disclosure statement, participants completed several self-report scales detailing internet usage, symptoms of depression and anxiety, impulsiveness and executive functioning. Measures included: a short demographics questionnaire as well as a survey containing the IAT, sections from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for OCD, GAD, SAD, the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Individuals were also asked to complete the Dimensions of Problematic Internet Use (DPIU); a scale based on DSM-5 addiction criteria. Once the survey was complete, respondents were informed of their score and interpretation on the IAT.
Results
Two hundred and fifty-four participants completed all assessments. They had a mean age of 18.5±1.6 years and 74.5% were female. In total 12.5% (n = 33) met screening criteria for internet addition according to the IAT, while 107 (42%) met addiction criteria according to the DPIU. The most frequently reported dimensions of internet use where respondents had difficulty controlling their use were: video streaming services (55.8%), social networking (47.9%) and instant messaging tools (28.5%). Those screening positive on the IAT and on the DPIU had significantly higher levels of functional impairment (p < 0.001), depression and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001), greater executive functioning impairments (p < 0.001) and greater levels of attentional problems (p < 0.001) as well as ADHD symptoms (p < 0.001). Those with IAT and DPIU internet addiction spent more of their non-essential (leisure) time online compared to those who did not meet internet addiction criteria. When examining the different dimensions of internet use, positive screeners were more likely to have difficulty controlling their use of instant messaging tools compared to negative screeners (p = 0.01). No other differences in use were observed.
Gevolgtrekking
'N Hoë persentasie van die steekproef voldoen aan kriteria vir internetverslawing. Deelnemers wat voldoen aan kriteria vir internetverslawing het groter vlakke van psigopatologie en funksionele inkorting. Met die uitsondering van kitsboodskap-instrumente, verskil geen van die dimensies van internetgebruik tussen individue wat nie aan internetverslawingskriteria voldoen het nie en het nie aan die IAT voldoen nie. Hierdie studie beklemtoon dat problematiese internetgebruik meer wydverspreid as een keer gedink kan word. Verdere studies is nodig om die verhouding tussen problematiese internetgebruik en psigopatologie te verstaan.
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