ABSTRACT
Introduction: Problematic gaming, social media, and pornography use have all been conceptualized as potential behavioral addictions, sharing similar etiological and neurological mechanisms. Nevertheless, majority of the research to date has investigated these behaviors separately or explored their co-occurrence. The present study aimed to investigate how an identical set of predictors relates to each problematic behavior, exploring the similarities and differences between them. Methods: Data was collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with an online survey among a convenience sample of Hungarians. Three linear regression models with the three different problematic behaviors as outcomes were conducted (problematic social media use/pornography use/gaming N = 332/396/217;gender = 62.2/66.0/69.9% males;mean age = 38.6/39.9/37.6 years;SD = 10.7/11.0/10.0). Results: Findings revealed that depression symptoms were significantly and positively related to all three problem behaviors. Problematic pornography use was associated with male gender, while problematic social media use was associated with female gender. Time spent on each activity was positively correlated with the problematic use of the same activity. Remarkably, playing time was also positively associated with problematic social media use and problematic pornography use. Moreover, loneliness was significantly and positively associated with problematic pornography use. Conclusion: The results indicate that problematic gamers, social media, and pornography users all may experience depression symptoms and that excessive use may result in adverse consequences in all these activities. The current findings extend the knowledge regarding the psychological features of problematic use of games, pornography, and social media, highlighting the need to focus on their common underlying etiological processes.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic and the related restrictions had a significant impact on the living and working conditions as well as the everyday behavior and mental health condition. Aim of the current analysis was to examine the impact of the input-deprived circumstances on the sexual life characteristics. An online survey carried out after a few weeks of the first nation-wide lockdown was enacted in Hungary. 1,755 persons participated in the first wave (50.4% males). Relationship and sexual life satisfaction, sexual intercourse and masturbation frequency were assessed with additional single-item questions about the subjective change (5-pont Likert scale;1=“decreased significantly”;5=“increased significantly) in these characetristics since the epidemiological restrictions had been introduced. Furthermore, several potential protective and risk factors were measured (depressive symptoms, perceived stress, loneliness, general well being, intolerance of uncertainty, sensation seeking, and COVID-19 related health anxiety). Linear regression models were calculated to assess which of the former variables predict the subjective changes of one’s sexual life. The analyses resulted in weak standardized coefficients. The subjective change in relationship satisfaction (mean 3.20, SD 0.94) and sexual satisfaction (mean 2.82, SD 0.73) were predicted positively by general well-being (β=.11–0.25, p<.01), and negatively by loneliness (β=-.14-0.19, p<0.01). Loneliness predicted negatively the subjective change in sexual intercourses (mean 2.75, SD 0.89) and masturbation frequency (mean 2.89, SD 0.84) (β=- .10–.12, p<.01), while sensation seeking had no effect (β=-.09, p<.01). The COVID-19 related health anxiety predicted negatively only the change in sexual life frequency (β=-.07, p<.05). The explained variances were rather small (1.7%-11.8%).DisclosureNo significant relationships.