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Problematic internet use during COVID-19 pandemic
Journal of Behavioral Addictions ; 11:221, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2009739
ABSTRACT

Background:

Experts in the field raised concerns about the rise of the Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) during the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), however, specific online behaviours and how they are presented cross-culturally were explored to a lesser extent. In this study, we aimed to explore the cross-cultural manifestation of specific online behaviours and their associations with self-compassion, appearance anxiety, image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) use, and specific online behaviours.

Methods:

An international survey was conducted in eight countries including Italy, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Japan, United Kingdom, Brazil and Hungary comprising in total 2223 individuals with a mean age of 33±11 years old. Participants were surveyed for specific type of Internet use severity (the Internet Activities Scale from the Internet Severity and Activities Addiction Questionnaire), selfcompassion (the Self-Compassion Scale, SCS), appearance anxiety (the Appearance Anxiety Inventory, AAI), and IPEDs use.

Results:

After adjustment for demographic factors, hours online, and country, self-compassion remained associated with higher levels of skill games and time wasters (β=-.073;p<.002), streaming (β=-.053;p=.018), digital hoarding (β=-.065;p=.006) and cyberchondria (β=-.153;p<.001). Appearance was associated with general surfing (β=.136;p<.001), online shopping (β=.137;p<.001), online gambling (β=.067;p=.003), social networking (β=.131;p<.001), pornography use (β=.102;p<.001), digital hoarding (β=.079;p<.001) and cyberchondria (β=.120;p<.001). IPEDs use also remained associated with various online behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic

Conclusions:

Our exploratory study demonstrates that self-compassion, appearance anxiety, and IPEDS use contribute to various forms of PUI.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Journal of Behavioral Addictions Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Language: English Journal: Journal of Behavioral Addictions Year: 2022 Document Type: Article