Effects of emotional working memory training on problematic internet use, inhibition, attention, and working memory among young problematic internet users: a randomized control study

Shahrajabian, F, Hasani, J, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, Aruguete, M and Chashmi, SJE, 2023. Effects of emotional working memory training on problematic internet use, inhibition, attention, and working memory among young problematic internet users: a randomized control study. Addictive Behaviors, 141: 107659. ISSN 0306-4603

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Abstract

Problematic internet use (PIU) has been defined as an inability to control impulses to use the internet, and is associated with psychological, social, educational, and/or occupational problems. Considering the harmful effects of PIU, the present study evaluated a treatment intervention aimed at controlling PIU. A randomized control study investigated the effectiveness of emotional working memory training (eWMT) in improving inhibition, attention, and working memory among individuals with PIU in comparison with a placebo group. Young adults (N = 36) with PIU were either trained for 20 sessions in an n-back dual emotional task (eWMT; n = 18) or a feature matching task (placebo; n = 18). Results showed that 20 continuous sessions of eWMT significantly reduced the symptoms of PIU and improved participants’ working memory, attention, and inhibition (compared to the placebo group). These preliminary findings suggest that eWMT can be considered a promising treatment to reduce PIU by improving individuals’ cognitive and emotional functioning.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Addictive Behaviors
Creators:	Shahrajabian, F., Hasani, J., Griffiths, M.D., Aruguete, M. and Chashmi, S.J.E.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	June 2023
Volume:	141
ISSN:	0306-4603
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107659 DOI 1734355 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	20 Feb 2023 15:22
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2024 03:00
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/48367

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