Problematic Internet use among adults: a longitudinal European study

Lopez-Fernandez, O, Romo, L, Rousseau, A, Lelonek-Kuleta, B, Chwaszcz, J, Männikkö, N, Gässler, A-K, Demetrovics, Z, Achab, S, Kuss, DJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-782X and Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, 2024. Problematic Internet use among adults: a longitudinal European study. Adicciones. ISSN 0214-4840

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Abstract

There are few cross-cultural studies utilizing longitudinal analysis to explore problematic internet use (PIU), and almost none among adults. The present follow-up study compared three waves across 12-month period every six months and observed the natural course and trajectory of PIU in a European multi-country sample of adults from 11 countries (Finland, Belgium). A total of 139 participants (45.5% females) provided data across all three waves with an average age of 26.14 years (SD = 5.92). There were longitudinal effects in PIU, with statistical differences between at-risk users compared to healthy users in Waves 1 and 2, and Waves 1 and 3. The analyses of variance showed a longitudinal effect of waves on the PIU symptoms. PIU was significantly affected by time and type of user, with those classed as at-risk having higher scores than healthy users, although PIU decreased over time. In addition, the type of PIU detected in adults contained mild addictive symptoms. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PIU was generally low among European adult population and tended to decrease over the one-year period, what contrasts with adolescent population findings.

Item Type:	Journal article
Alternative Title:	Uso problemático de internet entre adultos: un estudio europeo longitudinal
Publication Title:	Adicciones
Creators:	Lopez-Fernandez, O., Romo, L., Rousseau, A., Lelonek-Kuleta, B., Chwaszcz, J., Männikkö, N., Gässler, A.-K., Demetrovics, Z., Achab, S., Kuss, D.J. and Griffiths, M.D.
Publisher:	Socidrogalcohol
Date:	1 June 2024
ISSN:	0214-4840
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.20882/adicciones.1948 DOI 1909706 Other
Rights:	The journal Adicciones is Open Access, which means that once published, the articles will be freely available on the web and other search platforms, allowing them to be sent and shared with the entire scientific community. The authors are free to distribute the article, as long as all pertinent information about the journal in which it was published is clearly stated.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	03 Jul 2024 15:34
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2024 15:34
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/51677

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