Always scrolling? 3 key drivers of problematic internet use, revealed

"Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) is a steadily growing public health concern. With prevalence rates of approximately 7% for unspecified PUI across the globe, there is a need for improvements of prevention and intervention to protect individuals from PUI."

"The first pathway, called 'Feels better', tends to start with altered stress appraisal and a maladaptive coping style for dealing with stress in daily life. The second pathway, 'Must do' is linked to compulsivity."

"Behavior automatization (i.e., using games or social media automatically and 'without thinking') is also linked to attentional impulsivity, which is a specific predisposing variable for the second, the compulsivity-related 'Must do' pathway."

"The third pathway, 'Can't stop', is related to reductions of cognitive behavior control. However, many problematic internet users will be driven by a combination of these drivers."

Problematic internet use (PUI) is a growing public health concern, with approximately 7% prevalence globally. Researchers identified three main drivers: the desire to feel better through distraction, a compulsive need to go online, and a reduced ability to stop the behavior. The study involved 819 participants and revealed that these drivers often interact. The first pathway involves maladaptive coping with stress, the second is linked to compulsivity and automatization of behavior, and the third relates to cognitive control reductions.

Read at Mail Online