A Preliminary Study Suggesting Similar Relationships Between Impulsivity and Severity of Problematic Internet Use in Male and Female Iranian College Students

Examining the evidence between screen time and night eating behaviour with dietary intake related to metabolic syndrome: A narrative review

Screen time (ST) on digital devices has increased in recent decades due to digital development. Furthermore, constant engagement with digital devices alters sleep patterns, leading to nocturnal eating behaviour among users. These phenomena are therefore of great concern, as digital device addiction and night eating are associated with unhealthy food intake, increasing the metabolic syndrome (MetS) risks. The purpose of this review was to examine the evidence of the influence of ST and night eating behaviour (NEB) on dietary intake and its association with MetS based on previous literature. Prolonged ST and NEB have an association with excessive intake of energy from overconsumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods. However, the relationship between digital content and its influence on food intake is inconsistent. A higher MetS risk was found in individuals with longer ST due to a sedentary lifestyle, while positive energy balance and a shift in circadian rhythm contributed to night eaters. ST and NEB presented with a significant influence on food intake in adults. Additionally, unhealthy food intake due to excessive consumption of empty-calorie foods such as sweet and fatty foods due to addiction to electronic devices and eating at night has a detrimental effect on metabolic function. Therefore, improving food intake by reducing ST and night binges is essential to reduce the risk of MetS.

Impulsivity, inhibition, and internet addiction in medical students of North of Iran

BACKGROUND

Internet addiction, a serious psychological disorder, has rapidly increased among students and caused substantial interpersonal impairments. On the other hand, some evidence has indicated that impulsivity is associated with addictive behaviors.

OBJECTIVES

There are a few studies concerning the relationship between internet addiction and impulsivity in Iranian students. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between impulsivity and internet addiction in the medical students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran, within 2020-2021.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 260 medical students at Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2021 completed demographic, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and Young questionnaires and participated in a Go/No-Go computer test. Based on Young test scores, the students were divided into three groups of normal users, at-risk users, and users requiring treatment and compared regarding impulsivity and inhibition ability. Data was analyzed using SPSS v 23.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 24.16 years. The results showed a significant correlation between impulsivity and internet addiction (p = 0.001), which was established in all contextual indicators. A significant correlation was also shown between impulsivity and internet addiction (r = 0.602 and p = 0.001), both in male and female student. However, restraint index was correlated with internet addiction only in females (r = 0.187 and p = 0.033).

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, impulsivity increases alongside the rising of the internet addiction severity and does not influence by gender.

The Relationship Between Affective and Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Internet Use Disorder

We investigated the relationships and diagnostic power of symptoms associated with affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and drug addictions on Internet use disorder. Moreover, we tested whether Internet use disorder is characterized by a specific network of symptoms. One-hundred-and-four young adults (78 women) were assessed in laboratory using self-report measures of Internet addiction, alcohol use disorder, cannabis abuse, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, impulsiveness, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Only hoarding, obsessing, and depression symptoms were positively linked to Internet use disorder severity, with hoarding having greater power and accuracy than other obsessive-compulsive and affective symptoms. Only individuals with mild-moderate Internet use disorder were characterized by a network of strong and positive associations of affective and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. These findings may encourage future longitudinal studies aimed at identifying potential clinical criteria for the diagnosis of Internet use disorder and treatment targets.

Problematic Facebook use and problematic video gaming as mediators of relationship between impulsivity and life satisfaction among female and male gamers

Over the past few decades, many new technologies have emerged, such as portable computers, the internet and smartphones, which have contributed to improving the lives of individuals. While the benefits of these new technologies are overwhelmingly positive, negative consequences are experienced by a minority of individuals. One possible negative aspect of new technologies is their problematic use due to impulsive use which may lead to lower life satisfaction. The present study investigated the mediating role of problematic video gaming (PVG) and problematic Facebook use (PFU) in the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction as well as the relationship between impulsivity dimensions and problematic behaviors. Additionally, the potential impact of gender differences was also examined. The study comprised 673 gamers (391 females) aged 17-38 years (M = 21.25 years, SD = 2.67) selected from 1365 individuals who completed an offline survey. PFU was assessed using the Facebook Intrusion Scale, and PVG was assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF). Impulsivity dimensions such as attention, cognitive instability, motor, perseverance, self-control, and cognitive complexity were assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Depending on the specific impulsivity dimension, findings showed both positive and negative relationships between impulsivity and life satisfaction. Attention and perseverance subtypes of impulsivity were primarily associated with problematic behaviors. Additionally, cognitive complexity was associated with PFU among female gamers, whereas cognitive instability was associated with PVG among male gamers. Additionally, PVG was primarily associated with lower life satisfaction. However, there was no mediation effects between impulsivity dimensions and life satisfaction via PFU or PVG. These findings provide a better understanding of the relationship between problematic behaviors, life satisfaction, and impulsivity among gamers and the differences between male and female gamers.

Dysfunction of Self-Control in Facebook Addiction: Impulsivity Is the Key

Facebook is one of the most popular social network sites and communication platforms. However, besides many positive elements related to the use of this network site, in some cases it may lead to addiction. Therefore, the main aim of our study was to identify Facebook addiction predictors, in particular, to verify whether impulsivity, as a dimension of self-control, is an important predictor of this type of addiction. We also examined whether Facebook addiction predictors such as time spent using Facebook, use of Facebook smartphone apps, state orientation and female gender would be significant in our model of Facebook addiction. The 234 participants in the study were assessed using the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire, the Brief Self-Control Scale and the Action Control Scale. Impulsivity as a dimension of self-control, action control, amount of time spent on Facebook, Facebook app use and gender were found to be related to Facebook addiction. Specifically, a high level of impulsivity, more time spent using Facebook, female gender and Facebook smartphone app use are predictors of Facebook addiction. However, the relation between state orientation, restraint as a dimension of self-control and Facebook addiction was insignificant. Our results may indicate the role of impulsivity as a dimension of self-control in Facebook addiction. In addition, they may suggest that self-control should be taken into account not only as a one-dimensional but also as a multidimensional construct in Facebook addiction research. Our findings may also contribute to the better preparation of prevention and therapeutic programmes for people at risk of Facebook addiction.