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Lederer-Hutsteiner T, Müller KW, Penker M, Stolz E, Greimel ER, Freidl W. The mediating effect of after-midnight use of digital media devices on the association of internet-related addictive behavior and insomnia in adolescents. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1422157. [PMID: 39056075 PMCID: PMC11269230 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1422157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background There is evidence that overexposure to digital media devices (DMD) can not only lead to addictive patterns of internet use, but also cause insomnia symptoms. The aim of this cross-sectional study among adolescents is to provide an estimate of the prevalence of sleep impairments and to explore the mediating role of after-midnight use of DMD between internet-related addictive behavior (IRAB) and insomnia. Methods 2,712 school students from Styrian schools participated in a population-representative online survey in a supervised school setting in spring 2022. School students were screened using established and validated scales. Data analysis was carried out using multiple imputation, linear multilevel regression and mediation analysis. Results Prevalence estimation indicates high proportions of clinically relevant moderate [12.6% (11.3%; 14.1%)] and severe [3.6% (2.9%; 4.4%)] insomnia, with an additional 30.6% (29.0%; 32.2%) at subthreshold level. DMD are typically used after midnight an average of 1.66 (1.58; 1.75) evenings with subsequent school day per school week. Linear multilevel regression analysis shows significant associations for sleep disparities as outcome variable e.g., with generalized anxiety [b = 0.329 (0.287; 0.371)], after-midnight use of DMD [b = 0.470 (0.369; 0.572)] and IRAB [b = 0.131 (0.097; 0.165)]. Mediation analysis shows a mediated proportion of 18.2% (13.0%; 25.0%) of the association of IRAB and insomnia by after-midnight use of DMD [Indirect effect: b = 0.032 (0.023; 0.040), direct effect: b = 0.127 (0.083; 0.170)]. Conclusions Although the cross-sectional nature of this study limits causal inference, the results indicate a need for policies, which are already in preparation in Styria as part of a respective action plan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kai W Müller
- Outpatient Clinic for Behavioral Addiction, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Penker
- Center for Social Research, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Erwin Stolz
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Elfriede R Greimel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Freidl
- Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
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Çunkuş Köktaş N, Keskin G, Taşdemir Yiğitoğlu G. Evaluation of Internet Addiction and Relational Variables Among Nursing Students in Turkey During the COVID-19 Pandemic. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2024; 51:388-399. [PMID: 38345029 DOI: 10.1177/10901981241230497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
It is known that individuals use the internet more to escape from the psychological problems they encounter in daily life during the pandemic. Besides, it is also known that individuals with personality traits such as neuroticism and extraversion might be prone to internet addiction due to poor communication skills. It is important to determine the relationship between the internet usage characteristics and the mental state of nursing students so that students can provide better quality health services in their education and professional processes. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between internet addiction and personality traits, stress, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms among nursing students during the pandemic. This study includes 528 nursing students. The Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT), the Vancouver Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) were used for data collection between August and October 2021. It was found that there was a statistically significant and positive correlation between the students' YIAT mean scores and the EPI neuroticism sub-dimension, VOCI all sub-dimensions, and PSS mean scores (p < .05). In addition, the mean scores of the PSS and EPI were predictors of the YIAT total score (R = .550, R2 = .233, p < .05). Considering these results, it is necessary to prevent the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial health of individuals. Psychological counseling can be offered to provide protective factors during the pandemic period.
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Tsiouris A, Werner AM, Tibubos AN, Mülder LM, Reichel JL, Heller S, Schäfer M, Schwab L, Rigotti T, Stark B, Dietz P, Beutel ME. Mental health state and its determinants in German university students across the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from three repeated cross-sectional surveys between 2019 and 2021. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1163541. [PMID: 37228718 PMCID: PMC10203612 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1163541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Students were at an increased risk for elevated mental symptoms during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. As universities remained closed much longer than anticipated, the mental burden was expected to persist through the second year of the pandemic. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental distress from 2019 through 2021 and identify risk factors for elevated mental burden, focusing on gender. Methods We analyzed three cross-sectional online surveys among students at the University of Mainz, conducted in 2019 (n = 4,351), 2020 (n = 3,066), and 2021 (n = 1,438). Changes in the prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and loneliness were calculated using Pearson's chi-square tests and analyses of variance. Multiple linear regressions yielded associated risk factors. Results The proportion of students with clinically relevant depressive symptoms was significantly higher during the pandemic (38.9% in 2020, and 40.7% in 2021), compared to pre-pandemic (29.0% in 2019). Similarly, more students reported suicidal ideation and generalized anxiety during the pandemic with a peak in the second pandemic year (2021). The level of loneliness was significantly higher in 2020, compared to 2019, and remained at a high level in 2021 (p < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.142). Female and diverse/open gender, being single, living alone, and being a first-year student were identified as risk factors associated with mental burden during the pandemic. Discussion Mental burdens remained elevated among students through the second year of the pandemic and were associated with socio-demographic risk factors and pandemic-related concerns. Future research should monitor recovery and evaluate the need for psychosocial support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Tsiouris
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Antonia M. Werner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Goethe-University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ana N. Tibubos
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Nursing Science, Diagnostics in Healthcare and E-Health, University of Trier, Trier, Germany
| | - Lina M. Mülder
- Department of Work, Organizational, and Business Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jennifer L. Reichel
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sebastian Heller
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Markus Schäfer
- Department of Communication, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lisa Schwab
- Institute for Sport Science, Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Disease Prevention, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Rigotti
- Department of Work, Organizational, and Business Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Birgit Stark
- Department of Communication, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Pavel Dietz
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Manfred E. Beutel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Pape M, Geisler BL, Cornelsen L, Bottel L, te Wildt BT, Dreier M, Herpertz S, Dieris-Hirche J. A short-term manual for webcam-based telemedicine treatment of Internet use disorders. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1053930. [PMID: 36911137 PMCID: PMC9995520 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1053930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the number of people who experience their Internet use behavior as problematic has risen dramatically. In Germany, a representative study from 2013 estimated the prevalence of Internet use disorder (IUD) to be about 1.0%, with higher rates among younger people. A 2020 meta-analysis shows a global weighted average prevalence of 7.02%. This indicates that developing effective IUD treatment programs is more critical than ever. Studies show that motivational interviewing (MI) techniques are widely used and effective in treating substance abuse and IUDs. In addition, an increasing number of online-based health interventions are being developed to provide a low-threshold treatment option. This article presents a short-term online-based treatment manual for IUDs that combines MI techniques with therapy tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). The manual includes 12 webcam-based therapy sessions, each lasting 50 min. Each session is framed by a standardized beginning, conclusion, outlook, and flexible session content. In addition, the manual contains example sessions to illustrate the therapeutic intervention. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online-based therapy compared to analog treatment settings and provide recommendations for dealing with these challenges. By combining established therapeutic approaches with an online-based therapeutic setting based on flexibility and motivation, we aim to provide a low-threshold solution for treating IUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Pape
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Lorraine Cornelsen
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Laura Bottel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Michael Dreier
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stephan Herpertz
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jan Dieris-Hirche
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Gavurova B, Ivankova V, Rigelsky M, Mudarri T. Internet Addiction in Socio-Demographic, Academic, and Psychological Profile of College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Front Public Health 2022; 10:944085. [PMID: 35812472 PMCID: PMC9260220 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.944085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Internet addiction is a serious problem among young adults that requires increased attention, especially at a time of distance learning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between internet addiction and selected socio-demographic, study-related, and psychological characteristics of college students. Internet addiction was measured using the Internet Addiction Test both overall and in its individual subscales (Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, Lack of Control, and Neglect Social Life). The selected characteristics represented (1) socio-demographic profile (gender, age, residence, family), (2) academic profile (housing during the semester, form of study), and (3) psychological profile (depressive symptoms—the Patient Health Questionnaire, stress—the Perceived Stress Scale, anxiety symptoms—the Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Data collection took place during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at Czech and Slovak colleges, with 1,422 students from the Czech Republic and 1,677 students from Slovakia participating in the research. The analytical processes were carried out through descriptive analysis, non-parametric difference analysis, and multiple negative binomial regression. Mild internet addiction was found in 387 (27.2%) Czech and 452 (27.0%) Slovak students. Moderate internet addiction was identified in 49 (3.4%) students from the Czech Republic and in 100 (6.0%) students from Slovakia. Two (0.1%) Czech and three (0.2%) Slovak students reported severe internet addiction. Increased likelihood of internet addiction overall, as well as in most individual subscales, was found particularly among male students and students who lived away from home during the semester. Depressive symptoms and stress could also be considered significant predictors in both countries. These results are important for the development of effective strategies and prevention programs, as Internet addiction may be a serious problem in the future, given the current times. When assessing internet addiction among college students, it would also be appropriate to evaluate the individual internet addiction subscales and their specifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Gavurova
- Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Beata Gavurova
| | - Viera Ivankova
- Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martin Rigelsky
- Department of Marketing and International Trade, Faculty of Management and Business, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovakia
| | - Tawfik Mudarri
- Institute of Earth Resources, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnologies, Technical University of Košice, Košice, Slovakia
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