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Wang D, Liu X, Chen K, Gu C, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Luo Y. Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:531. [PMID: 38378524 PMCID: PMC10880227 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17980-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the global trend of actively promoting the participation of older adults in the digital age, the relevant negative issues featuring potential Internet Addiction (IA) among them has risen to be a new challenge facing the global public health. However, there is a severe lack of related research. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and process of IA among the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to introduce factors that may influence IA in the demographic. METHODS This study employed qualitative descriptive research methods to investigate older adults' perceptions and experiences of IA. Semi-structured in-depth personal interviews were conducted between March and June 2023 with 36 senior citizens from urban communities in Chongqing, Southwest China. Data were analyzed via inductive content analysis methods. RESULTS Through data analysis, 2 main categories concerning IA in older adults were identified: risk factors and protective factors. The risk factor categories include 5 individual factors (e.g., Internet as the major avenue for pursuing personal hobbies and interests, etc.), 3 family factors (e.g., household WIFI increasing the risk of prolonged Internet use indoors, etc.), 2 peer factors (e.g., peer recommendation and guidance as catalysts for intensified Internet engagement, etc.), 2 socio-environmental factors (e.g., the widespread daily Internet use spurs offline intolerance, etc.), and 3 Internet platform factors (e.g., the plenitude of online content triggers endless viewing/browsing behaviors, etc.). The category of protective factors encompasses 2 individual factors (e.g., a higher level of perceived risk regarding internet health hazards, etc.) and 2 family factors (e.g., more family commitment, etc.). CONCLUSIONS Older adults' Internet addictive behaviors are shaped by multiple and complex internal and external factors. A higher level of online health risk perception is a key protective factor to effectively avoid the occurrence and deterioration of IA among the aged, a distinct finding from this study. It is believed that the "individual-family-peer-community" synergy strategy is expected to become an essential direction for IA intervention for older adults, in order to promote healthy Internet use among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University, No. 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University, No. 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Kun Chen
- School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University, No. 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chunyan Gu
- Shuangbei Community Health Service Center, No.14 Shuangbei Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Hongyan Zhao
- Xiaolongkan Community Health Service Center, No.4 Xiaolongkan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Shuangbei Community Health Service Center, No.14 Shuangbei Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Yu Luo
- School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical University, No. 30 Gaotanyan Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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Karakose T, Yıldırım B, Tülübaş T, Kardas A. A comprehensive review on emerging trends in the dynamic evolution of digital addiction and depression. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1126815. [PMID: 36844332 PMCID: PMC9944096 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1126815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Using digital addiction as an umbrella term to cover any type of addictions to digital technologies such as the internet, smartphones, social media, or video games, the current study aimed to reveal the intellectual structure and evolution of research addressing digital addiction-depression relationship. Methods The study combined bibliometric and science mapping analysis methods for this purpose. Data for the study was gathered from Web of Science Core Collection after a comprehensive process of data search/extraction, and 241 articles were included in the final data set. A period-based, comparative science mapping analysis was performed using the SciMAT software. Results The analysis of data over three periods, Period 1 (1983-2016), Period 2 (2017-2019), and Period 3 (2020-2022) showed that internet addiction was the most significant theme across all three periods, which was followed by social media addiction. Depression, which emerged as a significant theme during Period 1, was later covered under anxiety disorder theme. Research interest was mostly on factors related to both addiction and depression such as cognitive distortion, insomnia, loneliness, self-esteem, social support, alexithymia, as well as cybervictimization or academic performance. Discussion The results suggested that much research is warranted on the digital addiction-depression relationship in different age cohorts, especially children and elderly. Similarly, the current analysis showed that this line of research particularly focused on internet, gaming and social media addiction, and evidence with regard to other types of digital addiction or related compulsive behaviors was almost absent. In addition, research was mostly inclined to understanding cause-effect relationships, which is significant, but preventive strategies seemed to be barely addressed. Likewise, the smartphone addiction-depression relationship arguably garnered less research interest, so future research would contribute to the field in this respect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turgut Karakose
- Department of Education, Kutahya Dumlupınar University, Kutahya, Türkiye,*Correspondence: Turgut Karakose, ✉
| | - Bilal Yıldırım
- Department of Education, Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Tijen Tülübaş
- Department of Education, Kutahya Dumlupınar University, Kutahya, Türkiye
| | - Abdurrahman Kardas
- District Director of National Education, Ministry of National Education, Siirt, Türkiye
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Karaş H, Küçükparlak İ, Özbek MG, Yılmaz T. Addictive smartphone use in the elderly: relationship with depression, anxiety and sleep quality. Psychogeriatrics 2023; 23:116-125. [PMID: 36366976 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12910] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between addictive smartphone use (ASU) and depressive symptoms, anxiety and sleep quality in elderly adults. METHODS The study sample included smartphone users over the age of 65 years. The research data were obtained from social networking sites via a Google survey link. In addition to filling out a sociodemographic data form, the participants were also assessed with Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index tools. RESULTS The correlation analysis revealed the SAS score to be positively correlated with depression and anxiety, and negatively correlated with sleep quality. In the regression analysis, depressive symptoms, anxiety level and sleep quality were all found to have an effect on the SAS total score. Furthermore, the SAS score was found to have an effect on depressive symptoms, anxiety and sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a bidirectional relationship between ASU and depressive, anxiety symptoms and impaired sleep quality in elderly adults. It is important to question smartphone use patterns in people with sleep problems, symptoms of depression or anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Karaş
- Psychology Department, Istanbul Gelişim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | | | - Taner Yılmaz
- Psychology Department, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Liu T, Jia Y, Yang Y, Chen Q. Conflict with children, psychological depression, and problematic internet use among Chinese older adults: The moderating effect of sociability and living situation. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231216417. [PMID: 38033520 PMCID: PMC10687979 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231216417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Problematic internet use among the elderly is an emerging area as previous studies focused more among the young people. Only a few studies focused on problematic internet use at the level of individual characteristics of older adults or on mitigating factors at the level of the older adult's family, ignoring family-level disruptive factors. Objective The purpose of study is to investigate the relationship between conflict with children and problematic internet use among the elderly, as well as the mediating mechanisms and boundary conditions of the relationship. Methods The valid sample of study composed of 428 older adults from 39 different villages and communities in central China. Data analyses were conducted by SPSS, MPLUS, and SmartPLS software. To test our hypotheses, we implement several quantitative methods, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), correlations analysis, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Also, we employed partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for robustness testing. Results The results indicated that conflict with children was positively associated with problematic internet use of old people; psychological depression mediated the relationship between conflict with children and old adults' problematic internet use; sociability moderated the effect of conflict with children on psychological depression; and living situation moderated the effect of psychological depression on problematic internet use among the elderly. Conclusion The current research improved the understanding of the mechanisms that produce problematic internet use among the elderly and helped prevent or reduce problematic internet use in older adults in terms of family support systems and individual ability characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyuan Liu
- School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Jia
- Center for Studies of Media Development, School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinyu Chen
- School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Sayili U, Pirdal BZ, Kara B, Acar N, Camcioglu E, Yilmaz E, Can G, Erginoz E. Internet Addiction and Social Media Addiction in Medical Faculty Students: Prevalence, Related Factors, and Association with Life Satisfaction. J Community Health 2022; 48:189-198. [PMID: 36344767 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-022-01153-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Internet addiction is a growing behavioral health problem in modern societies. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) and social media addiction (SMA) and their relationship with sociodemographic factors, lifestyle habits, and internet usage patterns among medical students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 medical students in a medical faculty, in Istanbul. Self-report questionnaires comprised sociodemographic status, lifestyle habits, internet and social media usage behavior, the Young Internet Addiction Test-short form (s-IAT), and the Bergen Social media addiction scale. The total prevalence of IA was 16.1% (11.8-20.4%), 17.2% (12.8-21.7%) in males and 14.8% (10.7-19.0%) in females. The total prevalence of SMA was 6.1% (3.3-8.9%), 4.8% (2.3-7.3%) in males and 7.4% (4.3-10.5%) in females. No significant difference was found between the sexes in terms of IA and SMA. IA was higher in grade 3 students than in grade 6 students. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that reading books at least once per month, high life satisfaction, performing physical activity at least twice per week, and using the internet for communication purposes were independent preventive factors for IA. The current study shows that IA and SMA are common in medical school students. Moreover, IA is associated with socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle habits such as reading books, life satisfaction, and physical activity. To protect medical school students from IA and develop healthy behaviors, it is necessary to develop prevention strategies and design and implement awareness and education programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugurcan Sayili
- Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Institute of Graduate Studies in Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Betul Zehra Pirdal
- Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Busra Kara
- Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nurefsan Acar
- Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Emirhan Camcioglu
- Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Erkin Yilmaz
- Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gunay Can
- Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ethem Erginoz
- Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey
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Li G. Hierarchical Linear Model of Internet Addiction and Associated Risk Factors in Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192114008. [PMID: 36360886 PMCID: PMC9655787 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The risk effects of internet addiction have been documented in the literature; however, few longitudinal studies have considered the heterogeneity of the subjects. A hierarchical linear model was used here to explore the relationship between adolescents' internet addiction and associated risk factors (depression, anxiety, gender, and obesity) from the perspective of longitudinal analysis. A total of 1033 adolescents were investigated and followed up with every three months with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The hierarchical linear model of internet addiction had only two levels. The first level of the model was the time variable (three time points) and the second level of the model was the individual adolescent (1033 adolescents). The results showed that (1) depression and anxiety, as associated risk factors, were significant positive predictors of adolescents' internet addiction considering the developmental trajectory courses of adolescent internet addiction, as well as the individual differences over time; (2) there were gender differences in the adolescents' internet addictions-specifically, the initial level of internet addiction among boys was significantly higher than that of girls, but the rate of decline was significantly faster than that of girls; and (3) there was no significant difference in obesity. The results demonstrated the importance of considering depression, anxiety, and gender in any intervention efforts to reduce adolescents' internet addictions, and we should pay attention to the cultivation of positive coping strategies for Chinese adolescents. The limitations of the study were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangming Li
- Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China;
- School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
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Jia Y, Liu T, Yang Y. The relationship between real-life social support and Internet addiction among the elderly in China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:981307. [PMID: 36091503 PMCID: PMC9459314 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.981307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Internet addiction among the elderly is a novel issue in many countries. However, extant research about excessive use of the Internet is focusing on adolescents and younger adults. There are few studies to explore the topic of the elderly's Internet addiction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between real-life social support and Internet addiction among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article adopted a self-reported questionnaire via internet links to collect data. A total of 303 valid samples about Internet addiction for the elderly were obtained in China. The results suggested that real-life social support is significantly and negatively related to Internet addiction among the aged. Moreover, the findings revealed that real-life social support could mitigate Internet addiction by increasing the levels of hopefulness and decreasing the feeling of loneliness. We expect that this study can enrich the understanding of the problematic Internet usage within older populations. Finally, the contributions, practical significance, and limitations of this study were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jia
- School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianyuan Liu
- School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Yang Y, Liu T, Jia Y. The impact of interaction with children on internet addiction in older adults: A moderated mediation model. Front Psychol 2022; 13:989942. [PMID: 36081734 PMCID: PMC9448416 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.989942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Internet addiction among older adults is a new problem in many countries. However, previous studies on excessive Internet use have focused more on young people, and only few studies have focused on Internet addiction in older adults. There is a need to continue to expand research on Internet addiction in older adults. This paper aimed to fill the gap in exiting literature. We adopted a self-reported questionnaire to assess the elderly’s interaction with children, loneliness, life satisfaction and Internet addiction among old adults. A total of 241 old people were obtained from data collection in China via online survey with the help of a professional research company. We used OLS regression analysis and bootstrap method to test the hypothesis. The results of the empirical analysis indicated that (1) interaction with children was significantly negatively associated with the Internet addiction of old people; (2) loneliness mediated the relationship between interaction with children and old adults’ Internet addiction; and (3) life satisfaction moderated the effect of interaction with children, and the indirect effect between interaction with children and old adults’ addiction via loneliness was stronger for those with low life satisfaction. Finally, we discussed the theoretical significance, practical implications, limitation of this research. Interventions to improve family function systems especially for older people with low life satisfaction can help prevent the development of Internet addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianyuan Liu
- School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Jia
- School of Journalism and Communication, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Jia,
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