Emerging Health and Education Issues Related to Internet Technologies and Addictive Problems

Smartphone Addiction and Related Factors among Athletes

Smartphone addiction (SA) is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the level of SA in athletes affiliated to the Turkish Handball Federation in Izmir and to examine its relationship with factors such as sociodemographic status, health status, eating attitude, and body perception. This cross-sectional study was conducted in March-April 2021 in Izmir Province. The sample of the study consisted of 212 licensed handball athletes. The short SA scale, three-factor nutrition scale, and body perception scale were used. A chi-square test was used for bivariate comparisons and logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate comparisons. The study was completed with 202 individuals (the coverage rate was 95.3%). The prevalence of SA was found to be 27.7%. The risk of SA increased 2.49-fold (CI: 1.17-5.31, p = 0.018) in female participants, 2.01-fold (CI: 1.01-4.06, p = 0.048) in participants with alcohol use, 2.17-fold (CI: 1.04-4.58, p = 0.042) in participants with low nutritional scores, 2.65-fold (CI: 1.15-6.10, p = 0.022) in individuals with high-income status, and 2.66-fold (CI: 1.07-6.64, p = 0.036) in individuals with high body perception scale score. In total, 27.7% of the athlete sample had scores above the SA threshold. These results point out that a behavioral addiction such as SA can occur even in professionals of an activity such as sports, known for beneficial effects in terms of healthy life.

The Mediating Role of Procrastination in the Relationship between Fear of Missing Out and Internet Addiction in University Students

This study aims to examine the potential mediating role of procrastination in the relationship between fear of missing out and internet addiction. Employing a cross-sectional research design, this study utilized a paper-pencil form to collect data from 315 students (65.4% undergraduate and 66.3% females) between 18 and 32 (Mage = 22.43; SD = 3.81) studying at a state university in Türkiye. Data were collected through the convenience sampling method. The study was designed as a survey model. This design was tested via mediation analysis. The participants completed self-report assessments using the Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOs), General Procrastination Scale (GPS-9), and Young Internet Addiction Scale (short form). The findings showed that FoMO had a significant positive direct effect on both procrastination (R2 = 0.13) and internet addiction (R2 = 0.33). Procrastination also had a significant positive direct effect on internet addiction (R2 = 0.34). Additionally, procrastination mediated the relationship between the fear of missing out and internet addiction (β = 0.156, p < 0.001). These findings not only extend the scope of existing research but also hold practical implications for the development of sustainable interventions. It is believed that the findings will contribute to the consideration of procrastination when preparing psychoeducation or group guidance programs for internet addiction. These interventions can effectively address the process through which fear of missing out leads to internet addiction by considering the significant role of procrastination in students. Findings typically suggest that procrastination behavior is a key factor in explaining the association between FoMO and internet addiction.

Smartphones and Learning: Evaluating the Focus of Recent Research

The smartphone has become integral to most aspects of students' lives and is the primary conduit for accessing the internet. Objective research into the promise and dangers of this device is critical. While educational uses of the smartphone with young adults hold promise, the potential for harm is also present. While objectivity is valued, the focus of researchers can subjectively skew towards optimistic or pessimistic views of technology. The topics addressed in smartphone and learning research illuminate trends and potential biases in the field. This study investigates the issues addressed in smartphone and learning research in the past two years. These topics are compared with smartphone research in a similar field: psychology. The study, using a bibliometric approach, identified an overall negative arc of the literature towards topics such as addiction, depression, and anxiety in the psychology literature. The educational literature topics were comparatively more positive than psychology. Highly cited papers in both fields reflected explorations of adverse outcomes.

Internet addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents in southeast Nigeria and implications for adolescent care in the post-pandemic era: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of internet addiction amongst adolescents in Southeast Nigeria during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 10 randomly selected secondary schools, 2 (one urban and one rural) each from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi Enugu and Imo states of southeastern Nigeria between July and August 2021. Data on demographic variables were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Young's Internet Addiction Test was used to assess the extent of internet use. Analysis was done using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 23. The level of significance was set at a p-value of <0.05.

Results

The mean age of the respondents was 16.2 ± 1.8 years and the male: female ratio was 1:1.6. Most of the adolescents (61.1%) used the internet for academic purposes, while 32.8% used it for social interactions and the majority (51.5%) used their phones. The prevalence of internet addiction was 88.1% (24.9% had mild, 59.6% had moderate, while 3.6% had severe addiction) and a good proportion of the respondents (81.1%) perceived addiction as bad. Internet addiction was significantly associated with the respondent's age (p = 0.043), mother's level of education (p = 0.023), family size (p = 0.021), place of residence (p = 0.035), alcohol intake (p = 0.017), smoking (p = 0.015), substance use (p = 0.001) as well as the duration of internet use (p < 0.001). Internet addiction was predicted by the male gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.054; confidence interval (CI): 1.200-3.518), early adolescent age group (10-13 years) (AOR: 0.115; C1: 0.015-0.895) as well as the duration of internet use (AOR: 0.301; CI: 0.189-0.479).

Conclusions

The prevalence of internet addiction among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic era was high. The predictors of addiction were the male gender, early adolescent age group and duration of internet use.

Contextual Variables with an Impact on the Educational Inclusion of Students with Rare Diseases

The context of a school may play a fundamental role in students' academic and personal progress. In this study, we focus on two contextual variables, the school type and school location or setting. The study used a questionnaire to assess teachers' knowledge and thoughts about rare diseases based on these variables, with the participation of 574 school teachers. To broaden the research perspective, another questionnaire was administered to members of 152 rare disease patient advocacy groups to ask about their participation in educational processes and analyse their results according to one of the contextual variables: the setting or location of each association. The results indicated statistically significant differences according to the variables examined, which were larger for the type of school variable. In short, numerous variables that influence the teaching and learning processes need to be considered in educational praxis; in this study, we looked at those of a contextual nature (for example, the geographic characteristics of schools and associations), and this is essential for increasingly heterogeneous educational locations that demand multidimensional approaches.

What the grey literature can contribute to addictive behaviour disorder classification •

This commentary examines the proposal made by Brand et al. (2022) regarding a framework outlining relevant criteria for considering possible behavioural addictions within the current World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) category of 'other specified disorders due to addictive behaviours'. We agree with the framework as it highlights the clinical perspective requiring agreed-upon classifications and criteria to produce effective diagnostic procedures and efficacious treatments. Additionally, we propose to add the need of recognising potential addictive behaviour through the inclusion of a fourth meta-level criterion: 'grey literature evidence'. Utilising non-academic evidence can provide validity in the social context where the behaviour takes place, and it can support authorities in taking action to prevent and treat the resultant behavioural problems. The inclusion of the proposed fourth criterion will aid comprehensibility of the current proposal and provide clarity, as indicated in the present commentary, which includes the fourth criterion analysis for problematic pornography use, shopping/buying and social networking site use.

Rare Diseases in the Educational Field: Knowledge and Perceptions of Spanish Teachers

Background: Education plays a fundamental role in everyone’s wellbeing. That means it is essential to provide quality inclusive activities to ensure equity and equality of opportunity in order to shape a cohesive, democratic, healthy society. Methods: In this study we focus on how inclusive educational practice addresses students with rare diseases, looking at teachers’ knowledge and opinions in this regard. A questionnaire was administered to 574 teachers who taught in various stages of non-university education to determine their knowledge and opinions about different dimensions: conceptualization, legislation, intervention, and diagnosis. Results: The results suggested various ideas for improvement in pursuit of positive, real inclusion, such as the need to improve teachers’ knowledge and understanding of these students’ characteristics and potential, with widespread specific training being urgently needed. Conclusions: in summary, students’ rights to education without discrimination is a basic premise of an educational system, leading to the need for a complete educational response that allows each student to develop as a person.

Problem Technology Use, Academic Performance, and School Connectedness among Adolescents

Background: Little is known about the association between problem technology use in adolescents and school-related outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of problem technology use and examine its association with academic performance and school connectedness in a sample of students across Ontario, Canada. Methods: Self-reported data from a sample of 4837 students in grades 9 to 12 (mean age: 15.9 years; 49.5% females) were cross-sectionally analyzed. Ordered logistic regression models were adjusted for important covariates. Results: We found that 35.8% of students used their screen device for at least 5 h a day and about 18.6% had moderate-to-serious symptoms of problem technology use, a prevalence that was higher in females (22.4%) than males (14.9%). Heavy technology use was differentially associated with lower academic performance and lower levels of school connectedness in males and females. Having moderate-to-serious symptoms of problem technology use was associated with lower academic performance among males (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53–0.87) and females (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.52–0.84). It was also associated with less school connectedness in both males (AOR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.50–0.86) and females (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.51–0.78). Conclusion: Excessive use and problem technology use are highly prevalent among secondary school students, and they are associated with lower academic performance and lower levels of school connectedness.

Covid-19 and organisational development: important signs of a new pillar for sustainability

Purpose

The global pandemic has had a considerable effect on organisations’ performance and development and on the daily lives of the general population. This study aims to analyse the recent literature on the topics of Covid-19 and sustainability and proposes to rethink and redefine sustainability with the intersection of human health as a fourth sustainable pillar.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases, 119 articles were analysed in detail and classified according to concepts and principles for achieving sustainable development, based on the Brundtland Report, 1987.

Findings

The results indicate a high number of publications in the social dimension, with a relevant proportion of studies in the health sector. This study allows us to conclude that all sectors of society are being affected by the pandemic. However, the enormous tension and the immediate impact felt by the health sector during the pandemic reflect directly on the population, and there are clear signs that in the medium and long term, instability and uncertainty in the environmental, economic and social dimensions will remain. In national health systems, monitoring, innovating in human resource management and investing in information technology can ensure organizations’ reliability and sustainability. The conclusion involves the suggestion of introducing health as a new pillar for sustainability to consolidate the basis and structure of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Objectives. The use of fundamental concepts is necessary and must be aligned to reassess the results obtained in studies, in comparison with observational data.

Practical implications

The implications arising from the inclusion of health as a fourth pillar of sustainability are diverse. The need to build a new theoretical and conceptual framework for sustainability derives from the fact that health reflects the concern of many postulants in this field of practices. The determining or conditioning conditions of the observed effects of the pandemic by COVID-19, whether situated simply as factors and/or economic, environmental or social reflexes that precede them, requires a conceptual development that allows its approach, as a complex object, whose determinations are subject to variable degrees of uncertainty and diversity.

Originality/value

This study aims to redefine the concept of sustainability, considering that health has become a public health emergency of international interest. Health affects the supply chain, cash flow, interferes with the educational format and interrupts the workforce’s routine, among other aspects, showing the true nature of its importance and its impact in all spheres (economic, environmental and social).

Internet use during COVID-19 lockdown among young people in low- and middle-income countries: Role of psychological wellbeing

Problematic internet use in adolescents has been shown to significantly increase over the past few years, with COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns reinforcing this phenomena globally. We sought to explore whether problematic internet use in specific countries was related to emotional well-being and importantly whether this is predicted by psychological distress. There is a growing number of studies showing that problematic internet use is increasingly prevalent in countries with emerging economies, however we have yet to find out to what extent other factors are influencing this behaviour in adolescents and young people. This study invited young people from countries such India, Mexico, Philippines and Turkey to complete a set of self-reports on their daily internet habits, social media use, alongside questions on psychological distress, self-esteem, loneliness and escapism. A total of 1182 young people aged between 16 and 25 years old completed these questionnaires online. The results showed that there were significant difference in problematic internet use scores among adolescents in the Philippines and Turkey. More specifically, social media use was significantly higher amongst young people from the Philippines whereas gaming addiction was significantly high in the Turkish sample. These findings also revealed that psychological distress, loneliness, and low self-esteem consistently predicted problematic internet use. Taken together these results emphasise that there are several factors underlying growing figures of problematic internet use in young people, these factors include emotional distress, need for escapism, loneliness, and social media use, however, going forward more nuanced cultural differences should also be considered.

Online Test of Risk Self-Detection of Eating Disorders

This study's central aim was to examine the effectiveness of an online test of the Risk Self-Detection of Eating Disorders through the evaluation of (1) its psychometric properties, the significant probability of predicting risk eating behavior and the correct classification of membership to the risk or non-risk group and (2) the ability to measure users' risk self-awareness through a group of statements and explore the expected responses through frequency analysis of the content provided by the users. The non-probability sample was comprised of n = 541 women aged 15 to 25 (M = 18.3; SD = 2.4). The instrument showed good psychometric properties, a structure of three predictive risk factors, and proper effect sizes (R² = 0.67-0.69). Among the most critical findings were high percentages of correct classification (94-97%) and expected responses (61%). The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of presenting eating disorders was higher if the participants smoked, consumed alcohol, had sexual experiences before the age of 15, and if those sexual experiences were non-consensual. Evidence is presented about the promising results of the online data collection method and its potential benefits.