Prevalence and Risk Factors of Problematic Internet Use among Hungarian Adult Recreational Esports Players

Background: Esports are highly prevalent in modern culture, particularly among young people, and are a healthy hobby for the majority of users. However, there is a possible link between video gaming (including esports) and problematic internet use (so-called internet addiction, IA), mostly involving adolescents. Methods: Here we present an online survey focusing on the prevalence and risk factors of internet addiction among adult esports players. Demographics included age, gender, family type, type of work, working years and daily internet use. Medical conditions associated with IA such as smoking, alcohol and drug intake, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, musculoskeletal pain and history of depression were also recorded. Results: Overall, 2313 players including 176 females (7.6%) and 2137 males (92.4%) participated in our online survey. Age distribution was the following: 18−25 years 90.3% (2088/2313), 26−35 years 7.95% (184/2313), 36−45 years 0.86% (20/2313), 46−55 years 0.82% (19/2313), 56−62 years 0.04% (1/2313) and 62 years or older 0.04% (1/2313). Internet addiction was detected in 19.9% of players (461/2313) based on the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire. In a multivariate analysis internet addiction was significantly associated with age between 18 and 25 (OR: 1.675, p = 0.002), being single (OR = 1.505, p = 0.014), internet use > 6 h daily (OR = 4.338, p < 0.001), having < 3 children (OR: 2.037, p = 0.023) and having secondary employment (OR = 1.789, p = 0.037). Regular alcohol intake (OR = 18.357, p < 0.001) and history of depression (OR= 5.361, p = 0.032) were also strongly correlated with IA. Conclusion: This is the first study from Hungary investigating the prevalence and risk factors of internet addiction among adult esports players. One out of five adult gamers suffered from IA. Our study also draws attention to increased risk within this group and risk factors such as younger age, family status and type of employment.

The Possible Association of Burnout and Neuropathic Low Back Pain Among Hungarian Postal Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

Burnout is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, which can be associated with a wide range of mental and physical illnesses. There is also a possible connection between burnout and neuropathic low back pain, but the association is poorly studied.

Methods

The aim of our cross-sectional study was to analyze the prevalence and risk factors of chronic neuropathic low back pain taking many co-variates into account, such as burnout and its main determinants among postal workers. Demographic data, risk factors and concomitant diseases were recorded. Burnout was measured with the Mini Oldenburg Questionnaire (MOLBI), neuropathic low back pain was assessed by the painDETECT questionnaire, insomnia was detected by the Athen's Insomnia Scale and depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results

Three hundred sixty-eight males (35.6%) and six hundred sixty-six females (64.4%) participated in our study. Low back pain occured in 182 workers (17.6%), among them 36 workers (19.4%) had neuropathic low back pain, 56 (30.9%) had mixed pain and 90 (49.7%) workers had nociceptive low back pain. In a hierarchical regression analysis strong predictors of neuropathic low back pain included having secondary employment, depression, sleep disturbance and emotional exhaustion (main component of burnout).

Conclusion

This is among the first studies showing a possible association between burnout and neuropathic low back pain, highlighting the importance of adequate burnout screening and the implementation of interventions to avoid significant disabilities.