Decoding and modifying dynamic attentional bias in gaming disorder.

With the spread of smartphones and computer games, concerns have escalated regarding the rising prevalence of gaming disorder. Patients often display attentional biases, unconsciously turning their attention towards gaming-related stimuli. However, attempts to discover and ameliorate these attentional deficits have yielded inconsistent outcomes, potentially due to the dynamic nature of attentional bias. This study investigated neural mechanisms underlying attentional bias state by combining neuroimaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging -fMRI) with an approach-avoidance task tailored to an individual's gaming preference. We conducted a multivariate pattern analysis of endogenous brain activity in 21 participants with probable gaming disorder. Our analyses revealed that activity patterns in the insula tracked temporal attentional bias states specific to gaming stimuli. A broad network of frontal and parietal regions instead appeared to predict a general temporal attentional bias state. Finally, we conducted a proof-of-concept study for 'just-in-time' attentional bias training through fMRI-decoded neurofeedback of insula activity patterns, named decoded attentional bias training (DecABT). Our preliminary results suggest that DecABT may help to decrease the attractiveness of gaming stimuli via a insula- and precuneus-based neural mechanism. This work provides new evidence for the insula as an endogenous regulator of attentional bias states in gaming disorder and a starting point to develop novel, individualized therapeutic approaches to treat addiction.This article is part of the theme issue 'Neurofeedback: new territories and neurocognitive mechanisms of endogenous neuromodulation'.

The mediating role of social connectedness and negative cognitive emotion regulation in the association between problematic Internet use and depression among adolescents.

Introduction: While the relationship between adolescent problematic Internet use (PIU) and depression has been extensively researched, few studies have investigated the role and mechanisms of social connectedness (SC) in this context. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of social connectedness (SC) and cognitive emotion regulation (CER) in the relationship between PIU and depression. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 9,407 adolescents aged 12-18 years in China from September 2022 to March 2023. We employed Young's 20-item Internet Addiction Test (IAT-20), the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Scale (CER), and the DSM-5 Level-2 Depression Scale to assess mental health outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was also performed to examine the independent association between the measured variables and depression. Mediation analysis was then conducted to evaluate the mediating roles of social connectedness and cognitive emotion regulation in the relationship between PIU and depression. Results: We found that the prevalence of PIU was 21.8%. Offline SC (indirect effect: 0.112, 95% CI: 0.104-0.121) and negative CER (indirect effect: 00.140, 95% CI: 0.129-0.152) mainly played a parallel mediating role in the relationship between PIU and depression, along with online SC (on_SC) (indirect effect: 0.007, 95% CI: 0.005-0.010). Discussion: These findings provide valuable insights into how PIU is associated with depression and highlight the importance of fostering real-life interpersonal interactions. However, the generalizability of this study's findings to other populations may be limited due to cultural factors.

Path analysis reveals cross-country differences between Czech and Chinese university students in effect of internet and smartphone addiction, mental health, and personality traits on academic achievement in the post-pandemic era.

Despite extensive evidence on the impact of various mental health issues including smartphone/internet addiction, and personality traits on academic achievement, little is known about the complex interactions between multiple of these factors simultaneously, as well as cross-country differences in these nuanced relationships. In particular, understanding the role of the mentioned addictions has become increasingly important in recent years in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this cross-country study was to investigate, using path analysis, the complex relationships between mental health determinants (depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and smartphone/internet addiction) and academic achievement in 1785 Czech and Chinese university students using an online battery of psychological tests. The results confirmed the previously described effect of multiple factors (anxiety, stress, resilience, smartphone/internet addiction, personality traits, and sex, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness) on academic achievement, overlapping in most cases for both groups of students. At the same time, however, different country-dependent patterns of interactions emerged. For the Czech students, the variables formed a complex network of interacting factors, whereas for the Chinese students, the effect of each cluster of factors was separate for individual domains of academic achievement. These cross-country differences have implications particularly for planning and targeting the most effective interventions to promote and develop academic achievement.

Problematic social Internet use and associations with ADHD symptoms in girls: a longitudinal observational study.

BACKGROUND: Problematic Internet use (i.e., Internet use that disrupts functioning in other important domains; PIU) is increasingly prevalent worldwide, particularly among youth. One form of PIU relates specifically to interpersonal interaction and communication, deemed social PIU. Social PIU has been linked to various forms of psychopathology, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet with limited longitudinal research, the direction of this association remains unclear. Moreover, little research investigates whether social PIU is linked to one or both symptom dimensions of ADHD (inattention vs. hyperactivity/impulsivity). METHODS: The present study utilized data from the largest extant longitudinal study of girls with childhood-diagnosed ADHD (N = 228). Linear regression and structural equation models were used to analyze social PIU as both a prospective predictor and outcome of ADHD symptoms. RESULTS: Inattentive ADHD symptoms were positively associated with concurrent social PIU in initial regression models but were non-significant in path analyses. Social PIU was only marginally significant in predicting subsequent inattention six years later. Symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity were unrelated to social PIU among girls at either time point. CONCLUSIONS: Inattentive ADHD symptoms were initially positively linked to concurrent problems with social Internet use, but bidirectional associations were non-significant in path analyses. Relations between PIU and ADHD in girls may be less robust than previously thought, although further longitudinal research with clinical samples is needed to clarify which groups of adolescents are particularly vulnerable to social PIU and its long-term effects.

Detection and Characterization of Online Substance Use Discussions Among Gamers: Qualitative Retrospective Analysis of Reddit r/StopGaming Data.

BACKGROUND: Video games have rapidly become mainstream in recent decades, with over half of the US population involved in some form of digital gaming. However, concerns regarding the potential harms of excessive, disordered gaming have also risen. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been proposed as a tentative psychiatric disorder that requires further study by the American Psychological Association (APA) and is recognized as a behavioral addiction by the World Health Organization. Substance use among gamers has also become a concern, with caffeinated or energy drinks and prescription stimulants commonly used for performance enhancement. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify substance use patterns and health-related concerns among gamers among a population of Reddit users. METHODS: We used the public streaming Reddit application programming interface to collect and analyze all posts from the popular subreddit, r/StopGaming. From this corpus of posts, we filtered the dataset for keywords associated with common substances that may be used to enhance gaming performance. We then applied an inductive coding approach to characterize substance use behaviors, gaming genres, and physical and mental health concerns. Potential disordered gaming behavior was also identified using the tentative IGD guidelines proposed by the APA. A chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between gaming disorder and substance use characteristics, and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze whether mental health discussion or the mention of any substance with sufficient sample size was significantly associated with IGD. RESULTS: In total, 10,551 posts were collected from Reddit from June 2017 to December 2022. After filtering the dataset for substance-related keywords, 1057 were included for further analysis, of which 286 mentioned both gaming and the use of ≥1 substances. Among the 286 posts that discussed both gaming and substance use, the most mentioned substances were alcohol (n=132), cannabis (n=104), and nicotine (n=48), while the most mentioned genres were role-playing games (n=120), shooters (n=90), and multiplayer online battle arenas (n=43). Self-reported behavior that aligned with the tentative guidelines for IGD was identified in 66.8% (191/286) posts. More than half, 62.9% (180/286) of the posts, discussed a health issue, with the majority (n=144) cited mental health concerns. Common mental health concerns discussed were depression and anxiety. There was a significant association between IGD and substance use (P<.001; chi-square test), and there were significantly increased odds of IGD among those who self-reported substance use (odds ratio 2.29, P<.001) and those who discussed mental health (odds ratio 1.64, P<.03). CONCLUSIONS: As gaming increasingly becomes highly prevalent among various age groups and demographics, a better understanding of the interplay and convergence among disordered gaming, substance use, and negative health impacts can inform the development of interventions to mitigate risks and promote healthier gaming habits.

Anxiety, inhibitory control, physical activity, and internet addiction in Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents may have anxiety due to a series of events such as school work and social interaction. Improper handling of anxiety often leads to some negative consequences, such as Internet addiction. Therefore, this study further explored the relationship between anxiety and Internet addiction, as well as the mediating role of inhibitory control between the two, and also considered the moderating role of physical activity between anxiety and inhibitory control. METHODS: A total of 1607 adolescents, comprising 664 boys and 943 girls with an average age of 15.86 years (SD = 0.73), from Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, and Hunan provinces completed a self-report survey on physical activity, anxiety, inhibitory control, and Internet addiction. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation test were conducted. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant positive correlation between anxiety and adolescent internet addiction (r = 0.413, p < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with inhibitory control (r = -0.423, p < 0.001). Inhibitory control was found to be significantly positively correlated with physical exercise (r = 0.143, p < 0.001) and significantly negatively correlated with internet addiction (r = -0.368, p < 0.001). After controlling for demographic variables, anxiety significantly positively predicted Internet addiction (ß = 0.311, p < 0.001) in adolescents, and it also indirectly predicted Internet addiction through inhibitory control (ß = -0.231, p < 0.001). Physical activity significantly weakened the predictive effect of anxiety on inhibitory control (ß = -0.092, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study further explored the issue of psychological mechanisms between anxiety and Internet addiction in adolescents, and added that physical activity alleviates the negative effects of anxiety on adolescents. Schools and families are encouraged to promote physical exercise among adolescents to alleviate the influence of negative emotions on their psychological and behavioral health.

Family happiness and college students' smartphone addiction control: the chain mediation effect of emotion regulation and self-control.

Background: More and more college students use smartphones for a long time every day. The problem of smartphone addiction has become a hot topic of social concern. It not only affects the physical and mental health of college students but also affects the development of families and society. To investigate the effect of family happiness on college students' smartphone addiction, we conducted a questionnaire survey and analysis. Methods: In this study, 214 college students were investigated using the adolescent family happiness questionnaire, college students' smartphone addiction scale, self-control scale, and emotion regulation scale. The data were analyzed by Amos and SPSS26.0 software. Results: The results showed that: (1) Family happiness, emotion regulation, and self-control were significantly inversely correlated with smartphone addiction; (2) Emotion regulation and self-control served as partial mediators in the linkage between family happiness and smartphone addiction, and the chain mediation effect of emotion regulation and self-control was significant. Conclusion: Family happiness, emotion regulation, and self-control are key factors that significantly influence college students' smartphone addiction behavior. Family happiness not only has a direct effect on college students' smartphone addiction behavior but also has an indirect effect on it through the chain mediation effect of emotion regulation and self-control.

The relationship between childhood trauma and mental health status among Chinese vocational high school adolescents: the mediating effect of poor self-control and internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems among adolescents are a common concern globally. However, its relationship with childhood trauma is not clearly understood from the existing studies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationships among childhood trauma, mental health, self-control, and internet addiction in Chinese vocational high school students. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among vocational high school students in China from October 2020 to December 2020. Standardized questionnaires were used to collect basic information regarding childhood trauma, self-control, psychological state, and social demographics. A structural equation model was used to study the relationships among internet addiction, self-control, childhood trauma, and mental health. RESULTS: A total of 3368 individuals participated in the study. The results revealed the mediating effects of poor self-control and internet addiction on the association between childhood trauma and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Internet addiction and low self-control play mediating roles in childhood trauma and mental health. Clarifying these relationships will help formulate better-targeted interventions to improve the mental health of Chinese vocational high school students and aid in interventions to treat and prevent mental health problems.

Role models in gaming: Wishful identification and maladaptive daydreaming mediate the association between desire for fame and game engagement.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of video games has considerably increased in recent years, with approximately 3.24 billion players worldwide in 2021. Empirical evidence suggests that the quality of engagement in video games can determine whether a gaming activity is associated with psychological distress (i.e., problematic gaming) or self-enhancing outcomes (i.e., esports career pursuits). This study investigates the role of influential gaming role models and other external factors relating to fame appeal in gamers' different ways of engagement. METHODS: A total of 803 adolescent and adult gamers (89.29 % male, Mage = 24.90 years, SD = 6.13) were recruited through an online questionnaire. RESULTS: A path analysis was constructed demonstrating that wishful identification partially mediated the relationship between desire for fame and esports career planning. Moreover, maladaptive daydreaming fully mediated the association between desire for fame and gaming disorder symptoms. Wishful identification with gaming role models predicted both esports career planning and gaming disorder symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The findings shed light on the importance of considering the role of gaming role models in predicting healthy and problematic gaming patterns.

Youth's internet dependence forming factors as a global public health problem.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: The aim is to study the main factors of youth's Internet dependence formation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: We conducted psychodiagnostic examination of students in the National Academy of Internal Affairs. The research involved 154 students: full-time students aged 18-25 (n = 78) and part-time students aged 26-35 (n = 76). RESULTS: Results: The degree of prevalence of various types of Internet dependence among young people was determined. It was determined that the problem of Internet dependence requires consideration of socio-demographic, socio-psychological, individual, and psychological, as well as organizational factors. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It was found that the number of Internet-dependent people among youth is currently growing rapidly. The most favorable individual-typological properties of a personality for the development of Internet dependence are introversion, anxiety, sensitivity, and aggressiveness. Internet dependence is a type of social dependence. An Internet-dependent individual suffers from the inability to maintain harmonious interpersonal contacts and resolve personal issues that are distorted by the virtual environment. Deviations from normal behavior in society change the peaceful way of life and affect public health.

The mediating effect of social connectedness between internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms in adolescents: a large sample cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that social connectedness can serve as a protective buffer against negative outcomes associated with online victimization. However, the role of social connectedness between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms is still unclear. This study aims to examine the mediating effect of social connectedness on the association between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was utilized, using questionnaires for data collection and multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The general demographic questionnaire, Nine-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, Social Connectedness Scale-Revised and Patient Health Questionnaire Physical Symptoms were used to collect data. We adopted Pearson's correlation analysis and the PROCESS Macro Model in regression analysis to explore the relationships among Internet gaming disorder, social connectedness and somatic symptoms. RESULTS: Internet gaming disorder was positively correlated with somatic symptoms (r = 0.20, P < 0.001), while network (r=-0.08, P < 0.001) and real-life social connectedness (r=-0.31, P < 0.001) negatively affected somatic symptoms. The network social connectedness and the real-life social connectedness played a chain mediating role in the development of Internet gaming disorder to somatic symptoms [95%CI: 0.073, 0.088], explaining 45.25% of the total effect value. The difference of real-life social connectedness and network social connectedness played a partial mediating role between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms [95% CI:0.050, 0.062], accounting for 31.28% of the total effect value. CONCLUSIONS: Real-life social connectedness, network social connectedness, and their disparity all mediated the relationship between Internet gaming disorder and somatic symptoms. Real-life social connectedness acted as a protective factor, while network social connectedness served as a risk factor. Encouraging offline activities and guiding teenagers to use the internet responsibly may help prevent and reduce physical symptoms linked to Internet gaming disorder.

Factor analysis of impulsivity in gaming disorder and internet gaming disorder.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that a two-factor model of impulsivity predicts Substance Use Disorder and Gambling Disorder. We aimed to determine whether a similar factor structure was present for Gaming Disorder (GD) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). METHODS: Secondary data analysis was conducted on survey responses from 372 participants who had completed a series of questions on facets of impulsivity and their involvement in gaming. Participants were sampled from gaming forums and an online recruitment website. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on the measures of trait impulsivity, and the identified factors were then analyzed against measures of Gaming Disorder and Internet Gaming Disorder. A confirmatory factor analysis was then run to confirm the model. RESULTS: The exploratory results suggested a five-factor model of impulsivity, with gaming being related to all five factors. Interestingly, only two of those factors (Urgency (Positive Urgency, Negative Urgency, Delay Discounting) and (Impaired) Inhibitory Control (False Button Presses on Go/No-Go Tasks)) predicted symptom counts above the clinical cut-off for IGD. In addition, Urgency was related to symptom counts above 7/9 criteria for IGD, as well as symptom counts above the suggested clinical cut-off for GD. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested that this two-factor model of impulsivity had 'good fit.' CONCLUSIONS: This two-factor model of impulsivity is similar to those found in established addiction disorders, in that one factor appears to predict more problematic involvement than the other. However, the results indicate that Urgency predicts higher symptom counts than (Impaired) Inhibitory Control. This contrasts with previous findings on substance use and gambling, where (Impaired) Inhibitory Control was the factor predicting problematic use. However, there was evidence to suggest that gaming is similar to alcohol consumption, where socially acceptable, "healthy," use is related to impulsivity at some level, but Urgency is key in the transition from recreational to disordered behavior.

Investigating the relationship between internet addiction, domestic violence, and emotional divorce among married women in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the factors affecting emotional divorce due to the negative consequences of this social problem in women can play an important role in preventing its occurrence. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, domestic violence, and emotional divorce among married women in Tehran. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among married women in Tehran, Iran. Sampling was conducted first through a multi-stage cluster method and then continued using a random method. Tehran was divided into five parts: central, northern, southern, eastern, and western. The sample size was divided by 5, resulting in 80 participants selected from each part. In each part, two regions were selected, and in each region, 40 houses were randomly selected. Researchers visited the selected houses, and the questionnaires were filled out at home by the women. Tools such as Gottman's Emotional Divorce Test, Young's Internet Addiction Test, and the Domestic Violence against Women Survey were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data in SPSS (version 24) software. RESULTS: A total of 400 women participated in the study. 46% of all married women suffered emotional divorce. The analysis of these tests showed that are positive and significant relationships between emotional divorce and internet addiction (r = 0.626, p < 0.0001), emotional divorce and domestic violence (r = 0.632, p < 0.0001), and internet addiction and domestic violence (r = 0.455, p < 0.0001). It was also found that there are significant negative relationships between emotional divorce and both the level of education (r=-0.115, p = 0.021) and employment status (r=-0.512, p < 0.0001). Additionally, there are significant negative relationships between internet addiction and age (r=-0.285, p < 0.0001), duration of marriage (r=-0.237, p < 0.0001) and employment status (r=-0.694, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, it was revealed that there are significant negative relationship between domestic violence and age (r=-0.104, p = 0.037) and level of education (r=-0.156, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Almost half of the married women in this study experienced emotional divorce, internet addiction, and domestic violence. These factors have a direct relationship with emotional divorce. Future studies are needed to understand how internet addiction might be associated with separation, emotional divorce and family problems.

The chain mediating effect of anxiety and inhibitory control between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents.

Although some studies have revealed the association between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents, the mediating and moderating factors between the two need to be further discussed. This study aimed to discuss the chain mediating role of anxiety and inhibitory control between bullying victimization and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven schools in five provinces of China by convenience sampling from February to March 2024. A total of 1673 participants (695 boys and 978 girls) with an average age of 15.86 ± 0.74 years were included in this study. Subjective data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control were collected and analyzed, and a mediation model test was carried out. After controlling for age and gender, bullying victimization was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (ß = 0.098, p < 0.001). However, when anxiety and inhibitory control were added, the predictive effect was no longer significant (ß = 0.006, p > 0.05). Bullying victimization can predict internet addiction through anxiety and inhibitory control. It is suggested that guardians should provide adequate support to adolescent bullying victims in order to reduce the negative impact of bullying victimization on adolescents and prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Relationship between personality and adolescent depression: the mediating role of loneliness and problematic internet use.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated that personality traits, loneliness, and problematic internet use (PIU) significantly contribute to the prevalence of adolescent depression. However, the specific interrelationships among these variables in explaining the occurrence of depression remain unclear. Drawing upon susceptibility theory and cognitive-behavioral theory, this study explored whether personality traits influences adolescent depression through loneliness and PIU. METHODS: A total of 2476 adolescents (aged 12-18) from all over the country completed a psycho-social test, including the 10-Item Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI-10), three-Item Loneliness Scale (T-ILS), Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire-Short Form (PIUQ-SF-6) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The mediation model was built and bootstrap method was used to test the mediating effect. RESULTS: Results showed that neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness have a direct role on depression. Loneliness and PIU partially mediated the relationship between neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness and depression, and completely mediated the relationship between extroversion and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that loneliness and PIU play important mediating roles in the relationship between personality traits and depression. This remind us that alleviating sense of loneliness and reducing overuse of the internet are a strategy for improve depression among adolescents.

Smartphone Addiction among Adolescents in Southern Italy and Correlation with Other Risky Behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Addiction to smartphone is defined as the disability to cease using the device despite the physical, psychological, or social consequences. The diagnosis of this disorder is increasing exponentially among teenagers, even more so after Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aims to analyze the risk of mobile phone addiction among teenagers in Italy and its relationship with other risk behaviors, such as drug consumption and emotional well-being, following the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Catania, Sicily, during 2022. The study sample comprised 342 students from a secondary education center that answered to a validated Italian version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale Short Version (SAS-SV) accessing through computers and mobile devices. Subjective Wellbeing was measured with the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children (PWI-SC). Also, they completed the NIAAA Brief Alcohol Use Screener. RESULTS: Our results showed that 30.1% of students who participated in the survey were classified with a smartphone addiction. Besides, most of the participants used the Smartphone for social networks (86.0%). Regarding the other aspects measured, the mean self-perceived well-being score measured with the PWI-SC was 55.5, and 36.2% of participants were categorized as "high risk" for depression. Finally, four out of ten participants were at "moderate or high risk" of an alcohol use disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the use of mobile phones is increasing in adolescents, an age group also exposed to social and health problems.

Factors Affecting Problematic Internet Use: Rejectful Parental Attitudes During Childhood.

Studies examining the effects of perceived parental rejectful attitudes during childhood and emotional deprivation on problematic Internet use based on inter-factorial analysis are limited. The aim of this research is to examine the effects of the above-mentioned factors on problematic Internet use in people aged 18 years and over. This study used quantitative methods and convenience sampling. The sample consisted of 341 individuals aged 18 years and older. Data collection tools included a personal information form, perceived parental attitudes scale-child form, Young Internet addiction test short form, and Young schema scale short form-3. According to the results obtained in this study, there is a positive correlation between perceived rejectful parental attitudes in childhood, emotional deprivation, and problematic Internet use. Additionally, it was observed that perceived rejectful parental attitudes during childhood had a positive direct effect on problematic Internet use, and emotional deprivation played a positive and partial mediating role in this relationship. Finally, it has been observed that various sociodemographic and social skill factors have a preventive effect on emotional deprivation and problematic Internet use. Various recommendations were made regarding the results obtained at the end of this study.

The relationship between childhood psychological abuse and depression in college students: internet addiction as mediator, different dimensions of alexithymia as moderator.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Childhood psychological abuse (CPA) is highly associated with depression among college students. However, the underlying mechanisms between these variables need further exploration. This study aims to investigate internet addiction as a mediating factor and alexithymia and its different dimensions as moderating factors, to further complement the psychological mechanisms between CPA and depression among college students. METHODS: A self-report survey was conducted on 625 college students from two universities in Hunan Province, China. The survey included CPA, internet addiction, alexithymia, and depression. Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed on these variables, and a moderated mediation model was constructed. RESULTS: CPA is positively correlated with depression, internet addiction, and alexithymia among college students. Internet addiction partially mediates the relationship between CPA and depression among college students, while alexithymia enhances the relationship between CPA and internet addiction as well as depression among college students. The moderating effect of the different dimensions of alexithymia is inconsistent, with the modulation effect of difficulty in identifying feelings being the strongest. CONCLUSION: This study further elucidates the psychological mechanisms between CPA and depression among college students. Internet addiction serves as a mediating factor, while alexithymia may strengthen the relationship between CPA and internet addiction, as well as between CPA and depression.

Hikikomori in the Middle East: The role of problematic gaming, social media use, and loneliness.

Hikikomori, a form of severe social withdrawal has been found to be associated with behavioral addictions such as gaming addiction and problematic social media use (PSMU). Since literature related to hikikomori is lacking in the Middle East, this study aimed to determine whether there are significant differences in hikikomori-like traits between two different types of social media users and gamers and investigate loneliness as a potential mediator between hikikomori and the two types of problematic behaviors. A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed, collecting a final sample of 220 participants residing in Middle Eastern countries using a mixture of convenience and snowball sampling. Results showed that passive social media users demonstrated significantly greater hikikomori-like traits compared to active users. Furthermore, hikikomori-like traits exhibited significant positive associations with problematic gaming, PSMU, and loneliness. Two separate mediation analyses, the first with PSMU and a second with problematic gaming as predictors, revealed that loneliness acted as a significant mediator between both these problematic behaviors and hikikomori-like traits.

Smartphone addiction, depression, distress, eustress, loneliness, and sleep deprivation in adolescents: a latent profile and network analysis approach.

BACKGROUND: Previous research on adolescent smartphone addiction has tended to focus on general populations that are assumed to be homogeneous, overlooking latent profiles. Furthermore, previous research has not focused on potentially important differences in the latent profiles of adolescent smartphone addiction in networks. The present study aimed to reveal the latent profiles of smartphone addiction, depression, stress, eustress, loneliness, and sleep deprivation in adolescents, and general and latent profiles were examined in the network. METHODS: The study group consisted of 436 (222 boys and 214 girls) adolescents, aged between 13 and 18 years. The findings of the present study were provided using Pearson correlation, ANOVA, latent profile analysis and network analysis. The data were analyzed using SPSS, JASP, and Mplus. RESULTS: The results of the study showed solutions with three latent profiles. The non-addicted group constituted 20.87%, the addicted group covered 29.82% and the risky group included 49.31% of the study group. Although the general profile and the addicted latent group had similar characteristics, the differences in the risky and non-addicted groups contributed to the current literature by providing a further and remarkable perspective on smartphone addiction, depression, distress, eustress, loneliness, and sleep deprivation in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The theoretical and practical implications of the present results will provide contributions to researchers and practitioners in understanding smartphone addiction.