The co-occurrence between symptoms of internet gaming disorder and psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence: prospective relations or common causes?

BACKGROUND: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is highlighted as a condition for further study in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Some studies indicate that IGD appears comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. We examine concurrent and prospective links between symptoms of IGD and symptoms of common psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence to determine whether observed comorbidity is a result of (a) reciprocal relations or (b) common underlying causes. METHODS: A community sample (n = 702) of Norwegian children completed the Internet Gaming Disorder Interview (IGDI) to assess DSM-5 defined IGD symptoms at ages 10, 12 and 14 years. The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment (CAPA) assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) at the same time points. RESULTS: A Random Intercept Cross-lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM), which captures pure within-person changes and adjusts for all unmeasured time-invariant factors (e.g., genetics, parent education) revealed no associations between IGD symptoms and psychopathology, except that increased IGD symptoms at ages 10 and 12 predicted decreased symptoms of anxiety two years later. CONCLUSIONS: No support emerged for concurrent or prospective relations between IGD and psychiatric symptoms, except in one case: increased IGD symptoms forecasted reduction in anxiety symptoms. Observed co-occurrence between IGD symptoms and mental health problems can mainly be attributed to common underlying factors.

Comparing Smartphone, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat: Which Platform Elicits the Greatest Use Disorder Symptoms?

In recent years, smartphone and social networking services (SNS) use have received a great amount of scholarly attention regarding their potentially addictive effects. Conceptualized as smartphone or SNS use disorder, research has consistently demonstrated relations with daily-life impairments. However, Smartphone Use Disorder (SmUD), WhatsApp Use Disorder (WAUD), Facebook Use Disorder (FBUD), Instagram Use Disorder (IGUD), or Snapchat Use Disorder (SCUD) scores have not been compared with each other. This comparison could provide insight into which device/platform could be most related to daily-life impairments. The effective sample of this study comprised 439 German-speaking individuals (age M = 25.08, SD = 9.74; 271 women) who reported actively using a smartphone, as well as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, and responded to the respective use disorder scales. Within-subjects analysis of variance and post hoc tests (p values adjusted with the Holm method) were used to compare smartphone and SNS use disorder scale scores. The results suggest that SmUD scores are highest in comparison with other SNS platforms. Although WAUD and IGUD scores did not differ from each other, these scores were higher than for FBUD and SCUD. SCUD scores were higher than FBUD scores. These results provide novel insight into how the smartphone and different SNSs may relate to engagement in problematic digital technology use.

Influencia del uso de las redes sociales en el síndrome visual informático en adolescentes peruanos / Influence of Social Media Use on Computer Vision Syndrome in Peruvian Adolescents

Introducción: El uso excesivo de las redes sociales ha generado diversas secuelas en la salud mental y visual-ocular, dando lugar al Síndrome Visual Informático (SVI) por sobreexposición a las pantallas. Objetivo: Analizar la influencia del uso de las redes sociales en el síndrome visual informático en adolescentes en una realidad peruana. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación de enfoque cuantitativo, hipotético-deductivo, transaccional, correlacional-causal, con una muestra de 126 adolescentes. Para recabar información acerca del uso de las redes sociales, se utilizó el ARS de Escurra y Salas. Para verificar la prevalencia del SVI, se empleó el Cuestionario de Síndrome Visual Informático de Seguí y colaboradores; ambos instrumentos fueron adaptados a formato Google Forms para su aplicación en línea. Resultados: Se encontró una asociación significativa entre el tiempo de permanencia en las redes sociales (RS) y el SVI (p=0,027<0,05); además, se evidenció el impacto significativo de la Adicción a las Redes Sociales (ARS) sobre el SVI (p=0,000<0.01), los síntomas visuales (p=0,000<0.01), oculares (p=0,000<0.01) y astenópicos (p=0,003<0.01). Conclusiones: El estudio demuestra una clara conexión entre el uso excesivo de redes sociales y el SVI en adolescentes peruanos, subrayando la necesidad de una acción conjunta de padres y educadores para mitigar los riesgos y promover un uso digital saludable(AU)

Introduction: The excessive use of social media has generated various sequelae on mental and visual-ocular health, leading to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) due to screen overexposure. Objective: To analyze the influence of social media use on computer vision syndrome in adolescents in a Peruvian context. Methods: A quantitative, hypothetical-deductive, transactional, correlational-causal study was conducted with a sample of 126 adolescents. To gather information about social media use, the ARS by Escurra and Salas was used. To verify the prevalence of CVS, the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire by Seguí and collaborators was employed; both instruments were adapted to Google Forms format for online application. Results: A significant association was found between the time spent on social media (SM) and CVS (p=0.027<0.05); additionally, a significant impact of Social Media Addiction (SMA) on CVS (p=0.000<0.01), visual symptoms (p=0.000<0.01), ocular symptoms (p=0.000<0.01), and asthenopic symptoms (p=0.003<0.01) was evidenced. Conclusions: The study demonstrates a clear connection between excessive use of social media and CVS in Peruvian adolescents, highlighting the need for joint action by parents and educators to mitigate risks and promote healthy digital use(AU)

Relación entre adicción a Internet y madurez psicológica en adolescentes del Perú / Relationship between Internet Addiction and Psychological Maturity in Adolescents from Peru

Introducción: Internet es un recurso indispensable para las personas, permite acceder a contenidos académicos, comunicacionales, sociales y otros; sin embargo, su uso indiscriminado genera conductas antisociales, bajo rendimiento académico, inadecuadas relaciones interpersonales y costo social. Los adolescentes se encuentran en riesgo por estar en el proceso de madurez y desarrollo psicoemocional. Objetivo: Describir la relación entre la adicción a Internet y la madurez psicológica en adolescentes del Perú. Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo, diseño descriptivo correlacional, transversal en colegios de Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, San Martin, Tacna y Tumbes, Lima-Perú, en el año 2019. Muestra de 1707 estudiantes de tercer, cuarto y quinto de secundaria. Se usó como técnica la encuesta y como instrumentos válidos y confiables el Test de Adicción a Internet y el Cuestionario de Madurez Psicológica. Los datos fueron procesados mediante programa Excel y SPSS versión 25. Para el análisis de datos se usó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial: Coeficiente de correlación de Pearson y U de Mann Whitney. Resultados: El nivel de adicción a Internet según dimensiones alcanzó nivel promedio en Costa, Sierra y Selva: tolerancia (57,67 por ciento, 56,08 por ciento, 38,78 por ciento), uso excesivo (58,20 por ciento, 42,91 por ciento, 44,27 por ciento), retirada (58,86 por ciento, 52,03 por ciento, 40,92 por ciento) y consecuencias negativas (59,13 por ciento, 52,71 por ciento, 49,31 por ciento); igualmente para madurez psicológica: orientación al trabajo (53,44 por ciento, 37,04 por ciento, 51,59 por ciento), autonomía (43,58, 34,46 por ciento, 45,95 por ciento) e identidad (65,50 por ciento, 53,74 por ciento, 57,25 por ciento). Conclusiones: Existe relación significativa e inversa entre la adicción a Internet y la madurez psicológica de los adolescentes, al igual que en todas sus dimensiones(AU)

Introduction: The Internet is an indispensable resource for people, since it allows access to academic, communicational, social and other contents. However, its indiscriminate use leads to antisocial behavior, poor academic performance and inadequate interpersonal relationships, as well as it has social costs. Adolescents are at risk because they are in the process of maturity and psychoemotional development. Objective: To describe the relationship between Internet addiction and psychological maturity in adolescents in Peru. Methods: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design, carried out in 2019 in schools from Lima, Cusco, Iquitos, Pucallpa, San Martin, Tacna and Tumbes, Lima-Peru. The sample was made up of 1707 students in their third, fourth or fifth high school years. The survey was used as a technique, while the Internet Addiction Test and the Psychological Maturity Questionnaire were used as valid and reliable tools. The data were processed using Excel and the SPSS (version 25). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis: Pearson's correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U. Results: Internet addiction, according to the analyzed dimensions, reached the average level in Costa, Sierra and Selva: tolerance (57.67 percent, 56.08 percent, 38.78 percent), excessive use (58.20 percent, 42.91 percent, 44.27 percent), withdrawal (58.86 percent, 52.03 percent, 40.92 percent) and negative consequences (59.13 percent, 52.71 percent, 49.31 percent). The same phenomenon manifested for psychological maturity: work orientation (53.44 percent, 37.04 percent, 51.59 percent), autonomy (43.58, 34.46 percent, 45.95 percent) and identity (65.50 percent, 53.74 percent, 57.25 percent). Conclusions: There is a significant and inverse relationship between Internet addiction and psychological maturity in adolescents, as well as in all its dimensions(AU)