TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of self-esteem in Internet addiction within the context of comorbid mental disorders: Findings from a general population-based sample
AU - Sevelko, Katrin
AU - Bischof, Gallus
AU - Bischof, Anja
AU - Besser, Bettina
AU - John, Ulrich
AU - Meyer, Christian
AU - Rumpf, Hans Jürgen
N1 - Funding Information:
This study uses data from the “Prevalence of Internet Use Disorder: Diagnostics and Risk profiles (PINTA-DIARI)” project. This study is based on a large, representative nationwide study in Germany called the PAGE study (Meyer et al., 2015). A part of the initial sample was interviewed face-to-face for a second time. These interviews were conducted either at the homes of the participants or, if desired, at another convenient location in their hometown. Interviews were carried out by trained interviewers with a background in clinical psychology. PAGE was funded by the German federal states; PINTA and PINTA-DIARI were funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health.
Funding Information:
Funding sources: This work was supported by German Federal States and German Federal Ministry of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/12/26
Y1 - 2018/12/26
N2 - Background and aims: Internet Addiction (IA) has consistently been related to comorbid psychiatric disorders and lowered self-esteem. However, most studies relied on self-report questionnaires using non-representative samples. This study aims to analyze the relative impact of self-esteem and comorbid psychopathology with lifetime IA in a population-based sample of excessive Internet users using clinical diagnoses assessed in a personal interview. Methods: The sample of this study is based on a general population survey. Using the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, all participants with elevated Internet use scores were selected and invited to a follow-up interview. Current DSM-5 criteria for Internet gaming disorder were rephrased to apply to all Internet activities. Out of 196 participants, 82 fulfilled the criteria for IA. Self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Self-esteem is significantly associated with IA. For every unit increase in self-esteem, the chance of having IA decreased by 11%. By comparison, comorbidities such as substance-use disorder (excluding tobacco), mood disorder, and eating disorder were significantly more likely among Internet-addicted than in the non-addicted group. This could not be reported for anxiety disorders. A logistic regression showed that by adding self-esteem and psychopathology into the same model, self-esteem maintains its strong influence on IA. Discussion and conclusions: Self-esteem was associated with IA, even after adjustment for substance-use disorders, mood disorder, and eating disorder. Self-esteem and psychopathology should be considered in prevention, intervention measures, as well as in the conception of etiological models.
AB - Background and aims: Internet Addiction (IA) has consistently been related to comorbid psychiatric disorders and lowered self-esteem. However, most studies relied on self-report questionnaires using non-representative samples. This study aims to analyze the relative impact of self-esteem and comorbid psychopathology with lifetime IA in a population-based sample of excessive Internet users using clinical diagnoses assessed in a personal interview. Methods: The sample of this study is based on a general population survey. Using the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, all participants with elevated Internet use scores were selected and invited to a follow-up interview. Current DSM-5 criteria for Internet gaming disorder were rephrased to apply to all Internet activities. Out of 196 participants, 82 fulfilled the criteria for IA. Self-esteem was measured with the Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Self-esteem is significantly associated with IA. For every unit increase in self-esteem, the chance of having IA decreased by 11%. By comparison, comorbidities such as substance-use disorder (excluding tobacco), mood disorder, and eating disorder were significantly more likely among Internet-addicted than in the non-addicted group. This could not be reported for anxiety disorders. A logistic regression showed that by adding self-esteem and psychopathology into the same model, self-esteem maintains its strong influence on IA. Discussion and conclusions: Self-esteem was associated with IA, even after adjustment for substance-use disorders, mood disorder, and eating disorder. Self-esteem and psychopathology should be considered in prevention, intervention measures, as well as in the conception of etiological models.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85059284615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1556/2006.7.2018.130
DO - 10.1556/2006.7.2018.130
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 30585501
AN - SCOPUS:85059284615
SN - 2062-5871
VL - 7
SP - 976
EP - 984
JO - Journal of Behavioral Addictions
JF - Journal of Behavioral Addictions
IS - 4
ER -