TY - JOUR
T1 - Problematic Internet Use among Adults
T2 - A Cross-Cultural Study in 15 Countries
AU - Lopez-Fernandez, Olatz
AU - Romo, Lucia
AU - Kern, Laurence
AU - Rousseau, Amélie
AU - Lelonek-Kuleta, Bernadeta
AU - Chwaszcz, Joanna
AU - Männikkö, Niko
AU - Rumpf, Hans Jürgen
AU - Bischof, Anja
AU - Király, Orsolya
AU - Gässler, Ann Kathrin
AU - Graziani, Pierluigi
AU - Kääriäinen, Maria
AU - Landrø, Nils Inge
AU - Zacarés, Juan José
AU - Chóliz, Mariano
AU - Dufour, Magali
AU - Rochat, Lucien
AU - Zullino, Daniele
AU - Achab, Sophia
AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt
AU - Griffiths, Mark D.
AU - Kuss, Daria J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - Background: The present study compared adult usage patterns of online activities, the frequency rate of problematic internet use (PIU), and risk factors (including the psychopathology associated with PIU, i.e., distress and impulsivity) among adults in 15 countries from Europe, America, and Asia. Methods: A total of 5130 adults from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, UK, Norway, Peru, Canada, US, and Indonesia completed an online survey assessing PIU and a number of psychological variables (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity). The sample included more females, with a mean age of 24.71 years (SD = 8.70). Results: PIU was slightly lower in European countries (rates ranged from 1.1% in Finland to 10.1% in the UK, compared to 2.9% in Canada and 10.4% in the US). There were differences in specific PIU rates (e.g., problematic gaming ranged from 0.4% in Poland to 4.7% in Indonesia). Regression analyses showed that PIU was predicted by problematic social networking and gaming, lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depression. Conclusions: The differences in PIU between countries were significant for those between continental regions (Europe versus non-European countries). One of the most interesting findings is that the specific PIU risks were generally low compared to contemporary literature. However, higher levels of PIU were present in countries outside of Europe, although intra-European differences existed.
AB - Background: The present study compared adult usage patterns of online activities, the frequency rate of problematic internet use (PIU), and risk factors (including the psychopathology associated with PIU, i.e., distress and impulsivity) among adults in 15 countries from Europe, America, and Asia. Methods: A total of 5130 adults from Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, UK, Norway, Peru, Canada, US, and Indonesia completed an online survey assessing PIU and a number of psychological variables (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress, and impulsivity). The sample included more females, with a mean age of 24.71 years (SD = 8.70). Results: PIU was slightly lower in European countries (rates ranged from 1.1% in Finland to 10.1% in the UK, compared to 2.9% in Canada and 10.4% in the US). There were differences in specific PIU rates (e.g., problematic gaming ranged from 0.4% in Poland to 4.7% in Indonesia). Regression analyses showed that PIU was predicted by problematic social networking and gaming, lack of perseverance, positive urgency, and depression. Conclusions: The differences in PIU between countries were significant for those between continental regions (Europe versus non-European countries). One of the most interesting findings is that the specific PIU risks were generally low compared to contemporary literature. However, higher levels of PIU were present in countries outside of Europe, although intra-European differences existed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147818169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/jcm12031027
DO - 10.3390/jcm12031027
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85147818169
SN - 2077-0383
VL - 12
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
JF - Journal of Clinical Medicine
IS - 3
M1 - 1027
ER -