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Generalised Versus Specific Internet Use-Related Addiction Problems: A Mixed Methods Study on Internet, Gaming, and Social Networking Behaviours

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  • Olatz Lopez-Fernandez

    (Turning Point, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, 110 Church Street, Richmond VIC 2131, Australia
    International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
    Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Abstract

The field of technological behavioural addictions is moving towards specific problems (i.e., gaming disorder). However, more evidence of generalised versus specific Internet use-related addiction problems (generalised pathological Internet use (GPIU) vs. specific pathological Internet use (SPIU)) is still needed. This mixed methods study aimed to disentangle GPIU from SPIU. A partially mixed sequential equal status study design (QUAN→QUAL) was undertaken. First, through an online survey, which adapted the compulsive Internet use scale (CIUS) for three types of problems (i.e., generalised Internet use, and specific online gaming and social networking). Second, potential problem users’ perceptions of the evolution of these problems (aetiology, development, consequences, and factors) were ascertained, through semi-structured interviews, together with their opinion on present Internet gaming disorder (IGD) criteria adapted to each problem studied. Findings showed the CIUS remains valid and reliable for GPIU and SPIUs examined; a prevalence between 10.8% and 37.4% was estimated for potential at-risk problem gamers and Internet users, respectively, who reported their preference for maintaining their virtual lives. Half of the sample had a risk of a unique or mixed profile of these problems. Moreover, device patterns, gender, and age issues emerged, such as problem gamers being proportionally equal male and female young or middle-aged adults. GPIU was highly associated with problem social networking use, and weakly with problematic gaming, but both SPIUs were independent. Concerning addictive symptoms, salience, deception, and tolerance required redefinition, especially for SPIUs, while better-valued IGD criteria applied to GPIU and SPIUs were: Risk relationships or opportunities, give up other activities, withdrawal, and continue despite problems. Thus, although problems studied are present as risk behaviours, SPIUs seem to cover the addictive symptomatology in those categorised as potential problem users, online gaming being the most severe behavioural addiction problem.

Suggested Citation

  • Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, 2018. "Generalised Versus Specific Internet Use-Related Addiction Problems: A Mixed Methods Study on Internet, Gaming, and Social Networking Behaviours," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-33, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2913-:d:191768
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daria J. Kuss & Mark D. Griffiths, 2017. "Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, March.
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    3. Anna Faltýnková & Lukas Blinka & Anna Ševčíková & Daniela Husarova, 2020. "The Associations between Family-Related Factors and Excessive Internet Use in Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Daria J. Kuss & Anne Marie Kristensen & A. Jess Williams & Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, 2022. "To Be or Not to Be a Female Gamer: A Qualitative Exploration of Female Gamer Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Olatz Lopez-Fernandez & Daria J. Kuss, 2020. "Preventing Harmful Internet Use-Related Addiction Problems in Europe: A Literature Review and Policy Options," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Wen-Huai Hsieh & Dong-Her Shih & Po-Yuan Shih & Shih-Bin Lin, 2019. "An Ensemble Classifier with Case-Based Reasoning System for Identifying Internet Addiction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Olatz Lopez-Fernandez & Lucia Romo & Laurence Kern & Amélie Rousseau & Pierluigi Graziani & Lucien Rochat & Sophia Achab & Daniele Zullino & Nils Inge Landrø & Juan José Zacarés & Emilia Serra & Maria, 2022. "Perceptions Underlying Addictive Technology Use Patterns: Insights for Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Majid Altuwairiqi & Nan Jiang & Raian Ali, 2019. "Problematic Attachment to Social Media: Five Behavioural Archetypes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-36, June.
    9. Juan M. Machimbarrena & Joaquín González-Cabrera & Jéssica Ortega-Barón & Marta Beranuy-Fargues & Aitor Álvarez-Bardón & Blanca Tejero, 2019. "Profiles of Problematic Internet Use and Its Impact on Adolescents’ Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Lutz Wartberg & Rudolf Kammerl, 2020. "Empirical Relationships between Problematic Alcohol Use and a Problematic Use of Video Games, Social Media and the Internet and Their Associations to Mental Health in Adolescence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    11. Turgut Karakose & Tijen Tülübaş & Stamatios Papadakis, 2022. "Revealing the Intellectual Structure and Evolution of Digital Addiction Research: An Integrated Bibliometric and Science Mapping Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-27, November.
    12. Sergey Tereshchenko & Edward Kasparov & Nadezhda Semenova & Margarita Shubina & Nina Gorbacheva & Ivan Novitckii & Olga Moskalenko & Ludmila Lapteva, 2022. "Generalized and Specific Problematic Internet Use in Central Siberia Adolescents: A School-Based Study of Prevalence, Age–Sex Depending Content Structure, and Comorbidity with Psychosocial Problems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-19, June.
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