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COVID-19-Related Social Isolation Predispose to Problematic Internet and Online Video Gaming Use in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Umberto Volpe

    (Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy)

  • Laura Orsolini

    (Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy)

  • Virginio Salvi

    (Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy)

  • Umberto Albert

    (Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste and Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina—ASUGI, 34148 Trieste, Italy)

  • Claudia Carmassi

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Carrà

    (Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Francesca Cirulli

    (National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Bernardo Dell’Osso

    (Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, 20157 Milano, Italy)

  • Mario Luciano

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy)

  • Giulia Menculini

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy)

  • Maria Giulia Nanni

    (Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Maurizio Pompili

    (Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00100 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriele Sani

    (Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00100 Rome, Italy
    Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00100 Rome, Italy)

  • Gaia Sampogna

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy)

  • Working Group

    (Working Group: Martino Belvederi Murri 9 , Rosangela Caruso 9 , Valeria Del Vecchio 7 , Marco Di Nicola 11 , Vincenzo Giallonardo 7 , Lisa Giannelli 7 , Alessandra Mugnolo 7 , Federico Tonioni 11 , Alfonso Tortorella 8 .)

  • Andrea Fiorillo

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy)

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures have been associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression in the general population. While the use of digital media has been greatly promoted by national governments and international authorities to maintain social contacts and healthy lifestyle behaviors, its increased access may also bear the risk of inappropriate or excessive use of internet-related resources. The present study, part of the COVID Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) study, aims at investigating the possible relationship between social isolation, the use of digital resources and the development of their problematic use. A cross sectional survey was carried out to explore the prevalence of internet addiction, excessive use of social media, problematic video gaming and binge watching, during Italian phase II (May–June 2020) and III (June–September 2020) of the pandemic in 1385 individuals (62.5% female, mean age 32.5 ± 12.9) mainly living in Central Italy (52.4%). Data were stratified according to phase II/III and three groups of Italian regions (northern, central and southern). Compared to the larger COMET study, most participants exhibited significant higher levels of severe-to-extremely-severe depressive symptoms (46.3% vs. 12.4%; p < 0.01) and extremely severe anxiety symptoms (77.8% vs. 7.5%; p < 0.01). We also observed a rise in problematic internet use and excessive gaming over time. Mediation analyses revealed that COVID-19-related general psychopathology, stress, anxiety, depression and social isolation play a significant role in the emergence of problematic internet use, social media addiction and problematic video gaming. Professional gamers and younger subjects emerged as sub-populations particularly at risk of developing digital addictions. If confirmed in larger and more homogenous samples, our findings may help in shedding light on possible preventive and treatment strategies for digital addictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Umberto Volpe & Laura Orsolini & Virginio Salvi & Umberto Albert & Claudia Carmassi & Giuseppe Carrà & Francesca Cirulli & Bernardo Dell’Osso & Mario Luciano & Giulia Menculini & Maria Giulia Nanni & , 2022. "COVID-19-Related Social Isolation Predispose to Problematic Internet and Online Video Gaming Use in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1539-:d:738123
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Min-Pei Lin, 2020. "Prevalence of Internet Addiction during the COVID-19 Outbreak and Its Risk Factors among Junior High School Students in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Thomas Abel & David McQueen, 2020. "The COVID-19 pandemic calls for spatial distancing and social closeness: not for social distancing!," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(3), pages 231-231, April.
    3. Concetta De Pasquale & Federica Sciacca & Valentina Martinelli & Matteo Chiappedi & Carmela Dinaro & Zira Hichy, 2020. "Relationship of Internet Gaming Disorder with Psychopathology and Social Adaptation in Italian Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-8, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Kożybska & Iwona Radlińska & Marcin Kolwitz & Beata Karakiewicz, 2023. "Problematic Internet Use among Polish Students: Prevalence, Relationship to Sociodemographic Data and Internet Usage Patterns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Silvia Cimino & Renata Tambelli, 2022. "Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Ilaria Riboldi & Chiara Alessandra Capogrosso & Susanna Piacenti & Angela Calabrese & Susanna Lucini Paioni & Francesco Bartoli & Cristina Crocamo & Giuseppe Carrà & Jo Armes & Cath Taylor, 2023. "Mental Health and COVID-19 in University Students: Findings from a Qualitative, Comparative Study in Italy and the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Gaia Sampogna & Maurizio Pompili & Andrea Fiorillo, 2022. "The Short-Term Consequences of COVID-19 on Mental Health: State of the Art from Available Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-5, November.
    5. Fong, Ted C.T. & Cheng, Qijin & Pai, C.Y. & Kwan, Isabelle & Wong, Clifford & Cheung, Sing-Hang & Yip, Paul S.F., 2023. "Uncovering sample heterogeneity in gaming and social withdrawal behaviors in adolescent and young adult gamers in Hong Kong," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    6. Laura Orsolini & Giulio Longo & Umberto Volpe, 2023. "The Mediatory Role of the Boredom and Loneliness Dimensions in the Development of Problematic Internet Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.
    7. Youlai Zeng & Jiahui Zhang & Jiaxin Wei & Shunyu Li, 2022. "The Impact of Undergraduates’ Social Isolation on Smartphone Addiction: The Roles of Academic Anxiety and Social Media Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.

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