Problematic Internet use and associated mental health issues in South Korean Internet users

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s868-s868
Author(s):  
T.K. Lee ◽  
J. Kim ◽  
E.J. Kim ◽  
G. Kim ◽  
S. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Nicotine Dependence ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Internet Users

IntroductionThe Internet is commonly used in modern society; however, Internet use may become a problematic behaviour. There is an increasing need for research on problematic Internet use (PIU) and its’ associated risk factors.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the prevalence and health correlates of problematic Internet use among South Korean adults.MethodsWe recruited the participants aged between 18 and 84 years old among the online panel of an online research service. The sample size of the survey was 500. Of these 500 participants, 51.4% (n = 257) were men and 48.6% (n = 243) were women. A participant was classified as a problematic Internet use (PIU) if his/her total score of Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIA) was above 50. Stress Response Index (SRI), Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, lifetime average caffeine consumption, and sociodemographic query form were used in the collection of data. The t test and chi-square test were used for data analysis.ResultsOne hundred ninety-seven (39.4%) of the participants was classified into the PIU group. There was no difference of gender and education between PIU and normal users. However, PIU group was younger (mean 39.5 years) than normal users (mean 45.8 years). PIU group was more likely to have high levels of perceived stress, nicotine dependence, and drink more often caffeinated beverages (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThese data indicate that problematic Internet use is associated with perceived stress level, nicotine and caffeine use in South Korean Internet users. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between Internet use and mental health issues.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Contact With Nature as a Mental Health Buffer for Lower Income Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber L. Pearson ◽  
Teresa Horton ◽  
Karin A. Pfeiffer ◽  
Rachel Buxton ◽  
Joseph Gardiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
As Stress ◽  
Perceived Access

Despite a growing number of research outputs on the importance of nature contact during the COVID-19 pandemic, we know of no longitudinal research conducted prior to and during the pandemic among low-income and minority ethnicity populations, i.e., those that might be most affected. Furthermore, we have scant information about how and to what degree contact with nature might protect mental health or mitigate worsening of mental health during the pandemic. We filled these gaps using a subset of a longitudinal study of n = 86 individuals in low-income, predominantly African American, neighborhoods in Detroit, MI, USA. The study addressed the following research questions: (1) did self-reported use and perceived value of nature change during, vs. prior to, the pandemic; (2) did perceived access to outdoor spaces buffer people against mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression symptoms; or (3) did objectively measured quality of nature views from home buffer people against mental health issues, taking into account relevant covariates and pandemic experiences (e.g., loss of employment, death of a friend/relative)? While attitudes to nature improved slightly from pre- to during the pandemic, we also observed significant decreases in most types of outdoor physical activity and passive enjoyment of nature (e.g., smelling plants/rain). We found a positive association between visibility of greenspace and perceived stress and anxiety, which not only contradicts previous research findings, but was especially surprising given that overall there was a decrease in perceived stress from 2019–2020. We did not detect associations between perceived access/use of nature and mental health. However, higher depressive symptoms were associated with exposure to more COVID-19-related stressors (lost employment, death of friends from COVID-19, etc.). Taken together, our results indicate that COVID-19 may serve to prolong or exacerbate mental health issues, rather than create them, in this population and that low quality greenspace may perhaps limit the ability for nature view to buffer mental health during the pandemic.

The relationship of problematic internet use with dissociation among South Korean internet users

2016 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 66-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae Kyung Lee ◽  
Sungwon Roh ◽  
Joo Hyun Han ◽  
Se Jin Park ◽  
Min A Soh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Use ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals The Mediator Roles of Problematic Internet Use and Perceived Stress Between Health Behaviors and Work-Life Balance Among Internet Users in Germany and China: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

10.2196/16468 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. e16468
Author(s):  
Lingling Gao ◽  
Yiqun Gan ◽  
Amanda Whittal ◽  
Song Yan ◽  
Sonia Lippke
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Action Model ◽  
Carry Over

Background Work-life balance is associated with health behaviors. In the face of digitalization, understanding this link requires a theory-based investigation of problematic internet use and perceived stress, which are so far unknown. Objective On the basis of the compensatory carry-over action model, this study aimed to determine whether problematic internet use and perceived stress mediate the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance in two groups of internet users from different environments (residents in Germany and China). We also investigated whether the place of residence was a moderator. Methods An online questionnaire (N=877) was administered to residents from Germany (n=374) and China (n=503) in 3 languages (German, English, and Chinese). Moderated mediation analyses were run with health behaviors as the independent variable, work-life balance as the dependent variable, problematic internet use and perceived stress as the mediator variables, and place of residence as a potential moderator. Results On a mean level, individuals in Germany reported less problematic internet use and more health behaviors than individuals in China; however, they also had lower work-life balance and higher perceived stress. Results showed that health behaviors seem to be directly related to work-life balance in both groups. Among the residents of Germany, a partial mediation was revealed (β=.13; P=.01), whereas among the residents of China, a full mediation was found (β=.02; P=.61). The mediator role of perceived stress was compared with problematic internet use in all the serial models and the parallel model. Residence moderated the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance: The interrelation between health behaviors and work-life balance was stronger in Germany (β=.19; P<.001) than in China (β=.11; P=.01) when controlling for other variables. Conclusions The findings of this study are in line with the compensatory carry-over action model. To promote work-life balance, individuals should perform health behaviors to help overcome problematic internet use and perceived stress. Both problematic internet use and perceived stress mediated health behaviors and work-life balance partially in German study participants and fully in Chinese study participants.

Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Perceived Stress in Italian Humanities Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412098444
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Bert ◽  
Maria Ferrara ◽  
Edoardo Boietti ◽  
Elisa Langiano ◽  
Armando Savatteri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues are common among university students. Nevertheless, few studies focused on Italian students. This study aimed to assess prevalence and associated factors of perceived stress (PS), depressive symptoms (DS) and suicidal ideation (SI) in an Italian sample. A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a convenience sample of students in humanities field (2018). Questionnaires were self-administered. Outcomes were assessed through Beck Depression Inventory-II (DS, SI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PS). Multivariable regressions were performed (p-value < 0.05 significant; sample size = 203). DS and SI prevalence was 30.6% and 8.8%. PS median score was 20 (IQR = 11), 87.7% reported moderate/severe PS. DS likelihood was increased by psychiatric disorders family history and not attending first year of course and decreased by not thinking that university hinders personal activities. Chronic disease and higher stress score increased SI probability; good/excellent family cohesion reduced it. Being female, thinking that university hinders resting/relaxing, seeing a psychologist/psychiatrist were positively associated with PS; having no worries about future was negatively associated. A high prevalence of mental health issues was reported, with miscellaneous associated factors that were linked to both private and social aspects. Universities must be aware of this to provide efficient preventive measures.

scholarly journals The Mediator Roles of Problematic Internet Use and Perceived Stress Between Health Behaviors and Work-Life Balance Among Internet Users in Germany and China: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingling Gao ◽  
Yiqun Gan ◽  
Amanda Whittal ◽  
Song Yan ◽  
Sonia Lippke
Keyword(s):  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Work Life Balance ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Life Balance ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Action Model ◽  
Carry Over

BACKGROUND Work-life balance is associated with health behaviors. In the face of digitalization, understanding this link requires a theory-based investigation of problematic internet use and perceived stress, which are so far unknown. OBJECTIVE On the basis of the compensatory carry-over action model, this study aimed to determine whether problematic internet use and perceived stress mediate the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance in two groups of internet users from different environments (residents in Germany and China). We also investigated whether the place of residence was a moderator. METHODS An online questionnaire (N=877) was administered to residents from Germany (n=374) and China (n=503) in 3 languages (German, English, and Chinese). Moderated mediation analyses were run with health behaviors as the independent variable, work-life balance as the dependent variable, problematic internet use and perceived stress as the mediator variables, and place of residence as a potential moderator. RESULTS On a mean level, individuals in Germany reported less problematic internet use and more health behaviors than individuals in China; however, they also had lower work-life balance and higher perceived stress. Results showed that health behaviors seem to be directly related to work-life balance in both groups. Among the residents of Germany, a partial mediation was revealed (β=.13; <i>P</i>=.01), whereas among the residents of China, a full mediation was found (β=.02; <i>P</i>=.61). The mediator role of perceived stress was compared with problematic internet use in all the serial models and the parallel model. Residence moderated the relationship between health behaviors and work-life balance: The interrelation between health behaviors and work-life balance was stronger in Germany (β=.19; <i>P</i>&lt;.001) than in China (β=.11; <i>P</i>=.01) when controlling for other variables. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study are in line with the compensatory carry-over action model. To promote work-life balance, individuals should perform health behaviors to help overcome problematic internet use and perceived stress. Both problematic internet use and perceived stress mediated health behaviors and work-life balance partially in German study participants and fully in Chinese study participants.

scholarly journals Stress, dependency, and depression: An examination of the reinforcement effects of problematic smartphone use on perceived stress and later depression

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengfei Zhao ◽  
Matthew A. Lapierre
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Problematic Smartphone Use ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Stress Dependency

Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) is associated with a series of mental health issues including depression; yet, the directionality and underlying mechanisms for these associations are underdetermined. This study investigated the possible reinforcement effects of PSU on perceived stress and later depression and the moderating effect of social support on the associations between perceived stress and smartphone use and PSU. This study further explored the differential effects for separate types of smartphone use. With a sample of 222 college students, we found that PSU reinforced perceived stress especially for people with high levels of stress, and perceived stress fully mediated the association between PSU and depression. Regarding types of smartphone use, we found that perceived stress was associated with both person-to-person and social networking smartphone use. In addition, for people with low to medium levels of social support, perceived stress was linked to increased PSU via social networking smartphone use.

The Effect of Suicide-Related Internet Use on Users’ Mental Health

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 348-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Sueki
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Internet Users

Background: Previous studies have shown that suicide-related Internet use can have both negative and positive psychological effects. Aims: This study examined the effect of suicide-related Internet use on users’ suicidal ideation, depression/anxiety tendency, and loneliness. Method: A two-wave panel study of 850 Internet users was conducted via the Internet. Results: Suicide-related Internet use (e.g., browsing websites about suicide methods) had negative effects on suicidal ideation and depression/anxiety tendency. No forms of suicide-related Internet use, even those that would generally be considered positive, were found to decrease users’ suicidal ideation. In addition, our results suggest that the greater the suicidal ideation and feelings of depression and loneliness of Internet users, the more they used the Internet. Conclusion: Since suicide-related Internet use can adversely influence the mental health of young adults, it is necessary to take measures to reduce their exposure to such information.

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