scholarly journals Problematic Internet Use in University Students Attending Three Superior Graduate Schools in Italy: Is Autism Spectrum Related to Suicide Risk?

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Dell’Osso ◽  
Carlo Bertelloni ◽  
Marco Di Paolo ◽  
Maria Avella ◽  
Barbara Carpita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Social ◽  
Adult Autism

Background: Over the past decades, problematic internet use (PIU) has dramatically increased, especially among young people. PIU has been recently associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autistic traits. Subjects with PIU report an increased suicidal risk and the same has been demonstrated among patients with ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate putative PIU rates among students and explore the correlation between autistic traits and suicide risk. Methods: A sample of 178 high achieving university students was assessed by means of the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum), Autism Quotient questionnaire (AQ). Suicide risk was investigated by some specific items of the Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and putative PIU was identified on the basis of a specific AdAS Spectrum item. Results: 27.5% subjects reporting putative PIU. This subgroup showed higher scores in all domains of AdAS Spectrum and AQ compared with others. Students with putative PIU showed a significant correlation between suicide risk and the non-verbal communication domain of the AdAS Spectrum and the Social skills domain of the AQ. Conclusions: We found that students with PIU show higher levels of autistic traits compared to those without PIU. A significant correlation was found between autistic traits and suicide risk.

scholarly journals Problematic Internet Use in Children and Adolescents: Associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Restrepo(Former Corresponding Author) ◽  
Tohar Scheininger ◽  
Jon Clucas ◽  
Lindsay Alexander ◽  
Giovanni Salum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background: Problematic internet use (PIU) is an increasingly worrisome issue, as youth population studies are establishing links with internalizing and externalizing problems. There is a need for a better understanding of psychiatric diagnostic profiles associated with this issue, as well as its unique contributions to impairment. Here, we leveraged the ongoing, large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5-21), to examine the associations between PIU and psychopathology, general impairment, physical health and sleep disturbances.Methods: A total sample of 564 (190 female) participants between the ages of 7-15 (mean = 10.80, SD = 2.16), along with their parents/guardians, completed diagnostic interviews with clinicians, answered a wide range of self-report (SR) and parent-report (PR) questionnaires, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and underwent physical testing as part of the Healthy Brain Network protocol. Results: PIU was positively associated with depressive disorders (SR: aOR = 2.43, CI: 1.22-4.74, p = .01; PR: aOR = 2.56, CI: 1.31-5.05, p = .01), the combined presentation of ADHD (SR: aOR = 1.91, CI: 1.14-3.22, p = .01; PR: n.s.), Autism Spectrum Disorder (SR: n.s.; PR: aOR = 2.24, CI: 1.34-3.73, p < .001), greater levels of impairment (SR: Standardized Beta = 4.63, CI: 3.06-6.20, p < .001; PR: Standardized Beta = 5.05, CI: 3.67-6.42, p < .001) and increased sleep disturbances (SR: Standardized Beta = 3.15, CI: 0.71-5.59, p = .01; PR: Standardized Beta = 3.55, CI: 1.34-5.75, p < .001), even when accounting for demographic covariates and psychiatric comorbidity.Conclusions: The association between PIU and psychopathology, as well as its impact on impairment and sleep disturbances, highlight the urgent need to gain an understanding of mechanisms in order to inform public health recommendations on internet use in U.S. youth.

scholarly journals Problematic Internet Use in Children and Adolescents: Associations with psychiatric disorders and impairment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Restrepo ◽  
Tohar Scheininger ◽  
Jon Clucas ◽  
Lindsay Alexander ◽  
Giovanni Salum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background: Problematic internet use (PIU) is an increasingly worrisome issue, as youth population studies are establishing links with internalizing and externalizing problems. There is a need for a better understanding of psychiatric diagnostic profiles associated with this issue, as well as its unique contributions to impairment. Here, we leveraged the ongoing, large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5-21), to examine the associations between PIU and psychopathology, general impairment, physical health and sleep disturbances. Methods: A total sample of 564 (190 female) participants between the ages of 7-15 (mean = 10.80, SD = 2.16), along with their parents/guardians, completed diagnostic interviews with clinicians, answered a wide range of self-report (SR) and parent-report (PR) questionnaires, including the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and underwent physical testing as part of the Healthy Brain Network protocol. Results: PIU was positively associated with depressive disorders (SR: aOR = 2.43, CI: 1.22-4.74, p = .01; PR: aOR = 2.56, CI: 1.31-5.05, p = .01), the combined presentation of ADHD (SR: aOR = 1.91, CI: 1.14-3.22, p = .01; PR: n.s.), Autism Spectrum Disorder (SR: n.s.; PR: aOR = 2.24, CI: 1.34-3.73, p < .001), greater levels of impairment (SR: Standardized Beta = 4.63, CI: 3.06-6.20, p < .001; PR: Standardized Beta = 5.05, CI: 3.67-6.42, p < .001) and increased sleep disturbances (SR: Standardized Beta = 3.15, CI: 0.71-5.59, p = .01; PR: Standardized Beta = 3.55, CI: 1.34-5.75, p < .001), even when accounting for demographic covariates and psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusions: The association between PIU and psychopathology, as well as its impact on impairment and sleep disturbances, highlight the urgent need to gain an understanding of mechanisms in order to inform public health recommendations on internet use in U.S. youth.

scholarly journals Prevalence of problematic internet use disorder and associated risk factors and complications among Iranian university students: a national survey

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jalal Poorolajal ◽  
Jamal Ahmadpoor ◽  
Younes Mohammadi ◽  
Ali Reza Soltanian ◽  
Seyedeh Zahra Asghari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
General Health ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Poor General Health ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Status

Background: Despite the growing epidemic of problematic Internet use (PIU), little information is available on PIU and related factors in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4261 university students among 13 universities throughout the country in 2017. The data collection tool included demographic characteristics, the status of using the Internet, social media, computer games, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, suicide ideation and attempt, and unprotected sex. PIU was measured using the 15-item PIU questionnaire. The status of general health was evaluated using the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ) questionnaire. The simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the crude and adjusted associations between various factors and PIU. Results: Of 4261 university students, 55.9% were female, 13.5% were smokers, 4.9% were drug abusers, 7.9% were alcohol abusers, 7.8% had unprotected sex in the past year, 7.4% had suicidal ideation in the past month, 1.7% had attempted suicide in the past year, and 27.3% suffered from PIU. Only 61.1% had normal health. In contrast, 30.9%, 7.2%, and 0.8% had mild, moderate, and severe general health problems, respectively. There were significant relationships between PIU and age group 20-24 vs. <20 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.82), single vs, married (OR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.85, 3.57), suicidal attempt (OR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.47, 5.19), using online games (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.60), and poor general health (OR = 12.14; 95% CI: 4.53, 32.54). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of medical sciences students suffered from PIU. This unhealthy behavior was associated with poor general health and elevated risk of suicidal behaviors. This health-threatening behavior provides an early warning signal that deserves special attention, otherwise, it may threaten both college students’ health and function.

An Explanatory Model of Problematic Internet Use of Southern Spanish University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 089443932199865
Author(s):  
José-María Romero-Rodríguez ◽  
José-Antonio Marín-Marín ◽  
Francisco-Javier Hinojo-Lucena ◽  
Gerardo Gómez-García
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Internet Addiction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Moderate Degree ◽  
Cross Sectional

The problematic Internet use (PIU) has become a topic of special relevance since it is a problem that affects the whole world. It has been detected that the population at greatest risk is university students along with adolescents. At the same time, Spain is one of the countries with the highest PIU rate. The purposes of this article were to analyze the presence and degree of Internet addiction among university students and to check the sociodemographic factors that influence the PIU. To this end, 13 hypotheses were put forward and contrasted using a structural equation model. The study adopted a cross-sectional approach by applying the Internet addiction test to a sample of undergraduate students in southern Spain ( n = 1,013). The results indicated a prevalence of PIU among students of almost 12.5% and with a moderate degree of addiction. In turn, the following hypotheses that had a significant effect on the PIU were supported: gender; field of knowledge; living in the parents’ home; Internet daily use for leisure; Internet daily use for academic purposes; number of social networks; sexual orientation; marital status. Finally, the main findings of the study were reviewed, and the main recommendations and implications for mitigating the negative effects of technology and enhancing the positive ones were established.

scholarly journals Longitudinal association between autistic traits and affinity for hikikomori in Japanese university students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuuki Shimono ◽  
Akira Hasegawa ◽  
Kohei Tsuchihara ◽  
Keisuke Tanaka ◽  
Yuko Matsuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Longitudinal Association ◽  
Academic Failures

AbstractThe affinity for hikikomori represents the desire to be withdrawn, as well as to entertain an empathetic attitude towards withdrawn individuals. It is composed of two subdimensions, the maladaptive desire for hikikomori, and empathy for others with hikikomori. This longitudinal study examined whether autistic traits predicted the affinity for hikikomori. At the baseline assessment, undergraduate and graduate students in Japan (N = 272) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Affinity for Hikikomori Scale in University Students, and measures assessing academic failures and interpersonal conflicts. They also completed all measures excluding the AQ eight weeks later. Structural equation modeling indicated that difficulties in social interaction aspects of autistic traits were positively associated with academic failures at Time 2 even after controlling for academic failures at Time 1. In addition, difficulties in social interaction were positively related to the desire for hikikomori at Time 2 indirectly via academic failures at Time 2 after controlling for the desire for hikikomori at Time 1. Difficulties in social interaction were also directly associated with the increased desire for hikikomori at Time 2. These findings suggest that autistic traits, and especially difficulties in social interaction, are predictors of the maladaptive aspect of the affinity for hikikomori.

scholarly journals The Impact of Self-Management Techniques to Improve University Students’ Social Cognition

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-123
Author(s):  
Mita Sri Handayani ◽  
Muhammad Nur Wangid ◽  
Andre Julius
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
University Students ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Management Techniques ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cognition Scale

The background of the current study is the urgency of possessing good social cognition to adapt to the social changes that are happening quickly. Weak social cognition makes individuals less in empathy, aggressive or unhappy in their daily life. The link between self-management and social cognition lies in cognitive adjustment. Hence, the authors think it is important to do research that focuses on the implementation of counseling with self-management techniques in developing social cognition. The authors aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-management in improving social cognition. The present study used one group pretest-posttest quasi-experiment. We invited 10 students from Universitas Ma'soem, Indonesia to participate in the experiment. They were selected based on a low social cognition score after filling the self-report of nineteen items social cognition scale. The results showed counseling with self-management techniques effective in improving university students' social cognition. Besides, limitations and recommendations are discussed.

scholarly journals Problematic Internet Use among University Students and Its Relationship with Social Skills

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1301
Author(s):  
Miriam Romero-López ◽  
Carmen Pichardo ◽  
Isabel De De Hoces ◽  
Trinidad García-Berbén
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
University Students ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Older Students ◽  
Positive Feeling ◽  
Use Of The Internet

Internet use has been steadily and unstoppably gaining ground in all areas of life, from recreational activities to the establishment of social relations. However, addictive use of the Internet is a problem that seriously affects some people. Factors that may influence the occurrence of inappropriate internet use include age and social skills. For this reason, the aim of this study is to analyze the influence of social skills and age on the development of problematic internet use in university students. The study involved 514 students enrolled at a university in Spain, who filled in two questionnaires, one on problematic internet use and the other on social skills. Multivariate multiple linear regression models revealed that some social skills variables (conversation and social ease, empathic and positive feeling skills, risk coping) predicted problematic internet use. In addition, age played a role in preference for online social interaction and deficient self-regulation. Younger students were more at risk of having obsessive thoughts related to internet use and of engaging in compulsive internet use compared to older students.

scholarly journals Factors affecting internet use among university students in Sarawak, Malaysia: an empirical study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 848
Author(s):  
M. Mizanur Rahman ◽  
M. Taha Arif ◽  
Fready Luke ◽  
Santha Letchumi ◽  
Fatin Nabila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
University Students ◽  
Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Problematic Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Factors Affecting

Background: The internet has become an indispensable tool for communication, academic research, information and entertainment. However, heavy users of the internet lead to less confidence in social skills and the tendency to be isolated. The study aimed to assess the pattern of internet use and factors affecting problematic internet use among university students.Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among the students of a university in Sarawak, Malaysia. A multistage cluster sampling technique was adapted to select the participants. Data were collected from 463 students by self-administered questionnaire. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis was done to determine the potential factors for problematic internet use.Results: The mean age of the students was 22 years, with a standard deviation of 1.6 years. Two-fifths (61.8%) of the students had no problematic internet use. However, 35.4% had moderate and 2.8% had severe problematic internet use. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis found that age of the students, year of study, duration of daily internet use and use of social networking like Skype appeared to be potential predictors of problematic internet use (p<0.05).Conclusions: This study was conducted in only one university, thus did not depict the overall scenarios of the country. The implications of the findings are still worth noting in the process of designing internet addiction studies among university students. Overall, this study has unearthed some useful insights which can serve as a guide to more elaborate studies.

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