Problematic Internet use among adults: A longitudinal European study

Authors

  • Olatz López Fernández Departamento de Metodología de las ciencias del comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid Centro de Estudios Universitarios Cardenal Cisneros – UCM, Madrid Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Madrid
  • Lucía Romo EA 4430 CLIPSYD Université Paris Nanterre, Paris Hôpital Universitaire Raymond Poincaré, AP-HP Garches, CESP, Garches
  • Amélie Rousseau Psychology Department, Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, 31058 Toulouse
  • Bernadeta Lelonek-Kuleta Department of Psychology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin
  • Joanna Chwaszcz Department of Psychology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin
  • Niko Männikkö Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Centre for Research and Innovation, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Oulu
  • Ann-Kathrin Gässler Psychotherapeutical Office Pilgramm, Hannover
  • Zsolt Demetrovics Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1064 Budapest, Hungary Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar
  • Sophia Achab Specialized Treatment Centre ReConnecte, University Hospitals, Geneva Sociological and Psychological-Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva
  • Daria J. Kuss Cyberpsychology Research Group, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham
  • Mark D. Griffiths Cyberpsychology Research Group, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham International Gaming Research Unit, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20882/adicciones.1948

Keywords:

Internet addiction, problematic Internet use, longitudinal research, Europe, adults.

Abstract

There are few cross-cultural studies utilizing longitudinal analysis to explore problematic internet use (PIU), and almost none among adults. The present follow-up study compared three waves across 12-month period every six months and observed the natural course and trajectory of PIU in a European multi-country sample of adults from 11 countries (Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, UK, Norway, Belgium). A total of 139 participants (45.5% females) provided data across all three waves with an average age of 26.14 years (SD = 5.92). There were longitudinal effects in PIU, with statistical differences between at-risk users compared to healthy users in Waves 1 and 2, and Waves 1 and 3. The analyses of variance showed a longitudinal effect of waves on the PIU symptoms. PIU was significantly affected by time and type of user, with those classed as at-risk having higher scores than healthy users, although PIU decreased over time. In addition, the type of PIU detected in adults contained mild addictive symptoms. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PIU was generally low among European adult population and tended to decrease over the one-year period, what contrasts with adolescent population findings.

Author Biography

Olatz López Fernández, Departamento de Metodología de las ciencias del comportamiento, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Madrid Centro de Estudios Universitarios Cardenal Cisneros – UCM, Madrid Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Servicio de Psiquiatría, Madrid

Profesora adociada UCMProfesora contratada doctora UFVProfesora CES-Cardenal CisnerosAdjunta en Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz

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Published

2025-03-25

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Originals