Problematic Internet use and associated risks in a college sample

TY - JOUR

T1 - Problematic Internet use and associated risks in a college sample

AU - Derbyshire, Katherine L

AU - Lust, Katherine A

AU - Schreiber, Liana R N

AU - Odlaug, Brian Lawrence

AU - Christenson, Gary A

AU - Golden, David J

AU - Grant, Jon E

N1 - Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

PY - 2013/7

Y1 - 2013/7

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The Internet is commonly used among young adults; however, Internet use may become a problematic behavior. Past research has examined Internet behavior in young adults and its relationship to other behaviors and health issues, yet further research is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship. METHOD: A sample (n=2108) of college students (56.9% female) was examined using a self-report Internet survey concerning demographic characteristics, Internet use, health behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and psychiatric comorbidities. The IAT was used to determine levels of problematic Internet use (limited use (none or almost no use), mild use (typical user), moderate use (occasional problems) and severe use (frequent, serious problems)) and the MINI for testing for psychiatric problems. RESULTS: We found that 237 students (12.9%) met criteria for limited Internet use, 1502 (81.8%) for mild Internet use and 98 (5.3%) for moderate to severe Internet use. Variables significantly associated with greater frequency of Internet use included lower Grade Point Average (p=.006), less frequent exercise (p=.018), higher PHQ-9 scores (p

AB - OBJECTIVE: The Internet is commonly used among young adults; however, Internet use may become a problematic behavior. Past research has examined Internet behavior in young adults and its relationship to other behaviors and health issues, yet further research is needed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this relationship. METHOD: A sample (n=2108) of college students (56.9% female) was examined using a self-report Internet survey concerning demographic characteristics, Internet use, health behaviors, psychosocial functioning, and psychiatric comorbidities. The IAT was used to determine levels of problematic Internet use (limited use (none or almost no use), mild use (typical user), moderate use (occasional problems) and severe use (frequent, serious problems)) and the MINI for testing for psychiatric problems. RESULTS: We found that 237 students (12.9%) met criteria for limited Internet use, 1502 (81.8%) for mild Internet use and 98 (5.3%) for moderate to severe Internet use. Variables significantly associated with greater frequency of Internet use included lower Grade Point Average (p=.006), less frequent exercise (p=.018), higher PHQ-9 scores (p

U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.11.003

DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.11.003

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23312879

SN - 0010-440X

VL - 54

SP - 415

EP - 422

JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry

JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry

IS - 5

ER -