Addictive behaviors and personality traits in adolescents

Abstract

Introduction. Behavioral addictions refer to repeated dysfunctional behaviors that do not involve the ingestion of addictive substances. Studies on the association between behavioral addictions and personality traits have noted in individuals with problematic behaviors a high proclivity toward impulsivity and sensation-seeking and a low predisposition to harm avoidance. The majority of these studies have focused on adults, while far fewer have involved adolescents.Methods. The study population was 109 high school students (age range 15-18 years) in Turin, Italy. Participants completed an assessment that comprised a demographic questionnaire and 3 self-report questionnaires: the Shorter PROMIS Questionnaire (SPQ), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Multidimensional Questionnaire for Adolescents (QMA).Results. A gender-related difference in the risk of developing an addictive behavior was observed, with a significantly higher percentage of risk seen for several addiction tendencies among the males. Statistically significant correlations emerged between some personality determinants and certain addictive behaviors.Discussion. The study pinpoints epidemiological indicators for the extent of this growing problem among adolescents.Conclusions. The findings have implications for identifying protection factors and risk factors for addictive behaviors and related psychiatric disorders, and the development of primary prevention strategies derived from such factors.

The majority of professionally active women diagnosed with eating disorders may be at risk of work addiction: an overlooked comorbidity

“…This has vital importance from the perspective of investigating and understanding the development of compulsive overworking, especially in relation to EDs, because similarly to EDs, it can be observed and associated with substantial harm already among adolescents (Wróbel, 2020). Therefore, it is possible to investigate EDs and WA/SA co-occurrence in adolescent populations, which previously happened to be a theoretical and empirical hindrance (see Munno, Saroldi, Bechon, Sterpone, & Zullo, 2016) or scales developed for measuring work would have doubtful validity when used in adolescent and student samples (Pallanti, Bernardi, & Quercioli, 2006; see Griffiths et al, 2018 for information on using WA scales in these samples).…”

The Mediating Role of Coping Styles on Impulsivity, Behavioral Inhibition/Approach System, and Internet Addiction in Adolescents From a Gender Perspective

“…The prevalence of Internet addiction has been found to be higher in boys than in girls (Ha and Hwang, 2014). Boys have higher impulsivity than girls (Munno et al, 2016). Two previous studies found that women have higher BIS activation and higher activation of specific aspects of the BAS (reward responsiveness) than men (Jorm et al, 1998; Nam et al, 2018).…”

Compulsive Buying Behavior: Characteristics of Comorbidity with Gambling Disorder

“…Other shared features of CBB and GD are the early onset of the problematic addictive problems, (Balogh et al, 2013 ; Maraz et al, 2015b ), low education levels (Maraz et al, 2015a ), high exposure to adverse life events (Lee et al, 2012 ), and specific personality traits (Black et al, 2012 ; Di Nicola et al, 2015 ; Munno et al, 2016 ). It is also noteworthy that both conditions are characterized by deceit and alterations in attitudes toward money, personal financial behavior, and materialistic values (Black et al, 2010 ).…”