Differential Psychological Impact of Internet Exposure on Internet Addicts

Abstract

The study explored the immediate impact of internet exposure on the mood and psychological states of internet addicts and low internet-users. Participants were given a battery of psychological tests to explore levels of internet addiction, mood, anxiety, depression, schizotypy, and autism traits. They were then given exposure to the internet for 15 min, and re-tested for mood and current anxiety. Internet addiction was associated with long-standing depression, impulsive nonconformity, and autism traits. High internet-users also showed a pronounced decrease in mood following internet use compared to the low internet-users. The immediate negative impact of exposure to the internet on the mood of internet addicts may contribute to increased usage by those individuals attempting to reduce their low mood by re-engaging rapidly in internet use.

ADHD and autistic traits, family function, parenting style, and social adjustment for Internet addiction among children and adolescents in Taiwan: A longitudinal study

“…Finkenauer and colleagues (2012) also reported the first empirical study for examining autistic traits in adults and claimed that strong autistic traits could predict compulsive Internet use, but not frequent Internet use. Their findings were further supported by a recent study demonstrating a positive relationship between Internet addiction and the autistic trait (Romano, Osborne, Truzoli, & Reed, 2013). Those findings indicated that possessing certain kinds of traits may result in increasing the vulnerability for Internet addiction.…”

Transparency Culture & Ecclesial Responsibility: Reflections on Institutional Communications

“…A person's interaction with society and one's self has been intensified with the increase of technology in the last two decades (Romano, Osborne, Truzoli, & Reed, 2013). This change and progression in technology though good, has had an impact on people that was unexpected.…”

Untitled

“…Por ejemplo, varios estudios han demostrado que la adicción a una actividad comportamental (e.g. juegos de azar) puede conducir a dificultades en la comunicación y el desempeño social (Echeburúa & De Corral, 2010;Romano, Osborne, Truzoli & Reed, 2013;Wu, Cheung, Ku & Hung, 2013). Sin embargo, la literatura con respecto a este último problema es aún limitada.…”