Facets of impulsivity and related aspects differentiate among recreational and unregulated use of Internet pornography

Abstract

Background and aims: Unregulated Internet pornography (IP) use is discussed as a clinically significant disorder. Because of its primarily rewarding nature, IP is a predestinated target for addictive behaviors. However, not every user develops an unregulated usage pattern. In fact, most users tend to use IP recreationally. Impulsivity-related constructs have been identified as promoters of addictive behaviors. It is unclear whether these impulsivity-related constructs are specific for unregulated IP use or also play a role in recreational but frequent behaviors. In this study, we investigated impulsive tendencies (trait impulsivity, delay discounting, and cognitive style), craving toward IP, attitude regarding IP, and coping styles in individuals with recreational-occasional, recreational-frequent, and unregulated IP use. Methods: A total of 1,498 heterosexual males participated in an online survey. Groups of individuals with recreational-occasional use (n = 333), recreational-frequent use (n = 394), and unregulated use (n = 225) of IP were identified by screening instruments. Results: Craving and attitude regarding IP as well as delay discounting and cognitive and coping styles differed between groups. Individuals with unregulated use showed the highest scores for craving, attentional impulsivity, delay discounting, and dysfunctional coping, and lowest scores for functional coping and need for cognition. Recreational-frequent users had the most positive attitude toward IP. Motor and non-planning impulsivity did not differ between groups. Discussion and conclusions: The results indicate that some facets of impulsivity and related factors such as craving and a more negative attitude are specific for unregulated IP users. The results are also consistent with models on specific Internet use disorders and addictive behaviors.

Event-related potentials in a two-choice oddball task of impaired behavioral inhibitory control among males with tendencies towards cybersex addiction

“…Accordingly, less pronounced N2 and P3 amplitudes in the TCA group relative to the HC group can be considered markers for neural deficits in BIC. Our study supports the idea that impulsivity is a risk factor for the development of cybersex addiction (Antons & Brand, 2018;Antons et al, 2019). This is consistent with the results of most studies on substance use disorder (e.g., Sokhadze, Stewart, Hollifield, & Tasman, 2008;Zhao et al, 2017), gambling disorder (e.g., Kertzman et al, 2008), and Internet addiction (e.g., Zhou, Yuan, Yao, Li, & Cheng, 2010).…”

“…Recent studies using self-report measures have found trait impulsivity to be positively correlated with higher symptom severity of cybersex addiction (Antons & Brand, 2018;Antons et al, 2019). However, studies examining BIC in the context of cybersex addiction using a Stop-Signal Task have provided mixed results.…”

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

“…Antons and Brand 37 showed similar interaction effects between impulsivity and specific inhibitory control for male participants with problematic online pornography use. Results of a later study 64 showed that the attentional domain of impulsivity differentiates Variables were grouped one standard deviation above ("high") and below ("low") the mean values 58 . High values in TMT-B and MCST respectively represent low executive functions.…”

Which conditions should be considered as disorders in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) designation of “other specified disorders due to addictive behaviors”?

“…Data from self-report, behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging studies demonstrate an involvement of psychological processes and underlying neural correlates that have been investigated and established to varying degrees for substance-use disorders and gambling/gaming disorders (criterion 3). Commonalities noted in prior studies include cue-reactivity and craving accompanied by increased activity in reward-related brain areas, attentional biases, disadvantageous decision-making, and (stimuli-specific) inhibitory control (e.g., Antons & Brand, 2018;Antons, Mueller, et al, 2019;Bothe et al, 2019;Brand, Snagowski, Laier, & Maderwald, 2016;Gola et al, 2017;Klucken, Wehrum-Osinsky, Schweckendiek, Kruse, & Stark, 2016;Kowalewska et al, 2018;Mechelmans et al, 2014;Stark, Klucken, Potenza, Brand, & Strahler, 2018;Voon et al, 2014).…”