Internet addiction among Indian help-seeking patients with mental health disorders

Abstract

Internet addiction is a pernicious behavioural disorder that has received increasingly more interest as societies become more technological. This study addressed the current lack of data in the Indian context by examining problematic internet use among individuals receiving treatment for mental health disorders. In addition, it examined specific uses of the internet that have the potential to be problematic and impact on quality of life, namely social media use and online gaming, the reasons why people used the internet, and the perceived benefits and problems it gives rise to. Almost half (44%) of the sample reported severely dependent levels of internet addiction. Those with depressive disorders reported higher levels of internet addiction relative to other disorders. Findings regarding benefits and problems of internets use were somewhat paradoxical, whereby internet use could be both beneficial and problematic in the domain (e.g., increased and decreased social interaction). The use of screening for internet addiction, and the development of culturally-adapted treatments for Indians with mental health disorders may be indicated.

Relationship between Alexithymia, difficulties in emotion regulation, mental health and internet addiction in young adults

“…However, past couple of years has seen an increased mark of problematic internet usage especially among adolescents & young adults. Studies in the Indian context have shown the prevalence of internet addiction to be 1.3% in the general population (Nisbin, 2019). The excessive use of internet has become a major concern & is heavily being studied in literature.…”