lecture 4 Mental Health-2024 full-1

Lecture Overview

• Title: Health, wellbeing and technology

• Focus: Exploring the relationship between health, wellbeing, and technology.

Learning Outcomes

• After engaging with this content, you should be able to:

  • Define Problematic Internet Use (PIU)

  • Understand methodological issues in PIU research

  • Discuss theories explaining PIU

  • Explain the relationship between neurodiversity, gender, and PIU

  • Understand how neurodiversity interacts with the online world

  • Analyze how the digital world may alter thought and behavior patterns.

Problematic Internet Use (PIU)

• Also Known As:

  • Internet Addiction (IA)

  • Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)

  • Pathological Internet Use

  • Internet Dependence

• Categories of PIU:

  • Internet Gaming Disorder

  • Social Media Addiction

  • Smartphone Addiction

Definitions of PIU

• Common Definitions:

  • Salience

  • Mood Modification

  • Tolerance

  • Withdrawal

  • Conflict

  • Relapse

• Model Used: Griffiths’ 2005 model of addiction.

Griffiths’ Addiction Model

Salience

• Activity dominates thoughts/feelings/behaviour.

• Studies (Wu et al., 2020): Gaming addiction group showed cravings comparable to hunger.

Mood Modification

• Engaging in activities brings subjective experiences (buzz/numbing).

• Studies:

  • Increased internet use to relieve stress leads to potential addiction (Feng et al., 2019).

  • Positive effects of body-positive Instagram on mood (Cohen et al., 2019).

Tolerance

• Increased exposure needed to achieve the same effects.

• Studies indicate gamers demand more in-game rewards, which become less mood-modifying over time (King et al., 2017).

Withdrawal

• Reducing activity results in unpleasant feelings.

• Study outcomes (Osborne et al., 2016): High IAT scorers exhibited increased anxiety when deprived of internet access.

Conflict

• Conflicts with family/friends due to time spent on activities.

• Findings (Truzoli et al., 2020): High PIU connected with reduced motivation to learn and increased exam stress.

Relapse

• Old destructive behaviours resurface after attempts to abstain.

• Case studies (Griffiths, 2010): Personal losses from addiction lead to repeated relapses.

PIU Prevalence

• Varies by location:

  • Italian adolescents: 0.8% (Poli & Agrimi, 2012)

  • Hong Kong adolescents: 26.7% (Shek & Yu, 2012)

  • American adults: 0.7% (Aboujaude et al., 2006)

• Recent Study: Standardized measures across 9 countries show an overall prevalence of 25%.

PIU Relevance

• Linked to:

  • Poor job performance (Beard, 2002)

  • Health-related quality of life issues (Machimbarrena et al., 2019)

  • Mental health problems (depression, anxiety) (Reed et al., 2014).

Methodological Issues in PIU Research

• Issues include:

  • Inconsistent definitions and terminology (van Rooji et al., 2017)

  • Lack of focus on causes (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014)

  • Need for considering context over mere time spent online.

Cyberpsychological Theories in PIU

Compensatory Internet Use

• Suggests that PIU arises as a coping mechanism rather than an addiction itself (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014).

Uses and Gratifications Model

• Dependency often starts from addressing boredom/loneliness (Bhagat et al., 2020).

Hyperpersonal Model

• Online interactions may feel more intense, encouraging those who struggle socially to prefer online engagement (Hinić et al., 2020).

Online Disinhibition

• Higher disinhibition linked to lower self-esteem and attraction to online interactions, especially in engaging activities (Niemz et al., 2005).

Preventions and Interventions

• Focus on children and adolescents as first targets.

• Training for Vulnerable Groups Includes:

  • Internet use skills and self-control.

  • Management of emotions and stress.

  • Encouragement of offline activities.

Neurodiversity and PIU

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)

• ASC individuals may use the internet differently and are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying.

• Positive Aspects: CMC allows better control over interactions (Gillespie-Lynch et al., 2014).

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• High rates of PIU linked to ADHD; however, internet use patterns may be similar to non-ADHD peers (Dawson et al., 2019).

Schizotypy

• Schizotypy traits are associated with susceptibility to conspiracy theories and PIU (March & Springer, 2019).

Cognitive Effects of Digital Use

• Questions Posed:

  • Does digital use impair cognitive functions or enhance creativity?

  • Concern about digital dementia (Spitzer, 2012).

AI and Technology's Impact on Cognition

• Interactions with AI (e.g., ChatGPT) shown to foster critical thinking (Essel et al., 2024).

Online Relationships and Dependency

• Chatbots can foster emotional bonds, but dependency can arise in vulnerable users (Skjuve et al., 2021).

Cultural and Societal Considerations

• Exposure to online behaviours shapes real-life expectations, values, and perceptions (Boine, 2023).

Future Directions

• Further reading on digital natives and methodology reflecting on current understanding.

• Seminars and lectures scheduled to complement the learning experience related to cyberpsychology.