Psychopathological Symptoms and Loneliness in Adult Internet Users: A Contemporary Public Health Concern

Ângela Leite, Ana Ramires, Susana Amorim, Hélder Fernando Pedrosa e Sousa, Diogo Guedes Vidal and Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
Additional contact information
Ângela Leite: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Sociais, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua de Camões 60, 4710-362 Braga, Portugal
Ana Ramires: Faculdade de Turismo e Hospitalidade, Universidade Europeia, Rua Laura Ayres 4, 1650-510 Lisboa, Portugal
Susana Amorim: Universidade Lusófona, Rua de Augusto Rosa 24, 4000-098 Porto, Portugal
Hélder Fernando Pedrosa e Sousa: Department of Mathematics (DM. UTAD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Diogo Guedes Vidal: UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal
Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis: UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS), University Fernando Pessoa (UFP), Praça 9 de Abril 349, 4249-004 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: There are different concepts that translate abusive Internet use. Almost all these concepts converge on excessive time spent online, which can trigger the emergence of problematic situations. Most of the studies reported in the literature, both nationally and internationally, focused on a young population and found negative consequences of this Internet misuse. The objective of this study consists of associating the time spent using the Internet—in years, times per week, and hours per day—with psychopathological symptoms, as well as assessing the perception of loneliness, in an adult Portuguese population. A quantitative approach, based on a survey application, was conducted in a convenience sample composed by 418 participants (64.4% female), with a mean age of 29.9 years old ( SD = 9.26), ranging from 18 to 73 years. The results suggest that maladaptive patterns of Internet use found in young people seem to be replicated in the adult population. A relationship between time spent on the Internet and psychopathological symptoms, and an association between loneliness and the number of hours spent on the Internet, were also identified. In an individualized and disconnected offline world, Internet impact in individuals’ well-being results must be highlighted, since it should be understood as a public health issue. The novelty of this study lies in the target population: Portuguese Internet users over 18 years of age, for which there is no specific study on the subject, thus emphasizing the transverse nature of the problem.

Keywords: time spend on internet; problematic internet use; loneliness; psychopathological symptoms; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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