Perceptions Underlying Addictive Technology Use Patterns: Insights for Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy

Olatz Lopez-Fernandez, Lucia Romo, Laurence Kern, Amélie Rousseau, Pierluigi Graziani, Lucien Rochat, Sophia Achab, Daniele Zullino, Nils Inge Landrø, Juan José Zacarés, Emilia Serra, Mariano Chóliz, Halley M. Pontes, Mark D. Griffiths and Daria J. Kuss
Additional contact information
Olatz Lopez-Fernandez: Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital Health Research Institute, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Avda. Reyes Católicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Lucia Romo: CLInique PSYchanalyse Développement (CLIPSYD—EA4430), Université Paris Nanterre, 200 Av. de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France
Laurence Kern: EA 2931, Centre de Recherches sur le Sport et le Mouvement (CESRM), Université Paris Nanterre, 200 Av. de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France
Amélie Rousseau: Psychology Department, Centre d’Etudes et Recherches en Psychopathologie et Psychologie de la Santé (EA7411), Université Toulouse Jean Jaurès, 5 All. Antonio Machado, 31058 Toulouse, France
Pierluigi Graziani: LPS EA 849, Aix-Marseille University, Jardin du Pharo, 58 Boulevard Charles Livon, 13007 Marseille, France
Lucien Rochat: Specialized Facility in Behavioral Addiction ReConnecte, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Sophia Achab: Psychological and Sociological Research and Training Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, 24 Rue du Général-Dufour, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Daniele Zullino: Psychological and Sociological Research and Training Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, 24 Rue du Général-Dufour, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Nils Inge Landrø: Clinical Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
Juan José Zacarés: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Emilia Serra: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Mariano Chóliz: Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Halley M. Pontes: Department of Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
Mark D. Griffiths: International Gaming Research Unit, Cyberpsychology Research Group, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Daria J. Kuss: International Gaming Research Unit, Cyberpsychology Research Group, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the treatment of addictive disorders related to excessive technology use. However, the cognitive components of problematic internet use are not yet well-known. The aim of the present study was to explore the cognitive components, that according to problematic users, can lead to potential internet addiction. A total of 854 European adults completed an online survey using a mixed-methods design. Internet problems and attachment styles were assessed, prevalence rates estimated, correlations, chi-squared automatic interaction detection, and content analysis were performed. Self-reported addictions to social networking, internet, and gaming had a prevalence between 1.2% (gaming) to 2.7% (social networking). Self-perception of the addiction problem and preoccupied attachment style were discriminative factors for internet addiction. In an analysis of qualitative responses from self-identified compulsive internet users, a sense of not belonging and feeling of disconnection during life events were perceived as causes for internet addiction. The development depended on a cycle of mixed feelings associated with negative thoughts, compensated by a positive online identity. The severity of this behaviour pattern produced significant impairment in various areas of the participants’ functioning, suggesting a possible addiction problem. It is suggested that health professionals administering CBT should target unhealthy preoccupations and monitor mixed feelings and thoughts related to internet use to support coping with cognitive distortions.

Keywords: cognitive-behavioural therapy; cognition; behaviours; internet addiction; compulsive internet use; internet use-related addiction; adults; preoccupied attachment style; mixed-methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/544/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/544/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:1:p:544-:d:717466

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().