COVID-19-Related Social Isolation Predispose to Problematic Internet and Online Video Gaming Use in Italy

Umberto Volpe, Laura Orsolini, Virginio Salvi, Umberto Albert, Claudia Carmassi, Giuseppe Carrà, Francesca Cirulli, Bernardo Dell’Osso, Mario Luciano, Giulia Menculini, Maria Giulia Nanni, Maurizio Pompili, Gabriele Sani, Gaia Sampogna, Working Group and Andrea Fiorillo
Additional contact information
Umberto Volpe: Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Laura Orsolini: Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Virginio Salvi: Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Umberto Albert: Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste and Department of Mental Health, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina—ASUGI, 34148 Trieste, Italy
Claudia Carmassi: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Giuseppe Carrà: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
Francesca Cirulli: National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
Bernardo Dell’Osso: Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, 20157 Milano, Italy
Mario Luciano: Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giulia Menculini: Department of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
Maria Giulia Nanni: Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Maurizio Pompili: Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00100 Rome, Italy
Gabriele Sani: Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00100 Rome, Italy
Gaia Sampogna: Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Working Group: Working Group: Martino Belvederi Murri 9 , Rosangela Caruso 9 , Valeria Del Vecchio 7 , Marco Di Nicola 11 , Vincenzo Giallonardo 7 , Lisa Giannelli 7 , Alessandra Mugnolo 7 , Federico Tonioni 11 , Alfonso Tortorella 8 .
Andrea Fiorillo: Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures have been associated with increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression in the general population. While the use of digital media has been greatly promoted by national governments and international authorities to maintain social contacts and healthy lifestyle behaviors, its increased access may also bear the risk of inappropriate or excessive use of internet-related resources. The present study, part of the COVID Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) study, aims at investigating the possible relationship between social isolation, the use of digital resources and the development of their problematic use. A cross sectional survey was carried out to explore the prevalence of internet addiction, excessive use of social media, problematic video gaming and binge watching, during Italian phase II (May–June 2020) and III (June–September 2020) of the pandemic in 1385 individuals (62.5% female, mean age 32.5 ± 12.9) mainly living in Central Italy (52.4%). Data were stratified according to phase II/III and three groups of Italian regions (northern, central and southern). Compared to the larger COMET study, most participants exhibited significant higher levels of severe-to-extremely-severe depressive symptoms (46.3% vs. 12.4%; p < 0.01) and extremely severe anxiety symptoms (77.8% vs. 7.5%; p < 0.01). We also observed a rise in problematic internet use and excessive gaming over time. Mediation analyses revealed that COVID-19-related general psychopathology, stress, anxiety, depression and social isolation play a significant role in the emergence of problematic internet use, social media addiction and problematic video gaming. Professional gamers and younger subjects emerged as sub-populations particularly at risk of developing digital addictions. If confirmed in larger and more homogenous samples, our findings may help in shedding light on possible preventive and treatment strategies for digital addictions.

Keywords: COVID-19; gaming disorder; impulsiveness; internet addiction; problematic internet use; smartphone; smartphone addiction (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: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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