The internet; many of us would struggle to imagine a life without it.
It has become an invaluable aspect of many lives, providing opportunities for entertainment, shopping, and social networking, as well as a way to readily access knowledge and information.
However, there are also a number of unhelpful and potentially harmful impacts of internet use, including time-wasting, tiredness, hostility, depression, loneliness, and academic and communication difficulties. This is particularly evident at times when internet use becomes excessive, or when it becomes an addiction.
What is internet addiction, and just how prevalent is it?
Addiction has been previously defined as a person’s feeling of necessity for something in order to sustain their existence and continue their way of existence as they desire. Research suggests that an internet addiction may be present if a person:
- engages in excessive mental activity related to the internet (eg thinking continuously about the internet, thinking about future planned activities on the internet);
- perceives a need to increase internet use to continue to get the satisfaction that they desire;
- experiences marked difficulty in attempts to control, reduce, or cease internet use;
- experiences distress, exhaustion, and/or anger in response to decreased internet use;
- uses the internet to escape or distract from problems or negative feelings;
- experiences negative impacts in their education, occupational, social, or other areas of functioning.
Whilst there is debate on the operational definition of video game addiction, it is suggested that similar warning signs are likely to be present as those that characterise internet addiction.
The prevalence of internet addiction various widely across research and cultures. There are studies suggesting a prevalence of 1.0% (USA), a prevalence of 9.0% (Europe), and a prevalence of between 2.0 and 18.0% (Asia). It is typically agreed, however, that there tends to be an increased prevalence within adolescents and youth, and within South-East Asian countries.
In some studies, persons with internet addiction would exceed 38 hours per week on the internet, whilst in other studies the time spent on the internet (and, more specifically, playing online games) has averaged 63 hours per week.
How can therapy support you to manage an internet addiction?
This is an emerging area of psychological research and practice, and the effectiveness of various treatments is still being evaluated. There is, however, ongoing research that a focus on addressing behaviours, cognitions, and relevant situational factors has positive outcomes in the treatment of internet addiction.
- Cognitions: Therapy tends to focus on addressing the maladaptive cognitions (thoughts) that serve as triggers for the addictive behaviour, as well as the denial and rationalisations that justify excessive internet use.
- Behaviours: Therapy tends to focus on examining both the person’s online and ‘offline’ behaviour, and developing behavioural strategies to support them to manage and control internet use. This can be made somewhat more difficult by the impracticality of ceasing internet use altogether, as is the goal in the treatment of some addictions, with people typically requiring to continue internet use for legitimate purposes (eg university assignments, work duties).
- Other relevant situational factors: These are the factors that are typically seen to have contributed to the development of an internet addiction and, therefore, are important to address to support continued recovery and relapse prevention. These factors may include personal, social, psychiatric, or occupational issues.
If you are (or someone you know is) experiencing problematic internet use or gaming and would like further support to manage the impact it is having on your life, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment to have a talk with me.
Author: Stu Tweedale, B PsySc (Hons), M OrgPsych.
Brisbane Psychologist Stu Tweedale is passionate about supporting people to create and pursue rich and meaningful lives, working with adults, adolescents, and children aged 8 and up. He uses evidence-based interventions to support each client to achieve their desired life.
To make an appointment try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Wishart on (07) 3088 5422, or M1 Psychology Loganholme on (7) 3067 9129.
References:
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