AUTHOR(S)

Mennig, Manuel; Tennie, Sophia; and Barke, Antonia

PUBLISHED

2020 in BMC Psychiatry

KEY FINDINGS

• Analyzing and comparing the use of several methods to determine problematic use of internet pornography, social networking sites, and internet gaming, researchers found that 7.1% of participants displayed problematic internet pornography use. Problematic users also experienced more psychological distress.

ABSTRACT

EXCERPTS

• "In 2017, 3.5 billion people used the Internet. Of the many ways of using it, online gaming, social networking sites (SNS) and online pornography (OP) are especially popular. All of these applications are under investigation, since their problematic use seems to be linked to psychological distress and problems with work, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. With its inclusion in the appendix of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5), Internet gaming disorder (IGD) was recognized as a disorder warranting further investigation."
• "While IGD was included in the DSM-5 as a condition for further study, the problematic use of SNSs and OP was not. Petry and O’Brien (2013) argue that there is a lack of empirical evidence and inconsistency in studies investigating these issues (SNS and OP). Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate about the existence, classification and diagnosis of the problematic use of specific Internet applications like SNSs or OP and a growing number of studies indicate the relevance of problematic use of SNS and OP, not least due to their association with increased levels of psychological distress. This may even include symptoms of psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder."