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Measuring facets of reward sensitivity, inhibition, and impulse control in individuals with problematic internet use

Measuring facets of reward sensitivity, inhibition, and impulse control in individuals with problematic internet use
Measuring facets of reward sensitivity, inhibition, and impulse control in individuals with problematic internet use
Introduction

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is the inability to control the amount of time spent on the Internet. Research indicates that abnormalities in reward sensitivity, sensitivity to punishment, and impulse control drive addictive behaviors such as substance abuse and gambling disorders, but it is unclear whether this is also the case in PIU.

Methods

Behavioral tasks and scales were completed by 62 participants (32 PIU individuals and 30 no-PIU individuals) to assess reward sensitivity, sensitivity to punishment, as well as inhibitory function and impulse control. Measures administered included Go/No-Go, delay discounting, Behavioral Inhibition/Activation (BIS/BAS) scales and the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ).

Results

The PIU group endorsed greater reward sensitivity and punishment sensitivity as indexed by the SPSRQ. However, there were no group differences with regards to delay discounting, performance in the Go/No-Go task, or endorsement in the BIS/BAS scales.

Discussion

The present study found increased reward sensitivity and sensitivity to punishment in PIU individuals, though impulse control was not observably affected. Future experimental studies are needed to inform our conceptualization of the etiology of addictive behavior as it pertains to PIU. Further investigation will aid in informing prevention and intervention efforts.
351-358
Vargas, Teresa
beef22db-5dbc-439c-a5f8-e1d4179ffbee
Maloney, Jacqueline
bbffc1c8-ce67-45ac-ae30-00d2142fe2e6
Gupta, Tina
63d4bddf-cc76-4f4e-be63-491f57e11e13
Damme, Katherine
5d5287b7-1b11-43a2-9b45-2c1315c409b3
Kelley, Nicholas
445e767b-ad9f-44f2-b2c6-d981482bb90b
Mittal, Vijay
adce1ec1-1d6d-4975-b6f4-64bcb743dd73
Vargas, Teresa
beef22db-5dbc-439c-a5f8-e1d4179ffbee
Maloney, Jacqueline
bbffc1c8-ce67-45ac-ae30-00d2142fe2e6
Gupta, Tina
63d4bddf-cc76-4f4e-be63-491f57e11e13
Damme, Katherine
5d5287b7-1b11-43a2-9b45-2c1315c409b3
Kelley, Nicholas
445e767b-ad9f-44f2-b2c6-d981482bb90b
Mittal, Vijay
adce1ec1-1d6d-4975-b6f4-64bcb743dd73

Vargas, Teresa, Maloney, Jacqueline, Gupta, Tina, Damme, Katherine, Kelley, Nicholas and Mittal, Vijay (2019) Measuring facets of reward sensitivity, inhibition, and impulse control in individuals with problematic internet use. Psychiatry Research, 275, 351-358. (doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2019.03.032).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Introduction

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is the inability to control the amount of time spent on the Internet. Research indicates that abnormalities in reward sensitivity, sensitivity to punishment, and impulse control drive addictive behaviors such as substance abuse and gambling disorders, but it is unclear whether this is also the case in PIU.

Methods

Behavioral tasks and scales were completed by 62 participants (32 PIU individuals and 30 no-PIU individuals) to assess reward sensitivity, sensitivity to punishment, as well as inhibitory function and impulse control. Measures administered included Go/No-Go, delay discounting, Behavioral Inhibition/Activation (BIS/BAS) scales and the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ).

Results

The PIU group endorsed greater reward sensitivity and punishment sensitivity as indexed by the SPSRQ. However, there were no group differences with regards to delay discounting, performance in the Go/No-Go task, or endorsement in the BIS/BAS scales.

Discussion

The present study found increased reward sensitivity and sensitivity to punishment in PIU individuals, though impulse control was not observably affected. Future experimental studies are needed to inform our conceptualization of the etiology of addictive behavior as it pertains to PIU. Further investigation will aid in informing prevention and intervention efforts.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 18 March 2019
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 March 2019
Published date: May 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 432986
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/432986
PURE UUID: 6aaf6a04-acfd-42ae-95e5-026da80ad1ca
ORCID for Nicholas Kelley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2256-0597

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 05 Aug 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:41

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Contributors

Author: Teresa Vargas
Author: Jacqueline Maloney
Author: Tina Gupta
Author: Katherine Damme
Author: Nicholas Kelley ORCID iD
Author: Vijay Mittal

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