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Examining the unique relationships between problematic use of the internet and impulsive and compulsive tendencies: network approach

Examining the unique relationships between problematic use of the internet and impulsive and compulsive tendencies: network approach
Examining the unique relationships between problematic use of the internet and impulsive and compulsive tendencies: network approach

Background: both impulsivity and compulsivity have been identified as risk factors for problematic use of the internet (PUI). Yet little is known about the relationship between impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms, limiting a more precise understanding of mechanisms underlying PUI. 

Aims: the current study is the first to use network analysis to (a) examine the unique association among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, and (b) identify the most influential drivers in relation to the PUI symptom community. 

Method: we estimated a Gaussian graphical model consisting of five facets of impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms among 370 Australian adults (51.1% female, mean age = 29.8, s.d. = 11.1). Network structure and bridge expected influence were examined to elucidate differential associations among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, as well as identify influential nodes bridging impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms. 

Results: results revealed that four facets of impulsivity (i.e. negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance) and compulsivity were related to different PUI symptoms. Further, compulsivity and negative urgency were the most influential nodes in relation to the PUI symptom community due to their highest bridge expected influence.

Conclusions: the current findings delineate distinct relationships across impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI, which offer insights into potential mechanistic pathways and targets for future interventions in this space. To realise this potential, future studies are needed to replicate the identified network structure in different populations and determine the directionality of the relationships among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms.

Compulsivity, impulsivity, network analysis, problematic use of the internet (PUI)
2056-4724
Liu, Chang
385bde0e-a41d-412d-9937-000059fc2be3
Rotaru, Kristian
61b62f8b-43ce-427c-aeec-cd37778d18bb
Ren, Lei
78eac5a8-7ff5-4a40-b434-471aff040a8f
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Christensen, Erynn
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Brierley, Mary Ellen
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Richardson, Karyn
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Lee, Rico S.C.
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Segrave, Rebecca
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Grant, Jon E.
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Kayayan, Edouard
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Hughes, Sam
a4cd2231-4bb7-42fe-9ddd-d79ff2af10ac
Fontenelle, Leonardo F.
859206be-2b11-438a-9b18-d22579111a6b
Lowe, Amelia
e7535019-ea9d-4d11-95bb-8d7bf9780117
Suo, Chao
fb9c99cd-c388-4b99-974a-de4754e18cdc
Freichel, René
26e94a19-7471-4909-aec8-9ee018f73ffd
Wiers, Reinout W.
f21fc8c7-626d-4203-8448-ba493a97ae0e
Yücel, Murat
aff092ea-35e0-476a-b9bf-ace9b84aa1e1
Albertella, Lucy
c95a7a69-10d8-4549-a155-55a42170d8c0
Liu, Chang
385bde0e-a41d-412d-9937-000059fc2be3
Rotaru, Kristian
61b62f8b-43ce-427c-aeec-cd37778d18bb
Ren, Lei
78eac5a8-7ff5-4a40-b434-471aff040a8f
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Christensen, Erynn
bd1a0cdc-ca2a-468c-bd6a-e850da02c745
Brierley, Mary Ellen
2082e849-6b86-4d26-a478-6c2001d14ee1
Richardson, Karyn
5229edde-94c9-481a-8ed4-638d0f914bc3
Lee, Rico S.C.
31dba505-5810-4dcc-87fc-eb337b40df45
Segrave, Rebecca
0ee96b6e-fd3f-47c7-990d-806312390b83
Grant, Jon E.
07372bd5-8a0d-42b4-b41b-e376c652acf3
Kayayan, Edouard
2fbb53a1-b156-4898-8d7c-4b52cc04f741
Hughes, Sam
a4cd2231-4bb7-42fe-9ddd-d79ff2af10ac
Fontenelle, Leonardo F.
859206be-2b11-438a-9b18-d22579111a6b
Lowe, Amelia
e7535019-ea9d-4d11-95bb-8d7bf9780117
Suo, Chao
fb9c99cd-c388-4b99-974a-de4754e18cdc
Freichel, René
26e94a19-7471-4909-aec8-9ee018f73ffd
Wiers, Reinout W.
f21fc8c7-626d-4203-8448-ba493a97ae0e
Yücel, Murat
aff092ea-35e0-476a-b9bf-ace9b84aa1e1
Albertella, Lucy
c95a7a69-10d8-4549-a155-55a42170d8c0

Liu, Chang, Rotaru, Kristian, Ren, Lei, Chamberlain, Samuel R., Christensen, Erynn, Brierley, Mary Ellen, Richardson, Karyn, Lee, Rico S.C., Segrave, Rebecca, Grant, Jon E., Kayayan, Edouard, Hughes, Sam, Fontenelle, Leonardo F., Lowe, Amelia, Suo, Chao, Freichel, René, Wiers, Reinout W., Yücel, Murat and Albertella, Lucy (2024) Examining the unique relationships between problematic use of the internet and impulsive and compulsive tendencies: network approach. BJPsych Open, 10 (3), [e104]. (doi:10.1192/bjo.2024.59).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: both impulsivity and compulsivity have been identified as risk factors for problematic use of the internet (PUI). Yet little is known about the relationship between impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms, limiting a more precise understanding of mechanisms underlying PUI. 

Aims: the current study is the first to use network analysis to (a) examine the unique association among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, and (b) identify the most influential drivers in relation to the PUI symptom community. 

Method: we estimated a Gaussian graphical model consisting of five facets of impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms among 370 Australian adults (51.1% female, mean age = 29.8, s.d. = 11.1). Network structure and bridge expected influence were examined to elucidate differential associations among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, as well as identify influential nodes bridging impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms. 

Results: results revealed that four facets of impulsivity (i.e. negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance) and compulsivity were related to different PUI symptoms. Further, compulsivity and negative urgency were the most influential nodes in relation to the PUI symptom community due to their highest bridge expected influence.

Conclusions: the current findings delineate distinct relationships across impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI, which offer insights into potential mechanistic pathways and targets for future interventions in this space. To realise this potential, future studies are needed to replicate the identified network structure in different populations and determine the directionality of the relationships among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms.

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Accepted/In Press date: 21 March 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 9 May 2024
Published date: 9 May 2024
Keywords: Compulsivity, impulsivity, network analysis, problematic use of the internet (PUI)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 492043
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492043
ISSN: 2056-4724
PURE UUID: 3100ce40-fe49-4dbc-bf87-56d1af9443ce
ORCID for Samuel R. Chamberlain: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-8121

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Jul 2024 16:33
Last modified: 30 Aug 2024 02:00

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Contributors

Author: Chang Liu
Author: Kristian Rotaru
Author: Lei Ren
Author: Samuel R. Chamberlain ORCID iD
Author: Erynn Christensen
Author: Mary Ellen Brierley
Author: Karyn Richardson
Author: Rico S.C. Lee
Author: Rebecca Segrave
Author: Jon E. Grant
Author: Edouard Kayayan
Author: Sam Hughes
Author: Leonardo F. Fontenelle
Author: Amelia Lowe
Author: Chao Suo
Author: René Freichel
Author: Reinout W. Wiers
Author: Murat Yücel
Author: Lucy Albertella

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