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A systematic review and meta-analysis of risky decision-making in specific domains of problematic use of the internet: evidence across different decision-making tasks

A systematic review and meta-analysis of risky decision-making in specific domains of problematic use of the internet: evidence across different decision-making tasks
A systematic review and meta-analysis of risky decision-making in specific domains of problematic use of the internet: evidence across different decision-making tasks

This systematic review summarizes empirical evidence on risky decision-making (objective risk and ambiguity) in specific domains of problematic use of the internet (PUI) focusing on online addictive behaviors. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42020188452) PubMed search for PUI domains: gaming, social-network use, online buying-shopping, online pornography use, and unspecified PUI. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. Relevant studies were identified only for gaming (n = 19), social-network use (n = 8), unspecified PUI (n = 7), and online gambling (n = 1). The meta-analyses included 25 studies (2498 participants) comparing PUI and control groups regarding decision-making performance under objective risk and ambiguity. Across PUI domains, individuals with PUI compared to control participants showed more disadvantageous decision-making in measures of objective risk (g = −0.42 [−0.69, −0.16], p = .002) but not ambiguity (g = −0.22 [−0.47, −0.04], p = .096). PUI domain and gender were significant moderators. In the risk domain, effects were particularly present in gaming disorder, especially in exclusively male samples. Overall, the paucity of empirical studies in the considered area necessitates further research to identify probable gender- and disorder-specific cognitive relationships.

Addictive behavior, Compulsive behavior, Decision-making, Gambling task, Gaming disorder, Impulsive behavior, Internet addiction, Social networks
0149-7634
Müller, Silke M.
46809e01-e0af-4c26-8d5e-a46d4550201c
Antons, Stephanie
990efbf2-de54-491a-9d76-1a34ea33c23d
Wegmann, Elisa
fae1254a-0f51-4880-890d-aa5a7a14df27
Ioannidis, Konstantinos
0dfc1d89-41be-4d02-ae50-698117e80141
King, Daniel L.
d95a3a11-165e-4b06-b4c2-e176e69afcf2
Potenza, Marc N.
4331dcd8-d078-437b-a202-85b02faf9d56
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Brand, Matthias
0772875b-8ee1-4aad-aedd-02b1c8cbbf06
Müller, Silke M.
46809e01-e0af-4c26-8d5e-a46d4550201c
Antons, Stephanie
990efbf2-de54-491a-9d76-1a34ea33c23d
Wegmann, Elisa
fae1254a-0f51-4880-890d-aa5a7a14df27
Ioannidis, Konstantinos
0dfc1d89-41be-4d02-ae50-698117e80141
King, Daniel L.
d95a3a11-165e-4b06-b4c2-e176e69afcf2
Potenza, Marc N.
4331dcd8-d078-437b-a202-85b02faf9d56
Chamberlain, Samuel R.
8a0e09e6-f51f-4039-9287-88debe8d8b6f
Brand, Matthias
0772875b-8ee1-4aad-aedd-02b1c8cbbf06

Müller, Silke M., Antons, Stephanie, Wegmann, Elisa, Ioannidis, Konstantinos, King, Daniel L., Potenza, Marc N., Chamberlain, Samuel R. and Brand, Matthias (2023) A systematic review and meta-analysis of risky decision-making in specific domains of problematic use of the internet: evidence across different decision-making tasks. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 152, [105271]. (doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105271).

Record type: Review

Abstract

This systematic review summarizes empirical evidence on risky decision-making (objective risk and ambiguity) in specific domains of problematic use of the internet (PUI) focusing on online addictive behaviors. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42020188452) PubMed search for PUI domains: gaming, social-network use, online buying-shopping, online pornography use, and unspecified PUI. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. Relevant studies were identified only for gaming (n = 19), social-network use (n = 8), unspecified PUI (n = 7), and online gambling (n = 1). The meta-analyses included 25 studies (2498 participants) comparing PUI and control groups regarding decision-making performance under objective risk and ambiguity. Across PUI domains, individuals with PUI compared to control participants showed more disadvantageous decision-making in measures of objective risk (g = −0.42 [−0.69, −0.16], p = .002) but not ambiguity (g = −0.22 [−0.47, −0.04], p = .096). PUI domain and gender were significant moderators. In the risk domain, effects were particularly present in gaming disorder, especially in exclusively male samples. Overall, the paucity of empirical studies in the considered area necessitates further research to identify probable gender- and disorder-specific cognitive relationships.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 2 June 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 3 June 2023
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
Keywords: Addictive behavior, Compulsive behavior, Decision-making, Gambling task, Gaming disorder, Impulsive behavior, Internet addiction, Social networks

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 492564
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/492564
ISSN: 0149-7634
PURE UUID: 6c646a0d-dce5-45c4-b5c9-4fef6832f642
ORCID for Samuel R. Chamberlain: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-8121

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 06 Aug 2024 16:31
Last modified: 07 Aug 2024 01:59

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Contributors

Author: Silke M. Müller
Author: Stephanie Antons
Author: Elisa Wegmann
Author: Konstantinos Ioannidis
Author: Daniel L. King
Author: Marc N. Potenza
Author: Samuel R. Chamberlain ORCID iD
Author: Matthias Brand

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