Journal of Behavioral Addictions最新文献

Background and aims: Dysregulation in instrumental control systems is implicated in compulsivity, a transdiagnostic construct proposed to underlie diverse maladaptive behaviors. While habit formation in reward-based learning is well-characterized, its role in avoidance learning remains less understood. Habitual avoidance may contribute to compulsive symptoms by impairing emotion regulation, a well-established correlate of compulsivity. To define these mechanisms, this study examined negative emotionality as a pathway linking habitual avoidance to compulsive behaviors.

Methods: Five hundred adults completed the Avoidance Dynamics Task (ADT), a novel online-administered aversive devaluation paradigm assessing avoidance learning and habit strength, alongside validated self-report measures of compulsive behaviors (alcohol use, binge eating, binge watching, gambling, obsessive-compulsive symptoms) and internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety). Mediation analysis tested whether internalizing symptoms accounted for associations between habitual avoidance and compulsive behavior severity.

Results: Habitual avoidance, indexed by perseverative responses to devalued threat versus control cues (t = 3.5, p = .002), showed small-to-moderate positive associations with avoidance urges (ρ = .28, p < .001), regulatory control deficits (ρ = .17, p < .001), and internalizing symptoms (b = .15, p = .004). Internalizing symptoms fully mediated associations with all compulsive behaviors (b's = .05-.16, all p ≤ .01). Impaired avoidance learning was modestly associated with greater alcohol use (b = -.12, p = .03) and gambling (b = -.15, p = .02) severity. Exploratory analyses showed distinct avoidance patterns mapped onto cognitive (preoccupation, urges) versus behavioral (control, frequency) components of alcohol-related compulsivity.

Conclusion: Habitual avoidance may represent a transdiagnostic behavioral marker of compulsivity. These findings underscore distinct vulnerability pathways across compulsive domains and support the use of remote tasks to phenotype maladaptive avoidance and related emotional dysregulation.

Background and aims: The current study aimed to analyze impairments in daily life functioning (DLF) in vocational students with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Social Network Use Disorder (SNUD). While diagnostic requirement for IGD has been defined and the functionally impairing nature has been demonstrated, SNUD is a relatively new phenomenon with less evidence.

Methods: A diagnostic interview (n = 937) was conducted in a sample of students, of which 279 met the adapted DSM-5 criteria, with 70 reporting social networking and 29 gaming as their main activity. For screening, the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) was used and the Internet Use Disorder - Criterion-based Assessment Tool (I-CAT) served as diagnostic measure. Impairment was assessed using a subset of items taken from the WHO Disability Scale.

Results: In a prior analysis, overall impairments in DLF among students with and without IUD were compared, indicating higher impairments for the IUD-group. In our study, the DSM-5 criteria appear to be appropriate to differentiate between pathological (IUD-group) and healthy internet users (non-IUD group) in terms of DLF. Odds Ratios ranged between 0.597 and 1.340 for impairments in DLF. When testing for statistical significance despite low statistical power, no differences of DLF were observed between students with IGD and SNUD in logistic regression analyses.

Conclusion: The results must be regarded as preliminary and might indicate that students with IGD and SNUD show comparable impairments in DLF. However, higher sample sizes could have led to different results which needs to be investigated in future studies.

Objective: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) constitutes an important public health concern. Here, we systematically reviewed and synthesized existing literature to provide an up-to-date overview of associations between NSSI, problem gambling, problem gaming, and problematic internet use (PIU).

Methods: We searched four databases through April 2025: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and PsycINFO. The Joanna Briggs Institute's tool was used to assess the quality of studies. Empirical studies utilizing quantitative or qualitative methods or case studies that presented evidence on the relationships between NSSI and frequent or problematic gambling, internet use, and gaming were included.

Results: Forty studies published between 2009 and 2025 were reviewed. Four investigated the relationship between NSSI and problem gambling, seven focused on problem gaming, and twenty-nine examined PIU. Cross-sectional designs and surveys were common. Findings suggest that at-risk or problem gambling was associated with NSSI in adolescents, college students, and adults. An association between PIU and NSSI appeared moderated by social support, with impulsivity representing a shared factor. Similarly, internet gaming disorder and its severity were linked to NSSI, with anxiety acting both as a mediator and moderator. Limitations entailed self-reported measures, limited generalizability, poor ability to establish causal relationships due to cross-sectional designs, and frequent use of single unvalidated questions to assess NSSI.

Conclusion: The review provides a comprehensive overview and suggests complex relationships between NSSI and problem gambling, problem gaming, and PIU. Clinicians and future studies should focus on co-occurring disorders and identify risk factors, predictors, and moderators that influence these relationships.

Background: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is recognized as a significant health issue in adolescents. However, the cross-national comparison and validation remain underrepresented in the literature. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the symptom prevalence, dimensionality, and measurement invariance of the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS) with data from the 2021-22 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey.

Methods: Representative samples of adolescents aged 11-15 from 12 European regions (N = 44,126) were used. The IGDS was examined using network analyses and factor models with dynamic cut-offs.

Results: Gaming intensity was more related to IGDS score than gaming frequency. Non-gaming boys at the time of measurement reported similar IGDS scores as daily gamers. All symptoms were more common in boys; Escapism and Preoccupation were the most common symptoms overall. A unidimensional structure for the IGDS across both genders and all regions was indicated. Only configural invariance was observed across genders, with notable higher roles for "Problems" and "Preoccupation" in boys, suggesting problematic direct gender comparisons. Measurement invariance suggested three relatively homogenous region groups, showing varying levels of invariance, and some groups achieving scalar invariance. Consequently, cross-regional comparisons should be approached with caution.

Conclusions: The findings suggest large differences between boys and girls, moderate differences between age groups, and relatively high differences among regions.

Background: Social media use among adolescents has rapidly expanded, raising concerns about problematic social media use (PSMU). Few studies have examined how relative deprivation (RD) and contextual inequality shape PSMU. We explain whether four key interpersonal relationships (relationships with teachers, classmates, and family, and bullying victimization) mediate the link between RD and PSMU and whether school-level inequality moderates these associations.

Method: The data was from the 2017/2018 Health Behavior in School-aged Children (190,707 adolescents, 5,576 schools, 39 countries/regions). The independent variable was RD, calculated via the Yitzhaki index, and the dependent variable was PSMU. Four interpersonal relationships (teacher, classmate, and family relationships, and bullying victimization) were assessed as mediators. Multilevel mediation models were used to evaluate the mediating roles of these relationships. We then extracted each country/region's indirect effects for cross-national comparisons. The Johnson-Neyman method was used to assess the moderating effect of contextual inequality.

Results: Although RD had no direct effect on PSMU, higher RD was associated with poorer teacher, classmate, and family relationships and heightened bullying victimization. These then predicted increased PSMU. Contextual inequality strengthened RD's adverse association with family relationships and magnified the associations of family relationships and bullying on PSMU. Cross-national analyses revealed stable mediating effects of teacher and classmate relationships.

Conclusions: We highlight RD's associations with PSMU primarily through interpersonal pathways, with contextual inequality amplifying them. Targeted interventions that address both socioeconomic disparities and interpersonal dynamics can help mitigate PSMU. These outcomes underscore the need for policies that reduce economic gaps and foster supportive relationships.

Background and aims: The use of mobile devices is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for interventions targeting mental health issues. This brief report aims to share insights into the unexpected positive changes observed during the data collection process for predicting addictive behaviors using mobile technology.

Methods: We analyze self-reported baseline and 4-week follow-up data collected to develop an algorithm for predicting addictive digital media use. Two hundred and six adults in their 20 s completed a smartphone self-report survey on digital media use behaviors and emotion, while their step and heart rate data was passively collected via Fitbit.

Results: Despite the absence of any interventional feedback beyond the data collection process, positive changes were observed, including time spent on digital media use (p = 0.031), a reduction in high-risk digital media use score (p < 0.001), and depressive symptom score (p = 0.004).

Conclusions: When collecting data on digital media use and related emotion via mobile devices, it is important to recognize that positive changes may occur in participants even without planed intervention. Failing to consider this phenomenon could lead to an overestimation of the effects of interventions provided through smart devices.

Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) is an increasing global concern, leading to significant negative impacts in various levels. PUI is an umbrella term comprised of subcategories, including online gaming disorder, online gambling disorder, online buying-shopping disorder, online compulsive sexual behavior disorder, problematic usage of social media, cyberchondria, cyberbullying, and digital hoarding. With respect to the diversity of these categories, a factor that further impedes the field of PUI is not recognizing these subcategories under the PUI. To estimate the state of the field, we conducted a systematic review on a sample time frame, 2022-2023, and we found that among 2,497 relevant papers, only 13% of the studies on PUI subcategories used PUI as an umbrella term. Establishing PUI as an overarching terminology, as we do with substance use disorder (SUD) as a term while respecting the diversities within its subcategories, would synergize research efforts, facilitate comparisons, and inform treatment strategies. As technology continues to evolve, terminological refinement is critical to maintaining relevance and accessibility for researchers and the broader community.

Background and aims: The Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution (I-PACE) model offers a framework for understanding the interplay between cognitive, affective, and behavioral factors in internet addiction (IA). Our study aims to explore the heterogeneity of IA, identify bridge connectors, and compare the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy combined with mindfulness-based intervention (CBT+MBI) versus CBT alone in reducing IA levels among Chinese college students.

Methods: In study 1, 1,030 Chinese college students completed assessments of IA, automatic thoughts, self-control, and anxiety. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify distinct symptom profiles of IA across individuals. Network analysis (NA) identified bridge connectors for targeted intervention. In study 2, 36 participants randomly selected from the high IA and low IA groups of study 1 were randomly assigned to CBT+MBI, CBT alone, or a control group. The CBT+MBI group received an 8-week dual-modality intervention and the CBT alone received an 8-week CBT intervention, both designed to target the bridge connectors identified via NA in Study 1, while the control group only completed basic questionnaires.

Results: In study 1, LPA identified four subgroups: regular, at-risk, low IA, and high IA groups. NA pinpointed automatic thoughts and anxiety as bridge connectors. In study 2, targeted interventions significantly reduced college students' levels of IA. CBT+MBI resulted in greater and more sustained improvements compared to CBT alone, with effects maintained for six-month post-intervention.

Conclusions: Our study not only reinforces the I-PACE model but also provides actionable strategies for designing evidence-based, multidimensional interventions to reduce addictive behaviors among college students.

Objective: While gambling is a growing public health concern, research resources are limited, and no guidance is available to prioritise research. This study aimed to identify priorities for gambling research on a global scale using a systematic, transparent, and democratic methodology to inform researchers and other stakeholders.

Methods: Leading gambling researchers were invited to list gambling-related research questions that can contribute to strengthening evidence-based policy, prevention, and effective early intervention and treatment of problem gambling. Suggestions were consolidated into research options and evaluated against six criteria (Answerability, Feasibility, Effectiveness, Impact on equity and an additional two based on the category of research options: Novelty and Relevance for description-type, Potential for burden reduction and Deliverability for intervention-related options). Stakeholders (n = 14) assigned relative weights to each criterion, and options were ranked according to their weighted research priority scores.

Results: With input from 46.9% of eligible researchers (n = 307) from 35 countries, 1,361 questions were consolidated into 102 options. Evaluations showed strong agreement between experts, and the top 25 priorities were identified. The results highlight the need for further knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, and consequences of problem gambling. Top-priority topics indicate the importance of focusing on vulnerable and minority groups, youth, significant others, technological innovations, advertisements, the convergence of gaming and gambling, and co-occurring conditions. Evaluating and tailoring existing measures were prioritised more highly than new interventions, and identifying factors underlying treatment seeking, drop-out and relapse was also considered a priority.

Conclusions: This initiative successfully involved the global research community in identifying gambling research priorities. The results provide information for researchers and other stakeholders for future projects and funding.

Background: Problem gambling (PG) and problem gaming (GAM) generate concern for close ones often denoted as concerned significant others (CSO). There is a dearth of evidence on the characteristics associated with being a CSO of PG and GAM, which is explored in the present study.

Methods: A total of 2,000 persons (aged 16-74 years), randomly drawn from the Norwegian population registry, were invited to respond to a questionnaire assessing current or past concerns about gambling and gaming of significant others, as well as questions about their own gambling, gaming, alcohol and illegal drug use, personality traits, and demographic characteristics. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify correlates of being a CSO of PG and GAM, split by close (i.e., first degree relatives and partners) and remote relationships.

Results: In all, 575 persons (46% men, age M = 44.05, SD = 17.31 years) completed the questionnaire (response rate = 30.4%). The prevalence of ever being a CSO was 23.2% for PG (6.8% for close, specifically) and 27.1% for GAM (17.4% for close, specifically). Close/PG was associated with higher Neuroticism. Remote/PG was associated with lower education and own PG. Close/GAM were younger. Remote/GAM correlates were lower income, own PG, and higher Extraversion scores.

Conclusions: PG and GAM have high CSO prevalence rates. In line with the problem behavior theory, the correlates of being a CSO suggest the presence of environments with problems and fewer resources connected to PG and GAM.