Problematic Internet use and psychosocial well-being: development of a theory-based cognitive–behavioral measurement instrument
Introduction
Growing concern over the relationship between Internet use and psychosocial well being (e.g. depression, loneliness, low self-esteem) has spawned a surge of research into what scholars have variously termed problematic, pathological, or addictive Internet use (e.g. see Beard and Wolf, 2001, Davis, 2001, Kraut et al., 1998, Morahan-Martin and Schumacher, 2000, Pratarelli et al., 1999, Sanders et al., 2000, Scherer, 1997, Wallace, 1999, Young, 1996, Young, 1998, Young and Rogers, 1998). Despite mounting interest in problematic Internet use (PIU), there is little agreement about how to define or measure the construct. Moreover, the current literature also lacks an empirically testable theory that explains, in detail, how PIU might be related to mental health or social well-being. Such limitations hinder further development of PIU research and limit our understanding of why Internet use appears to be problematic for some individuals. The current study sought to address these limitations.
The first section of this paper reviews extant PIU literature, and argues that current theory development and empirical research in this area is quite limited. The next section presents a promising new model introduced by R. Davis (2001) that may help foster the development of a theory-driven program of empirical research on PIU. After an initial review of the literature, the remainder of the paper presents results from research that: (1) developed a theory-based measure of PIU and (2) employed the instrument in an exploratory study to assess the associations among PIU and several psychosocial variables including, depression, self-esteem, loneliness, and shyness.
Section snippets
Problematic, pathological, or addictive Internet use
A number of scholars note a relationship among people's Internet use, psychosocial health, and negative outcomes at home and work (e.g. Beard and Wolf, 2001, Brenner, 1997, Davis, 2001, Morahan-Martin and Schumacher, 2000, Pratarelli et al., 1999, Sanders et al., 2000, Scherer, 1997, Young, 1996, Young, 1998). Various labels are used to describe people who engage in excessive use of the Internet that results in negative outcomes including, “Internet addicts, computer-mediated communication
Davis's cognitive–behavioral theory of PIU
Recently, Davis (2001) introduced a cognitive–behavioral theory of PIU that attempts to model the etiology, development, and outcomes associated with PIU.1 Although Davis's (2001) model is relatively new, and requires further development, it does sketch out an initial model of the cognitive and behavioral processes
Focus of the current study
The current study sought to design and test a new measure to operationalize the generalized PIU construct based on Davis's (2001) initial theoretical definition. The study employed the measure to explore the generalized PIU construct empirically, and attempted to answer several preliminary questions about the association between generalized PIU and psychosocial well-being. The remainder of this section presents the research questions addressed in the current study.
First, Davis's theoretical
Procedures
A new instrument, the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS) was designed to operationalize Davis's (2001) theoretical construct. As part of a larger research program, the GPIUS was administered to 386 undergraduate students (270 females and 116 males). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 57 years old (M=20, SD=2.22 years). Along with the GPIUS, participants also completed several measures of psychosocial well being (e.g. depression, self-esteem, loneliness, and shyness).
The Generalized PIU Scale
The GPIUS was designed to measure the degree to which an individual experiences the types of cognitions, behaviors, and outcomes that Davis describes as constituting generalized PIU. To help ensure the validity of GPIUS scores, the scale's items were developed in several ways: (1) items were written directly from examples of generalized PIU cognitions, behaviors, and outcomes offered by Davis (2001); (2) other PIU scales available in the extant literature (e.g. Armstrong et al., 2000,
Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analyses
To explore the dimensionality of generalized PIU, GPIUS items responses were submitted to an exploratory principal-axis factor analysis with an oblique rotation (different aspects of generalized PIU were expected to be intercorrelated).2
Overview
The study reported earlier was intended to accomplish two basic goals: (1) to develop a valid and reliable theory-based measure of generalized PIU, and (2) to use such a measure to begin a theory-driven research program exploring the associations among Internet-related cognitions and behaviors and psychosocial well-being. After reviewing the results in light of the goals stated earlier, the remainder of this section will present implications of the current data for future research on PIU and
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Dr. Elizabeth Perse, Dr. Charles Pavitt, Dr. Robert Tennyson, Mr. Matthew Davis, and two anonymous reviewers for contributions to this project.
References (33)
A cognitive–behavioral model of pathological Internet use
Computers in Human Behavior
(2001)- et al.
Incidence and correlates of pathological Internet use among college students
Computers in Human Behavior
(2000) - et al.
Potential determinants of heavier Internet usage
International Journal of Human Computer Studies
(2000) - et al.
Modification in the proposed diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction
Cyberpsychology and Behavior
(2001) - et al.
Beck Depression Inventory—II (BDII) manual
(1996) Psychology of computer use: XLVII: parameters of Internet use, abuse and addiction: the first 90 days of the Internet usage survey
Psychological Reports
(1997)Challenging the mass-interpersonal communication dichotomy: are we witnessing the emergence of an entirely new communication system?
Electronic Journal of Communication
(2001)Factor analysis
(1983)Internet “addiction”: an issue for clinical psychology?
Clinical Psychology Forum
(1996)Psychology of computer use: XLIII. Some comments on “Addictive use of the Internet” by Young
Psychological Reports
(1997)
Internet addiction: does it really exist?
Does Internet and computer “addiction” exist? Some case stud evidence
Cyberpsychology and Behavior
Shyness: conceptualization and measurement
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Internet addiction on campus: the vulnerability of college students
Cyberpsychology and behavior
Introduction to factor analysis: what it is and how to do it
Internet paradox: a social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well being?
American Psychologist
Cited by (863)
Adverse childhood experience and young adult's problematic Internet use: The role of hostility and loneliness
2024, Child Abuse and NeglectImpact of digital burnout on the use of digital consumer platforms
2024, Technological Forecasting and Social ChangeAssociation between cognitive distortions and problematic internet use among students during the COVID-19 pandemic
2023, Children and Youth Services ReviewEarly maladaptive schemas and behavioural addictions: A systematic literature review
2023, Clinical Psychology Review