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Cited by 125Impact of Technology on AdolescentsSexuality, Behavior, and TechnologyGambling Behavior and Treatments

Tracing 20 years of research on problematic use of the internet and social media: Theoretical models, assessment tools, and an agenda for future work

Open access
Moretta, Tania, Buodo, Giulia, Demetrovics, Zsolt, Potenza, Marc N.·2022·Comprehensive Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152286
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Abstract

Over the past two decades, there has been increasing interest in the impact of internet use and growing concern about whether problematic use of the internet (PUI) constitutes an addiction. Despite the growing number of studies investigating PUI and PUI subtypes, its conceptualization and inclusion in a classification system have not been possible yet. Several models aimed at inspiring clinical research and practice have proposed possible mechanisms involved in PUI and problematic use of social media, and multiple self-report instruments have been consequentially developed. The diversity of theoretical models and instruments currently hinders standardized assessment procedures across studies and, in turn, their comparability. The purpose of the present overview is to highlight the current conceptualization and assessment of both PUI and problematic use of social media, in order to critically discuss the existing fragmentation in the field and the need to achieve conceptual convergence. Two suggestions for future directions are also provided, i.e., define diagnostic criteria by bottom-up and top-down processes and develop a psychobiological hypothesis including the description of higher-order mechanisms involved in PUI and not other psychopathological conditions (e.g., the multiple available internet-related cues and outcomes that may lead to parallel forms of associative learning; probabilities of obtaining internet-related reinforcements; and intrinsic motivation processes).

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152286

Cites

149 of 149 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Problematic social media use and nomophobia both interfere with the lives of social media users, who continue to engage in their media habits despite the negative repercussions.

    “PSMU and nomophobia both interfere with the lives of social media users, who continue to engage in their media habits despite the negative repercussions (Moretta et al., 2022).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Moretta et al., 2022

    Section 3, “A focus on problematic use of social media use” (page unavailable), describes negative effects on personal and occupational functioning and discusses problematic behavior persisting despite negative consequences. It does not address nomophobia, so the claim that both PSMU and nomophobia interfere with users’ lives is not supported by this source. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Social motivations aimed at maintaining interpersonal relationships, friendships, or links with peers in social networks play an important role in continuing unhealthy or problematic behaviors in the use of these media.

    “Therefore, social motivations aimed at maintaining interpersonal relationships, friendships, or links with peers in social networks (perceived as rewarding) play an important role in continuing unhealthy or problematic behaviors in the use of these media (González-Nuevo et al., 2021;Moretta et al., 2022;Varona et al., 2022).”

    From Problematic use of social media in adolescents or excessive social gratification? The mediating role of nomophobia (2024) · cites this paper as Moretta et al., 2022

    Section 3.1 describes social-media reinforcement and says online social interaction may favor compulsive use, supporting the general link between social rewards and problematic behavior. It does not specifically identify motivations to maintain friendships, peer links, or interpersonal relationships as an important reason for continuing that behavior. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Cites

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1 of the 150 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. American Psychiatric Association, 2013, vol. 25
  2. Ozcan, 2005, An assistive tool in determining problematic internet use: validity and reliability of the “online cognition scale” in a sample of university students, J Depend, 6, 19
  3. Latif, 2016, 5, 51
  4. Brown, 1997, A theoretical model of the Behavioural addictions—applied to offending, Addict Crime, 13

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Authors
Moretta, T., Buodo, G., Demetrovics, Z., & Potenza, M. N.
Affiliations
  • University of Padua (IT)
  • Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
  • Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Moretta, Tania
ORCID
Venue
Comprehensive Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-01
Volume
112
Pages
152286
ISSN
0010-440X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152286
OpenAlex
W3208908485
Cited by
125
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 13
FWCI
24.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Comprehensive Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • ELTE Digital Institutional Repository (EDIT) (Eötvös Loránd University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • IRIS eCampus Telematic University (Università degli Studi eCampus) (submittedVersion)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Dipartimenti di Eccellenza
  • Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (art.1, Dipartimenti di Eccellenza (art.1, 314‐337)
  • Università degli Studi di Padova
  • Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università degli Studi di Padova
  • National Research, Development and Innovation Office (KKP126835, K128614)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords
problematic internet use, social media addiction, internet addiction, theoretical model, assessment instruments, diagnostic criteria, conceptual convergence, associative learning, intrinsic motivation, reinforcement, classification systems
MeSH terms
Humans, Models, Theoretical, Motivation, Behavior, Addictive, Internet, Social Media

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