Potential Markers for Problematic Internet Use: A Telephone Survey of 2,513 Adults
Abstract
Objective : The Internet has positively altered many aspects of life. However, for a subset of users, the medium may have become a consuming problem that exhibits features of impulse control disorders recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Method : This is the first large-scale epidemiological study of problematic Internet use through a random-digit-dial telephone survey of 2,513 adults in the United States. Given the lack of validated criteria, survey questions were extrapolated from established diagnostic criteria for impulse control disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder, and substance abuse. Four possible diagnostic criteria sets were generated.The least restrictive set required the respondent to report an unsuccessful effort to reduce Internet use or a history of remaining online longer than intended, Internet use interfering with relationships, and a preoccupation with Internet use when offline. Results : The response rate was 56.3%. Interviews averaged 11.3 minutes in duration. From 3.7% to 13% of respondents endorsed ≥1 markers consistent with problematic Internet use. The least restrictive proposed diagnostic criteria set yielded a prevalence of problematic Internet use of 0.7%. Conclusion : Potential markers of problematic Internet use seem present in a sizeable proportion of adults. Future studies should delineate whether problematic Internet use constitutes a pathological behavior that meets criteria for an independent disorder, or represents a symptom of other psychopathologies.
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Prevalence of Internet addiction in general population is 0.7%.
“0,7% pour l'addiction à Internet [1]”
From Avant-propos : Les addictions sans drogues (2008) · cites this paper as [1]
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- Authors
- Aboujaoude, E., Koran, L. M., Gamel, N., Large, M. D., & Serpe, R. T.
- Affiliations
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Venue
- CNS Spectrums
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2006-10
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 750-755
- ISSN
- 1092-8529 (ISSN-L)
- 2165-6509
- OpenAlex
- W2140056887
- Cited by
- 268
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 32.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- CNS Spectrums (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- 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, internet addiction, impulse control disorders, diagnostic criteria, prevalence, compulsive internet use, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Demography, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, United States, Internet
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