Rates and psychological stress predictors of problematic internet use (PIU) during the COVID-19 pandemic in a racially diverse sample of young adults

Aug 1, 2024Anxiety, stress, and coping

Problematic Internet Use and Stress Factors Among Diverse Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Low distress tolerance is associated with increased rates of problematic internet use, particularly social media misuse and gaming misuse.

Younger age is linked to higher rates of social media misuse.
Male gender is associated with increased gaming misuse.
Symptoms of PTSD predict higher rates of gaming misuse.
Racial differences exist in the rates of social media and gaming misuse.
COVID-19-related adjustment challenges and stress are predictors of social media misuse and gaming misuse, respectively.

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BACKGROUND: Problematic internet use (PIU), which includes social media misuse (SMM) and gaming misuse (GM), is uncontrollable and associated with significant psychological impairment. PIU is a coping behavior for COVID-19-related stress. We explored distress-related predictors of PIU in a young adult racially diverse sample during the pandemic.

METHODS: Analyses used cross-sectional survey data ( = 1956). Psychological diagnoses, financial distress, COVID-19-related emotions, psychological distress, distress tolerance, social support, loneliness, SMM and GM were measured. Hierarchical multiple regressions identified predictors of PIU. Race-stratified exploratory analyses sought to understand if predictors held true across racial groups. N

RESULTS: Low distress tolerance was associated with SMM and GM, as were depression symptoms, with racial differences observed. SMM was associated with younger age, and GM was associated with male gender. PTSD symptoms predicted more GM. SMM and GM rates varied between racial groups. COVID-19-related adjustment challenges and stress predicted SMM and GM respectively, with racial differences observed.

CONCLUSION: Individual psychological distress and low distress tolerance markedly increased PIU risk. Clinicians should screen for stress-related PIU risk factors and bolster distress tolerance in vulnerable patients. Comparing PIU to different forms of coping in a larger sample would further clarify groups differences in stress coping behaviors.

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Rates and psychological stress predictors of problematic internet use (PIU) during the COVID-19 pandemic in a racially diverse sample of young adults

Abstract

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