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Analysis of the Indicators of Pathological Internet Use in Spanish University Students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2013

Marina J. Muñoz-Rivas ,
Liria Fernández  and
Manuel Gámez-Guadix
Marina J. Muñoz-Rivas*
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
Liria Fernández
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
Manuel Gámez-Guadix
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain)
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Marina J. Muñoz-Rivas. Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud. Facultad de Psicología. Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco. 28049 Madrid. (Spain). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Phone: +34-914978751. E-mail: marina.munoz@uam.es
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Abstract

Addiction to and problematic use of the Internet are relatively recent phenomena whose scope, characteristics and correlates have begun to receive increasing attention by clinicians and researchers alike. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between time spent connected to the Internet and the variables that indicate a pathological and addictive use of this technological resource. The sample was comprised of 1,301 university students of both sexes (927 women and 374 men), with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years old. The results showed that, although most people use the Internet appropriately, users who invest higher quantities of time in the Internet more frequently exhibit connection behavior that is controlled through negative reinforcement, a high degree of arousal when online, loss of control over connection behavior, changes in health-related habits, and interference in the social, family, academic, or work spheres. These findings suggest that excessive Internet use is associated with the onset of several problems that are similar to those associated with other behavioral and technological addictions.

La adicción a Internet y su uso problemático constituyen fenómenos relativamente recientes cuyo alcance, características y correlatos han comenzado a recibir atención creciente por parte de clínicos e investigadores. La finalidad de este estudio consistió en examinar la relación entre el tiempo dedicado a conectarse a Internet y diversas variables indicativas de un uso patológico y adictivo de este recurso tecnológico. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 1,301 estudiantes universitarios de ambos sexos (927 mujeres y 374 hombres), con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 30 años. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que, si bien la mayoría de las personas hacen un uso adecuado de Internet, los usuarios que invierten mayores cantidades de tiempo en la red presentan con mayor frecuencia una conducta de conexión controlada por reforzadores negativos, alto grado de excitación cuando están en Internet, pérdida de control sobre la conducta de conexión, cambios en los hábitos de salud e interferencia a nivel social, familiar, académico o laboral. Estos hallazgos sugieren la aparición de diversos problemas asociados al empleo excesivo de Internet que son similares a los de otras adicciones conductuales y tecnológicas.

Keywords

Internetnew technologiesaddictionpathological useuniversity studentsInternetnuevas tecnologíasadicciónuso patológicouniversitarios
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , November 2010 , pp. 697 - 707
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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