Self-Control Abilities in Specific Types of Problematic Usage of the Internet: Findings From Clinically Validated Samples With Neurocognitive Tasks.

Objective: Reduced cognitive functions are commonly associated with diminished self-control abilities. Research on cognitive functions in gaming disorder and other specific types of problematic usage of the Internet (PUI) remains rare. The aim of this study was to compare performance in different co...

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Publicado en:American Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 182; no. 7; pp. 660 - 671
Autores principales: Müller, Silke M., Antons, Stephanie, Schmid, Anna M., Thomas, Tobias A., Kessling, Annica, Joshi, Maithilee, Krikova, Kseniya, Kampa, Miriam, Mallon, Lukas, Schmidt, Lasse David, Klein, Lena, Dominick, Nanne, Büsche, Kjell, Oelker, Andreas, Brandtner, Annika, Montag, Christian, Wölfling, Klaus, Wolf, Oliver T., Diers, Martin, Klucken, Tim
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Jul2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2025
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        atl: Self-Control Abilities in Specific Types of Problematic Usage of the Internet: Findings From Clinically Validated Samples With Neurocognitive Tasks.
      aug:
        au:
          Müller, Silke M.
          Antons, Stephanie
          Schmid, Anna M.
          Thomas, Tobias A.
          Kessling, Annica
          Joshi, Maithilee
          Krikova, Kseniya
          Kampa, Miriam
          Mallon, Lukas
          Schmidt, Lasse David
          Klein, Lena
          Dominick, Nanne
          Büsche, Kjell
          Oelker, Andreas
          Brandtner, Annika
          Montag, Christian
          Wölfling, Klaus
          Wolf, Oliver T.
          Diers, Martin
          Klucken, Tim
        affil:
          Department of General Psychology: Cognition, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
          Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
          Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany
          Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Otto-Friedrich University of Bamberg, Germany
          Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
          Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Siegen, Germany
          Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
          Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
          Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Research Group S:TEP (Substance Use and Related Disorders: Treatment, Epidemiology, and Prevention), University of Lübeck, Germany
          Outpatient Clinic for Behavioral Addictions, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
          Department of Molecular Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Germany
          Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
      su:
        Germany
        Self-control
        Executive function
        Cognitive ability
        Addictions
        Gaming disorder
        Internet addiction
        Cognitive testing
        Behavioral assessment
      sug:
        subj:
          Self-control
          Executive function
          Cognitive ability
          Addictions
          Gaming disorder
          Internet addiction
          Germany
          Cognitive testing
          Behavioral assessment
      keyword:
        Cognitive Neuroscience
        Internet Gaming
        Problematic Usage of the Internet
        Cognitive Neuroscience
        Internet Gaming
        Problematic Usage of the Internet
      ab: Objective: Reduced cognitive functions are commonly associated with diminished self-control abilities. Research on cognitive functions in gaming disorder and other specific types of problematic usage of the Internet (PUI) remains rare. The aim of this study was to compare performance in different cognitive domains between clinically validated groups of individuals with and without specific PUI. Methods: The data, from a large-scale multicenter study in Germany, were collected between October 2021 and August 2024. The study compared three groups: Internet users with pathological use (N=284), risky use (N=305), and nonproblematic use (N=424). Grouping was based on structured interviews for four types of specific PUI (gaming, buying-shopping, pornography use, social network use). All participants underwent extensive laboratory testing, including self-report scales and standard cognitive tasks: Modified Card Sorting Test, Stroop test, a logical reasoning test, Game of Dice Task, a delay discounting task, and a go/no-go task with Internet-related stimuli. Results: The groups differed significantly regarding both behavioral (partial eta ≤0.06) and self-report measures (partial eta ≤0.14) of self-control abilities. The group with pathological use showed the weakest mean performance in all tasks. The groups with risky and nonproblematic use barely differed in behavioral measures but did differ in self-reported self-directedness and attentional impulsivity. Post hoc analyses revealed significant (interaction) effects of PUI type. Conclusions: PUI is associated with deficits in general executive functions, decision making, and stimulus-specific inhibitory control that may evolve in later stages of addiction development. Potential PUI-specific differences should be considered when designing trainings and interventions that target improving self-control abilities.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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