Laliberte, Kari
Mental Health
General Health Neuropsychology
Over recent years, the internet has not only changed the way we live, but also the way we perceive life itself. We work, play, shop, socialise, find love, share knowledge and much more all online.
Internet addiction is the term used to describe various types of problems that are characterised by excessive or inappropriate use of the internet.
It is somewhat difficult to assess as everyone uses the internet for different reasons, including work, talking to friends, shopping and so on. As a general rule, the important point to consider is that spending time on the internet only becomes a problem when it interferes with the activities of daily life. Whether it is social relations, work and/or health. If the problems associated with internet use start to outweigh the positive aspects and you continue to use the internet, it may be time to disconnect.
There are different types of internet addiction and some of the sub-types are:
- Cybersex: compulsive use of online pornography, adult fantasy role-playing sites.
- Cyber-relationship: where virtual friends become more important than real life friends and family members.
- Internet compulsion: such as buying and selling or online auction sites.
- Information overload: compulsive internet surfing resulting in reduced work productivity and social interaction.
- Video game addiction: obsessive computer gaming.
Signs and symptoms that internet use may have become a problem:
- Losing track of time.
- Difficulty in completing tasks at work or at home.
- Social isolation.
- Feeling guilty or defensive about Internet use.
- Feeling of euphoria while engaging in internet activities.
Furthermore, internet addiction can cause various physical discomforts, such as:
- Dry eyes or eyestrain.
- Back and neck pain.
- Strong headaches.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (weakness, tingling in the hand and wrist.
It is important to remember that there is help available. Therapy can bring these difficulties to light and help to manage them in order to make day-to-day life better.
New information and communication technologies, such as computers, video game consoles, mobile phones or smartphones, are part of the daily life of adolescents.
Undoubtedly, they have many advantages, such as increasing our quality of life, facilitating administrative tasks, remote communication and entertainment, but their inappropriate use can seriously interfere in the lives of adolescents at school, family and social levels and can lead to addictive behaviour.
The use of screens (tablets, mobile phones, video consoles, computers) during childhood and adolescence involves multiple challenges, namely the risk of abuse and addiction, exposure to cyberbullying, sexting or grooming, or access to inappropriate content.
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Spain (INE, 2022), more than 96% of young people have a mobile phone, which means that this technology is almost completely integrated into their daily lives.
The time spent using mobile phones among teenagers has experienced exponential growth (seven hours a day), with participation in social networks being the activity in which teenagers spend the most time.
These platforms not only serve as a means of communication and entertainment, but also as a space for personal expression and the construction of social identity. In this regard, several studies have linked the excessive use of social networks with the development of various problems such as anxiety, depression, impulsivity and poor academic performance.
Unlike other addictions such as substance use, where total abstinence is recommended, in the case of addictions to ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), the goal of treatment is focused on learning to use them in an adaptive and functional way, as total abstinence would be inconceivable in the lives of adolescents. 90% of young people report that they use the Internet to do school homework.
Regarding biological factors, ICT related disorders share characteristics with the rest of addictions, especially the dopaminergic reward circuit, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus.
In terms of psychological factors, introversion and shyness stand out as attitudinal and personality correlates. In adolescents, the use of social networks is linked to the appearance of emotional and behavioural difficulties, resulting in increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, difficulties in anger management, defiant behaviour and academic performance problems.
With respect to psychological treatment, cognitive behavioural therapies, motivational interviewing and family therapy have been used in a similar way to those used in addictions to other substances.
In this context, psychological intervention is aimed at psychoeducation, improvement of intrapersonal skills (where efforts are focused on self-esteem, identity, self-control and anxiety control), interpersonal models where adaptive communication skills and assertiveness are encouraged, work with the family, and the development of a healthy lifestyle.
Medication would be indicated in case of comorbidities (e.g. depression).
Here are some recommendations that can be implemented in families with adolescents:
- Regulate use. Manage device use time appropriately and combine it with other activities. Scheduling breaks and setting limits is an essential part of this strategy.
- Promote leisure activities. Encourage different activities outside the digital world such as sports, reading, board games and outdoor activities.
- Negotiate limits and rules of use. It is important to establish rules to prevent problematic use.
- Families should set an example when it comes to screen use. Parents should be role models in the use of technology.
- Encourage open communication with parents. It is important to create an environment of trust and where parents show a willingness to help.
- Information management. It is essential to teach adolescents how to handle information responsibly, to check the veracity of sources, to be aware of the importance of privacy and of the dangers associated with the disclosure of personal information.
Laliberte, Kari
Mental Health
General Health Neuropsychology
Montero Quirós, Ana
Mental Health
Clinical and Health Psychology
Dr. Jiménez Suárez, Luis
Mental Health
Psychiatry
Dr. Martín, Nicole
Spezialist in der inneren Medizin bei HC Marbella
Tel.: +34 952 908 628
+34 609 148 799
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