Baggio, Stéphanie; Starcevic, Vladan; Billieux, Joël; King, Daniel L; Gainsbury, Sally M; Eslick, Guy D; Berle, David (2022). Testing the spectrum hypothesis of problematic online behaviors: A network analysis approach. Addictive behaviors, 135, p. 107451. Elsevier 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107451
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The validity of the constructs of problematic Internet or smartphone use and Internet or smartphone addiction has been extensively debated. The spectrum hypothesis posits that problematic online behaviors (POBs) may be conceptualized within a spectrum of related yet distinct entities. To date, the hypothesis has received preliminary support, and further robust empirical studies are still needed. The present study tested the spectrum hypothesis of POBs in an Australian community sample (n = 1,617) using a network analysis approach. Psychometrically validated self-report instruments were used to assess six types of POBs: problematic online gaming, cyberchondria, problematic cybersex, problematic online shopping, problematic use of social networking sites, and problematic online gambling. A tetrachoric correlation matrix was computed to explore relationships between online activities and a network analysis was used to analyze relationships between POBs. Correlations between online activities were positive and significant, but of small magnitude (0.051 ≤ r ≤ 0.236). The community detection analysis identified six distinct communities, corresponding to each POB, with strong relationships between items within each POB and weaker relationships between POBs. These findings provide further empirical support for the spectrum hypothesis, suggesting that POBs occur as distinct entities and with little overlap.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (BIHAM) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Baggio, Stéphanie |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services |
ISSN: |
0306-4603 |
Publisher: |
Elsevier |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Pubmed Import |
Date Deposited: |
10 Aug 2022 14:41 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 16:22 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107451 |
PubMed ID: |
35939963 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Behavioral addictions Network analysis Problematic online behaviors |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/171807 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/171807 |
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