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Archivos Argentinos de Pediatria Aug 2023Network communication digital platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate, get information, and entertain ourselves; they have had a major impact on the new... (Review)
Review
Network communication digital platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate, get information, and entertain ourselves; they have had a major impact on the new generations. The pandemic has increased consumption patterns at all ages and its consequences: a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, sleep, psychological, cognitive, memory/attention, and academic performance disorders, problematic behaviors, and risks of cyberbullying. The activity of the new generations on TikTok -a platform that allows them to create, view, share videos and viral challenges- has affected their behavior. Their posts lead to likes, comments, and followers; this stimulates the dopaminergic reward system, which is the basis of addictive behaviors. Pediatricians should be aware of these behaviors in order to recommend good practices. The objective of this narrative review, based on the bibliography from PubMed Central, SciELO, national and international recommendations, is to provide information and an update to health care providers on TikTok, its characteristics, and the recommendations for safe use.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Child; Social Media; Academic Performance; Behavior, Addictive; Communication; Dopamine
PubMed: 36692353
DOI: 10.5546/aap.2022-02674.eng -
The Journal of Nervous and Mental... Aug 2023According to recent studies, the growing consumption of Internet pornography mainly in male population becomes an increasing problem, which is closely linked to...
According to recent studies, the growing consumption of Internet pornography mainly in male population becomes an increasing problem, which is closely linked to compulsive sexual behavior. Some findings also suggest that Internet pornography consumption might represent a defense mechanism against excessive stress, which enables to cope with stressful events, helps in mood regulation, and decreases depression and anxiety. Users of online pornography involved in these activities also reported that their self-exposition to pornographic material may create guilty feelings and internal conflict in themselves with respect to their own "involuntary" sexual behavior, which suggest that psychosocial stress and possibly traumatic experiences may play a significant role in Internet pornography addiction. Taken together, these findings show that stressful experiences, anxiety, and depression are strongly related to pornography consumption. In addition, conflicting emotional experiences as well as identity problems significantly increase vulnerability to addictive sexual behavior and pornography consumption.
Topics: Humans; Male; Erotica; Sexual Behavior; Emotions; Anxiety; Behavior, Addictive; Cognition; Internet
PubMed: 37505898
DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001669 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
PubMed: 38025442
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1307732 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Studies consistently link excessive smartphone use to poor sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress. This study specifically aimed to investigate these...
INTRODUCTION
Studies consistently link excessive smartphone use to poor sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress. This study specifically aimed to investigate these associations among medical students in Belgrade and Nis (Central Serbia).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The cross-sectional study included a sample of 761 students, who were selected from both the Faculties of Medicine at the University of Belgrade and the University of Nis. Questionnaires, including the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF), Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale - 21 items (DASS-21), were completed by the participants. Statistical analysis techniques, such as the Chi-square test, student's -test, and logistic regression, were employed to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction, physical activity, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress.
RESULTS
The findings indicated a prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students at 21.7%, with rates of 22.9% among males and 21.1% among females. Females exhibited significantly higher scores on the SAS-SV scale compared to males ( = 0.032). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between smartphone addiction and spending over 4 h daily on smartphones (OR = 2.39; < 0.001), poor sleep quality (OR = 1.65; = 0,005), as well as elevated levels of stress (OR = 1.75; = 0.003), anxiety (OR = 2.04; < 0.001), and depression (OR = 2.29; < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis identified spending more than 4 h daily on smartphones (OR = 2.39; < 0.001) and increased levels of depression (OR = 2.51; < 0.001) as independent significant factors associated with smartphone addiction.
CONCLUSION
This study sheds light on the prevalence of smartphone addiction among medical students, with spending excessive time on smartphones and higher levels of depression standing out as significant factors. Future research should delve into the underlying mechanisms and causal relationships between smartphone addiction and these psychosocial factors. Understanding these connections will aid in developing effective interventions and strategies to tackle this growing public health concern.
Topics: Female; Male; Humans; Students, Medical; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Internet Addiction Disorder; Sleep Quality; Anxiety
PubMed: 37744504
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1252371 -
Nutrients Nov 2023Eating disorders and excessive attachment to social media are a matter of great concern among youths. This study assessed the prevalence of eating disorders and their...
Eating disorders and excessive attachment to social media are a matter of great concern among youths. This study assessed the prevalence of eating disorders and their association with social media addiction among youths. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 participants aged 14-25 years. Two pre-validated tools were used, i.e., the Eating Attitude Test and the Social Networking Addiction Scale. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Out of the 350 students, 42% had probable eating disorders, and 41.7% had social media addictions. The findings revealed that the chances of having eating disorders were significantly higher among youths who lived in separate places, smoked, and had a family history of eating disorders ( ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the dieting domain displayed notably higher scores for youths living separately ( ≤ 0.05) and smokers ( ≤ 0.01). Moreover, the scores for bulimia and food preoccupation were significantly higher among participants who were married ( = 0.038), were smokers ( = 0.027), and had a family history of eating disorders ( = 0.001). Higher scores in the oral control domain were reported by females ( ≤ 0.05) and severely obese youths ( ≤ 0.01). Moreover, social media addiction was significantly higher among students aged 18-21 ( ≤ 0.01). Spearman's correlation revealed that social media addiction has a weak positive relationship with eating disorders ( = 0.133, ≤ 0.01), particularly bulimia and food preoccupation ( = 0.173, ≤ 0.001). This reflects the need to address the harmful consequences of social media addiction that might raise the likelihood of developing eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa.
Topics: Female; Humans; Adolescent; Bulimia; Internet Addiction Disorder; Prevalence; Cross-Sectional Studies; Anorexia Nervosa; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Bulimia Nervosa
PubMed: 37960340
DOI: 10.3390/nu15214687 -
Molecular Psychiatry Aug 2023Observational studies suggest that physical activity can reduce the risk of mental health and substance use disorders. However, it is unclear whether this relationship... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Observational studies suggest that physical activity can reduce the risk of mental health and substance use disorders. However, it is unclear whether this relationship is causal or explained by confounding bias (e.g., common underlying causes or reverse causality). We investigated the bidirectional causal relationship of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) with ten mental health and substance use disorders, applying two-sample Mendelian Randomisation (MR). Genetic instruments for the exposures and outcomes were derived from the largest available, non-overlapping genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Summary-level data for objectively assessed PA (accelerometer-based average activity, moderate activity, and walking) and SB and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous PA were obtained from the UK Biobank. Data for mental health/substance use disorders were obtained from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and the GWAS and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine Use. MR estimates were combined using inverse variance weighted meta-analysis (IVW). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results. Accelerometer-based average PA was associated with a lower risk of depression (b = -0.043, 95% CI: -0.071 to -0.016, effect size[OR] = 0.957) and cigarette smoking (b = -0.026; 95% CI: -0.035 to -0.017, effect size[β] = -0.022). Accelerometer-based SB decreased the risk of anorexia (b = -0.341, 95% CI: -0.530 to -0.152, effect size[OR] = 0.711) and schizophrenia (b = -0.230; 95% CI: -0.285 to -0.175, effect size[OR] = 0.795). However, we found evidence of reverse causality in the relationship between SB and schizophrenia. Further, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anorexia, and ADHD were all associated with increased PA. This study provides evidence consistent with a causal protective effect of objectively assessed but not self-reported PA on reduced depression and cigarette smoking. Objectively assessed SB had a protective relationship with anorexia. Enhancing PA may be an effective intervention strategy to reduce depressive symptoms and addictive behaviours, while promoting sedentary or light physical activities may help to reduce the risk of anorexia in at-risk individuals.
Topics: Humans; Mental Health; Sedentary Behavior; Anorexia; Genome-Wide Association Study; Exercise; Substance-Related Disorders; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
PubMed: 37479783
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02133-9 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Mounting evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that psychostimulants can significantly affect social behaviors. This is not surprising considering that... (Review)
Review
Mounting evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that psychostimulants can significantly affect social behaviors. This is not surprising considering that the neural circuits underlying the regulation and expression of social behaviors are highly overlapped with those targeted by psychostimulants, which in most cases have strong rewarding and, consequently, addictive properties. In the present work, we provide an overview regarding the effects of illicit and prescription psychostimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, methylphenidate or modafinil, upon social behaviors such as social play, maternal behavior, aggression, pair bonding and social cognition and how psychostimulants in both animals and humans alter them. Finally, we discuss why these effects can vary depending on numerous variables such as the type of drug considered, acute long-term use, clinical recreational consumption, or the presence or absence of concomitant risk factors.
PubMed: 38725665
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1364630 -
AMA Journal of Ethics Nov 2023The internet and related media play key roles in education, work, and leisure. It could be argued that people have better interpersonal interactions because of social...
The internet and related media play key roles in education, work, and leisure. It could be argued that people have better interpersonal interactions because of social media, which could reduce loneliness. But documented internet use patterns suggest that the internet increases loneliness. Studies conducted prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate an association between what's called "internet addiction" and loneliness, although findings vary with participant demographics and frequency and types of internet use. There is a need to conduct longitudinal research to determine the direction of causality and whether what we define as "balanced" internet behavior positively affects well-being.
Topics: Humans; Loneliness; Pandemics; Interpersonal Relations; Social Media; Behavior, Addictive; Internet
PubMed: 38085586
DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2023.833 -
Annual Review of Pharmacology and... Jan 2024Alcohol use disorder (AUD) afflicts over 29 million individuals and causes more than 140,000 deaths annually in the United States. A heuristic framework for AUD includes... (Review)
Review
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) afflicts over 29 million individuals and causes more than 140,000 deaths annually in the United States. A heuristic framework for AUD includes a three-stage cycle-binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation-that provides a starting point for exploring the heterogeneity of AUD with regard to treatment. Effective behavioral health treatments and US Food and Drug Administration-approved medications are available but greatly underutilized, creating a major treatment gap. This review outlines challenges that face the alcohol field in closing this treatment gap and offers solutions, including broadening end points for the approval of medications for the treatment of AUD; increasing the uptake of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment; addressing stigma; implementing a heuristic definition of recovery; engaging early treatment; and educating health-care professionals and the public about challenges that are associated with alcohol misuse. Additionally, this review focuses on broadening potential targets for the development of medications for AUD by utilizing the three-stage heuristic model of addiction that outlines domains of dysfunction in AUD and the mediating neurobiology of AUD.
Topics: United States; Humans; Alcoholism; Behavior, Addictive; Ethanol; Biological Transport; United States Food and Drug Administration
PubMed: 38261428
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-031323-115847 -
Nutrients Aug 2023Eating disorders (EDs) are mental health diseases characterized by dysfunctional eating patterns, including restrictive eating, avoidance of foods, binge eating, and...
Eating disorders (EDs) are mental health diseases characterized by dysfunctional eating patterns, including restrictive eating, avoidance of foods, binge eating, and compensative behaviors to avoid weight increases and promote thinness (purging, vomiting, laxative/diuretics misuse, and compulsive exercise) [...].
Topics: Humans; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Behavior, Addictive; Binge-Eating Disorder; Bulimia; Diuretics
PubMed: 37686749
DOI: 10.3390/nu15173718