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PloS One 2024Alcohol cravings are considered a major factor in relapse among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to investigate the frequency and triggers of...
AIMS
Alcohol cravings are considered a major factor in relapse among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to investigate the frequency and triggers of cravings in the daily lives of people with alcohol-related issues. Large amounts of data are analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to identify possible groupings and patterns.
METHODS
For the analysis, posts from the online forum "stopdrinking" on the Reddit platform were used as the dataset from April 2017 to April 2022. The posts were filtered for craving content and processed using the word2vec method to map them into a multi-dimensional vector space. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate the nature and frequency of craving contexts and triggers (location, time, social environment, and emotions) using word similarity scores. Additionally, the themes of the craving-related posts were semantically grouped using a Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic model. The accuracy of the results was evaluated using two manually created test datasets.
RESULTS
Approximately 16% of the forum posts discuss cravings. The number of craving-related posts decreases exponentially with the number of days since the author's last alcoholic drink. The topic model confirms that the majority of posts involve individual factors and triggers of cravings. The context analysis aligns with previous craving trigger findings related to the social environment, locations and emotions. Strong semantic craving similarities were found for the emotions boredom, stress and the location airport. The results for each method were successfully validated on test datasets.
CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory approach is the first to analyze alcohol cravings in the daily lives of over 24,000 individuals, providing a foundation for further AI-based craving analyses. The analysis confirms commonly known craving triggers and even discovers new important craving contexts.
Topics: Humans; Craving; Natural Language Processing; Behavior, Addictive; Alcoholism; Emotions; Artificial Intelligence; Social Media
PubMed: 38768143
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301682 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Online shopping addiction is a behavior that creates serious problems and has become increasingly prevalent in modern society. When addressing online shopping addiction,...
Online shopping addiction is a behavior that creates serious problems and has become increasingly prevalent in modern society. When addressing online shopping addiction, the direct or indirect causes of individuals' shopping actions must be taken into consideration. The present study aims to examine the effects of self-control, financial attitude, depression, anxiety, and stress on online shopping addiction by determining online shopping addiction, self-control, and financial attitude levels of consumers. The sample of this study consists of 694 voluntarily participating consumers selected through convenience sampling methods from a city in Türkiye. Data were collected through Google Forms and uploaded to the SPSS 25.0 package program. During the research process, the relationship patterns between self-control, financial attitude, depression, anxiety, and stress on online shopping addiction were examined by using structural equation modeling. It was determined in this study that consumers have moderate levels of financial attitude and self-control, and low levels of online shopping addiction. Given the results related to the relationships and hypotheses between variables, anxiety, depression, and financial attitude were found to have statistically significant effects on online shopping addiction, whereas stress and self-control were found to not have a significant effect. Within the scope of this study, it was identified that anxiety and depression positively affect online shopping addiction, whereas financial attitude has a negative effect.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Depression; Adult; Self-Control; Anxiety; Stress, Psychological; Surveys and Questionnaires; Middle Aged; Behavior, Addictive; Internet; Young Adult; Consumer Behavior; Internet Addiction Disorder; Adolescent
PubMed: 38765491
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1382910 -
Comprehensive Psychiatry Aug 2024Recognizing the crucial importance of understanding the impact of video games on health in today's gaming-dominated world, our study aimed to investigate the...
BACKGROUND
Recognizing the crucial importance of understanding the impact of video games on health in today's gaming-dominated world, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between gaming time and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Despite the widespread assumption that a connection exists between both, previous studies have revealed highly variable associations, highlighting significant weaknesses in establishing a robust link.
METHODS
To unravel this complex relationship, we recruited two independent samples of League of Legends players. We combined the collection of self-reported and actual gameplay data, together with assessments of mental health, personality traits, and cognitive abilities.
RESULTS
Surprisingly, none of the gaming variables demonstrated a robust and stable association with IGD, regardless of whether players spent less than or more than 30 hours per week gaming-a threshold suggested by the American Psychiatric Association as a potential indicator of disordered gaming. Notably, mental health factors, such as anxiety, depression and ADHD, emerged as the most influential predictors of IGD.
CONCLUSION
These findings, replicated across two independent samples, challenge the prevailing belief that limiting screen time alone effectively combats IGD. Instead, mental health factors play a crucial role in mitigating risks associated with gaming. Policies focusing solely on restricting screen time are insufficient in reducing the prevalence or symptoms of IGD. Rather, a comprehensive approach that considers mental health and key personality traits must be adopted to safeguard the well-being of individuals engaged in gaming.
Topics: Humans; Internet Addiction Disorder; Video Games; Male; Female; Adult; Young Adult; Adolescent; Internet; Behavior, Addictive; Personality; Depression; Anxiety
PubMed: 38761770
DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152500 -
Addictive Behaviors Sep 2024Modern internet pornography allows users to harness sexual novelty in numerous ways, which can be used to overcome desensitisation through increasing volume of use...
Modern internet pornography allows users to harness sexual novelty in numerous ways, which can be used to overcome desensitisation through increasing volume of use (quantitative tolerance), progressing to more stimulating genres (qualitative escalation), skipping between stimuli (tab-jumping), delaying orgasm ('edging'), and engaging in pornographic binges. However, existing research has not yet evaluated how these potentially reciprocal consumption patterns relate to problematic pornography use (PPU). To this end, we recruited two independent samples of male pornography users (N = 1,356, M = 36.86, SD = 11.26; N = 944, M = 38.69, SD = 12.26) and examined the relationships between these behavioural dimensions and self-reported difficulties in controlling one's pornography use. Data were analysed through the network analysis approach (using Gaussian graphical models). As hypothesised, i) quantitative tolerance was centrally placed within the overall network, and ii) acted as a statistical bridge node between other patterns of pornography use (e.g., pornographic binges), and all measured facets of PPU. Our results are consistent with other emerging literature suggesting that tolerance, pornographic binges, tab-jumping, and edging behaviours as relevant features ofPPU, and that upscaling overall usage may connect broader patterns of use with problematic engagement. Clinical and theoretical implications, as well as future research directions, are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Erotica; Male; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sexual Behavior; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Orgasm
PubMed: 38761685
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108048 -
Current Obesity Reports Jun 2024Detail recent advancements in the science on ultra-processed food (UPF) addiction, focusing on estimated prevalence rates and emerging health disparities; progress... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Detail recent advancements in the science on ultra-processed food (UPF) addiction, focusing on estimated prevalence rates and emerging health disparities; progress towards identifying biological underpinnings and behavioral mechanisms; and implications for weight management.
RECENT FINDINGS
Notable developments in the field have included: (1) estimating the global prevalence of UPF addiction at 14% of adults and 15% of youths; (2) revealing health disparities for persons of color and those with food insecurity; (3) observing altered functioning across the brain-gut-microbiome axis; (4) providing early evidence for UPF withdrawal; and (5) elucidating poorer weight management outcomes among persons with UPF addiction. The breadth of recent work on UPF addiction illustrates continued scientific and public interest in the construct and its implications for understanding and treating overeating behaviors and obesity. One pressing gap is the lack of targeted interventions for UPF addiction, which may result in more optimal clinical outcomes for this underserved population.
Topics: Humans; Food Addiction; Obesity; Fast Foods; Prevalence; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Brain-Gut Axis; Health Status Disparities; Food Handling; Food, Processed
PubMed: 38760652
DOI: 10.1007/s13679-024-00569-w -
Acta Psychologica Jul 2024This study aims to develop a valid and reliable tool to evaluate social network behavior in young adults.
INTRODUCTION
This study aims to develop a valid and reliable tool to evaluate social network behavior in young adults.
METHODS
To validate the Brief screening for Social Network Addiction Risk (BSNA), data from 776 Italian young adults (64.3 % of women) were collected. The suitability of the instrument was statistically assessed. Experts' opinions, item reliability, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and convergent validity were adopted to validate the BSNA items. Internal consistency coefficients were also calculated.
RESULTS
According to the statistical analyses, a 2-factor structure was confirmed. The two scales of BSNA assess behavior and motivation frame of social networks use. The second order model proved a global score of risk of social network addiction. Fit indices highlighted the high goodness of the model. Preliminary analyses of prevalence estimated that about 18 % of participants reported problematic Social Network use, which may overtime represent a marker of addictive behavior.
CONCLUSION
The final version of the BSNA, with 11 items evaluated on a 5-point Likert- scale, is a short but valid tool for measuring the risk of social network addiction. It represents a promising screening tool aimed to not overpathologize a behavior, but to furnish adequate insight into this phenomenon.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Young Adult; Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Reproducibility of Results; Social Networking; Italy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Psychometrics; Adolescent; Mass Screening; Factor Analysis, Statistical
PubMed: 38759582
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104323 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2024We all experience occasional self-control failures (SCFs) in our daily lives, where we enact behaviors that stand in conflict with our superordinate or long-term goals....
INTRODUCTION
We all experience occasional self-control failures (SCFs) in our daily lives, where we enact behaviors that stand in conflict with our superordinate or long-term goals. Based on the assumption that SCFs share common underlying mechanisms with addictive disorders, we tested the hypothesis that a generally higher susceptibility to daily SCFs predicts more addictive behavior, or vice versa.
METHODS
At baseline, 338 individuals (19-27 years, 59% female) from a community sample participated in multi-component assessments. These included among others (1) a clinical interview on addictive behaviors (quantity of use, frequency of use, DSM-5 criteria; = 338) and (2) ecological momentary assessment of SCFs ( = 329, 97%). At the 3-year and 6 year follow-up, participation rates for both assessment parts were 71% ( = 240) and 50% ( = 170), respectively.
RESULTS
Controlling for age, gender, IQ, and baseline addiction level, random-intercept cross-lagged panel models revealed that participants who reported more SCFs also showed pronounced addictive behavior at the between-person level, but we found no evidence of a predictive relationship at the within-person level over time.
DISCUSSION
A higher rate of SCFs is associated with more addictive behavior, while there is no evidence of an intraindividual predictive relationship. Novel hypotheses suggested by additional exploratory results are that (1) only addiction-related SCFs in daily life are early markers of an escalation of use and thus for addictive disorders and that (2) an explicit monitoring of SCFs increases self-reflection and thereby promotes the mobilization of cognitive control in response to goal-desire conflicts.
PubMed: 38751764
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1382483 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024The link between physical and mental health and screen time in adolescents has been the subject of scientific scrutiny in recent years. However, there are few studies...
BACKGROUND
The link between physical and mental health and screen time in adolescents has been the subject of scientific scrutiny in recent years. However, there are few studies that have evaluated the association between social network addiction (SNA) and metabolic risk in this population.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the association between SNA and anxiety symptoms with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Peruvian adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, who completed a Social Network Addiction Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item scale (GAD-2), between September and November 2022. A total of 903 participants were included in the study using a non-probability convenience sample. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were also collected. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the association between SNA and anxiety symptoms with MetS in a cross-sectional analysis.
RESULTS
Males were more likely to have MetS than females (OR = 1.133, = 0.028). Participants who were 16 years of age or older and those with excess body weight were 2.166, = 0.013 and 19.414, < 0.001 times more likely to have MetS, respectively. Additionally, SNA (OR = 1.517, = 0.016) and the presence of anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.596, < 0.001) were associated with MetS.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest associations between SNA, anxiety symptoms, and MetS among youth. However, more studies are needed to better understand this association and to deepen the possible clinical and public health implications.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Metabolic Syndrome; Peru; Child; Anxiety; Surveys and Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Social Networking; Behavior, Addictive
PubMed: 38751589
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1261133 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Apr 2024The anterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the cognitive and affective aspects of pain perception. Both endogenous and exogenous opioid signaling within the...
The anterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in the cognitive and affective aspects of pain perception. Both endogenous and exogenous opioid signaling within the cingulate mitigate cortical nociception, reducing pain unpleasantness. However, the specific functional and molecular identities of cells mediating opioid analgesia in the cingulate remain elusive. Given the complexity of pain as a sensory and emotional experience, and the richness of ethological pain-related behaviors, we developed a standardized, deep-learning platform for deconstructing the behavior dynamics associated with the affective component of pain in mice-LUPE (Light aUtomated Pain Evaluator). LUPE removes human bias in behavior quantification and accelerated analysis from weeks to hours, which we leveraged to discover that morphine altered attentional and motivational pain behaviors akin to affective analgesia in humans. Through activity-dependent genetics and single-nuclei RNA sequencing, we identified specific ensembles of nociceptive cingulate neuron-types expressing mu-opioid receptors. Tuning receptor expression in these cells bidirectionally modulated morphine analgesia. Moreover, we employed a synthetic opioid receptor promoter-driven approach for cell-type specific optical and chemical genetic viral therapies to mimic morphine's pain-relieving effects in the cingulate, without reinforcement. This approach offers a novel strategy for precision pain management by targeting a key nociceptive cortical circuit with on-demand, non-addictive, and effective analgesia.
PubMed: 38746090
DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.26.591113 -
PloS One 2024This study aimed to understand the current situation of paternal-maternal parenting style, life satisfaction, and internet addiction among college students and explored...
This study aimed to understand the current situation of paternal-maternal parenting style, life satisfaction, and internet addiction among college students and explored the influence of paternal-maternal parenting styles and life satisfaction on the internet addiction of male and female college students. A questionnaire survey was administered to 967 college students in China. Life satisfaction partially mediated the effect of the paternal-maternal parenting styles on the internet addiction among college students. However, this mediating role completely varied by gender, and the dimensions of parental styles also had different effects. For male college students, life satisfaction mediated the two dimensions of parenting styles (the father's emotional warmth, the father's overprotection) and internet addiction; the mother's emotional warmth directly related to the internet addiction. Among females, life satisfaction played a partial mediating role between two dimensions of parenting styles (the father's emotional warmth, the mother's interference and protection) and internet addiction. the father's punitiveness and over-involvement were directly related to female students' internet addiction. The study reveals that the mediating effect of life satisfaction on parenting styles and internet addiction among college students is influenced by gender, and the relationship between different parenting styles and internet addiction also varies. These findings indicate that paying attention to the role of the family, especially the parenting style of fathers, is crucial for preventing internet addiction in the future. Prevention and intervention should be treated differently for male and female students.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Parenting; Personal Satisfaction; Students; Young Adult; Internet Addiction Disorder; Surveys and Questionnaires; Adult; China; Universities; Fathers; Internet; Mothers; Adolescent; Sex Factors; Behavior, Addictive
PubMed: 38743694
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303554