Citation

Ko CH, Hsiao S, Liu GC, Yen JY, Yang MJ, Yen CF. Psychiatry Res. 2010; 175(1-2): 121-125.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 100 Tzyou 1st Rd. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 807; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shi-Chuan 1st Rd. Kaohsiung City, Taiw

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.psychres.2008.10.004

PMID

19962767

Abstract

This study aimed to identify risk factors involved in Internet addiction. A total of 216 college students (132 males and 84 females) were given the following: (a) the diagnostic interview for Internet addiction, (b) the Iowa gambling test for decision-making deficits, (c) the Balloon Analog Risk Test (BART) to assess risk-taking tendencies, and (d) the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) for personality characteristics. The results revealed the following: (a) 49% of males and 17% of females were addicted, (b) the addicted students tended to select more advantageous cards in the last 40 cards of the Iowa test, indicating better decision making, (c) no difference was found for the BART, indicating that addicted subjects were not more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors and (d) TPQ scores showed lower reward dependence (RD) and higher novelty seeking (NS) for the addicts. Their higher performance on the Iowa gambling test differentiates the Internet addiction group from the substance use and pathologic gambling groups that have been shown to be deficient in decision making on the Iowa test. Thus, students that fit these characteristics should be closely monitored to prevent Internet addiction.

Language: en