The exacerbation of depression, hostility, and social anxiety in the course of Internet addiction among adolescents: A prospective study

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry 2014-08, Vol.55 (6), p.1377-1384
• Main Authors: Ko, Chih-Hung, Liu, Tai-Ling, Wang, Peng-Wei, Chen, Cheng-Sheng, Yen, Cheng-Fang, Yen, Ju-Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Addictions; Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Behavior, Addictive - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Counseling; Depression; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - psychology; Fear & phobias; Female; Hostility; Humans; Incidence; Internet; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Phobia; Phobic Disorders - psychology; Prospective Studies; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Severity of Illness Index; Studies; Teenagers; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.05.003

Abstract Background In adolescent populations worldwide, Internet addiction is prevalent and is often comorbid with depression, hostility, and social anxiety of adolescents. This study aimed at evaluating the exacerbation of depression, hostility, and social anxiety in the course of getting addiction to Internet or remitting from Internet addiction among adolescents. Method This study recruited 2293 adolescents in grade 7 to assess their depression, hostility, social anxiety and Internet addiction. The same assessments were repeated one year later. The incidence group was defined as subjects classified as non-addicted in the first assessment and as addicted in the second assessment. The remission group was defined as subjects classified as addicted in the first assessment and as non-addicted in the second assessment. Results The incidence group exhibited increased depression and hostility more than the non-addiction group and the effect of on depression was stronger among adolescent girls. Further, the remission group showed decreased depression, hostility, and social anxiety more than the persistent addiction group. Conclusions Depression and hostility worsen in the addiction process for the Internet among adolescents. Intervention of Internet addiction should be provided to prevent its negative effect on mental health. Depression, hostility, and social anxiety decreased in the process of remission. It suggested that the negative consequences could be reversed if Internet addiction could be remitted within a short duration.