Excessive Internet Use and its Impact on Mental Health

Download or read book Excessive Internet Use and its Impact on Mental Health written by Aleksandar Višnjić and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2024-09-18 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The various forms of internet use, including social networking, online shopping, gambling, and gaming are a product of the time in which we live and represent an integral part of how we conduct and engage in social interaction. Internet platforms are used daily providing people with the ability to connect, and efficiently exchange important information, as well as provide educational functions and raise awareness/support of problems faced by individuals and societies globally. However, excessive use of internet-related content has shown a significant association with addictive behavior which could have serious repercussions on an individual’s mental health. Where it is generally accepted that a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors contributes to the pathophysiology of addiction, the ongoing debate remains as to whether certain excessive behaviors should be classified as addictions, including social networking addiction. Although any internet-related addiction is not specifically identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), it shares a common underlying etiological framework with other (substance or behavioral) addictions.