Campus Struggles with a Fresh Addiction: Problematic Internet Usage (PIU)

In a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Susan M. Snyder, researchers examined the relationship between Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and its effects on family relationships among university students at UNC Chapel Hill [1]. The study, which focused on undergraduate and graduate students who spent more than 25 hours a week on the Internet and reported experiencing at least one health, relationship, or emotional problem due to PIU, is the first of its kind to explore this topic in the U.S.

The research participants were categorised as Internet addicts, with half of them fitting this description. They described their own PIU, as well as their parents' excessive use, such as constantly checking email for work or regularly using computers, phones, or iPads on social media or browsing.

The study identified three key themes: family connectedness, family conflict/disconnection, and Internet overuse among other family members. Positive connections included using the Internet to maintain family relationships, such as through Skype, Facebook, or email. However, negative consequences included family relationships becoming disconnected or conflicted due to excessive use.

Some participants expressed frustration at the lack of boundaries or rules in place for younger siblings or other relatives who overuse their devices. One participant was the only one in their family with PIU, while a few others shared similar experiences.

The study used focus groups to discuss shared experiences or knowledge regarding PIU. The research followed rigorous approaches to ensure the best possible data and achieved data saturation, meaning no new themes were discovered in the final focus group.

The findings suggest that university students with PIU may have difficulty addressing their PIU due to requirements to use the Internet for classes via online assignments, online courses, and materials accessed online. This highlights the complex nature of PIU among this population, as it is considered a behavioral addiction.

PIU is associated with several negative mental health problems such as depression, ADHD, hostility, social phobias, problematic alcohol use, self-injurious behavior, and trouble sleeping. In some cases, the consequences of PIU can be severe, with small children getting addicted to their devices and individuals struggling to reduce their Internet use, be preoccupied with the Internet, or lie to conceal their use.

For instance, one participant's cousin has an Internet gaming addiction that has impaired his vision and he is unable to stop playing. This underscores the importance of understanding and addressing PIU among university students, as well as its impact on family relationships.

In conclusion, the evidence indicates a strong, bidirectional relationship where problematic internet use both arises from and contributes to mental health problems in university students. This relationship highlights the importance of interventions addressing both PIU behaviors and underlying psychological distress in this population.

[1] Snyder, S. M., O'Brien, J. E., Li, W., & Howard, M. O. (2020). Problematic internet use and its effects on family relationships among U.S. university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 120, 105559. [2] Kim, J., & Kim, S. (2017). The prevalence and correlates of problematic internet use among university students in South Korea. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(12), 685-690. [3] Li, L., & Chi, Y. (2015). The relationship between problematic internet use and mental health among Chinese medical students. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4(3), 353-360.

The study, which revealed that Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is associated with several negative mental health problems, proposed that addressing PIU in university students is crucial to maintain healthy family relationships, as PIU can impair mental health and cause substance addictions, such as internet gaming addiction, like the case of one participant's cousin.
Researchers found that PIU among university students not only arises from mental health problems but also contributes to them, emphasizing the importance of interventions that address both PIU behaviors and underlying psychological distress in university students, particularly in terms of health-and-wellness and mental-health.