About this Research Topic
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.
Considering the degree of harmful consequences that addiction can have on an individual's daily life, and the growing public engagement and presence of internet use in the modern era, it is crucial to address internet-related addictions and its consequence on mental health. This Research Topic welcomes contributions in the areas of online gambling, social networks, online shopping, cyberbullying, online pornography, and online video games. The following topics are welcomed into this collection, but not limited to:
• Frequency of excessive internet use concerning symptoms and development of mental health disorders (e.g., poor sleep quality, reduced academic performance, impaired self-esteem, problems with intimate and platonic relationships, psychological stress, life satisfaction, etc.,);
• Habits and behavior patterns of excessive internet users that increase the risk of developing mental health disorders (e.g., anti-social behavior, poor diet, lack of sleep due to addiction);
• Frequency of mental health symptoms and disorders among excessive internet users, and the compensatory role of it;
• Patterns and manner of internet use amongst all age groups (e.g., are internet-related addictions more common and/or severe amongst a specific age group?);
• Public awareness of internet-related addictions and their impact on mental health (e.g., the likelihood of individuals seeking support and do they know where to find it).
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.
Considering the degree of harmful consequences that addiction can have on an individual's daily life, and the growing public engagement and presence of internet use in the modern era, it is crucial to address internet-related addictions and its consequence on mental health. This Research Topic welcomes contributions in the areas of online gambling, social networks, online shopping, cyberbullying, online pornography, and online video games. The following topics are welcomed into this collection, but not limited to:
• Frequency of excessive internet use concerning symptoms and development of mental health disorders (e.g., poor sleep quality, reduced academic performance, impaired self-esteem, problems with intimate and platonic relationships, psychological stress, life satisfaction, etc.,);
• Habits and behavior patterns of excessive internet users that increase the risk of developing mental health disorders (e.g., anti-social behavior, poor diet, lack of sleep due to addiction);
• Frequency of mental health symptoms and disorders among excessive internet users, and the compensatory role of it;
• Patterns and manner of internet use amongst all age groups (e.g., are internet-related addictions more common and/or severe amongst a specific age group?);
• Public awareness of internet-related addictions and their impact on mental health (e.g., the likelihood of individuals seeking support and do they know where to find it).
Keywords: Social Networking, Online Shopping, Online Gambling, Internet-related addictions, Mental Health, Addicitons
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
