Effects of emotional working memory training on problematic internet use, inhibition, attention, and working memory among young problematic internet users: A randomized control study

Fatemeh Shahrajabian; Jafar Hasani; Mark D Griffiths; Mara Aruguete; Seyed Javad Emadi Chashmi

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107659

Effects of emotional working memory training on problematic internet use, inhibition, attention, and working memory among young problematic internet users: A randomized control study

Addict Behav. 2023 Jun:141:107659. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107659. Epub 2023 Feb 11.

Authors

Fatemeh Shahrajabian¹, Jafar Hasani², Mark D Griffiths³, Mara Aruguete⁴, Seyed Javad Emadi Chashmi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hasanimehr57@khu.ac.ir.
³ International Gaming Research Unit, Cyberpsychology Research Group, NTU Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, UK.
⁴ Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, USA.
⁵ Department of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 36805812
DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107659

Abstract

Problematic internet use (PIU) has been defined as an inability to control impulses to use the internet, and is associated with psychological, social, educational, and/or occupational problems. Considering the harmful effects of PIU, the present study evaluated a treatment intervention aimed at controlling PIU. A randomized control study investigated the effectiveness of emotional working memory training (eWMT) in improving inhibition, attention, and working memory among individuals with PIU in comparison with a placebo group. Young adults (N = 36) with PIU were either trained for 20 sessions in an n-back dual emotional task (eWMT; n = 18) or a feature matching task (placebo; n = 18). Results showed that 20 continuous sessions of eWMT significantly reduced the symptoms of PIU and improved participants' working memory, attention, and inhibition (compared to the placebo group). These preliminary findings suggest that eWMT can be considered a promising treatment to reduce PIU by improving individuals' cognitive and emotional functioning.

Keywords: Attention; Digital Interventions; Emotional working memory; Human Computer Interactions; Inhibition; Problematic internet use; Working memory.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Attention
Behavior, Addictive* / psychology
Cognitive Training
Humans
Internet
Internet Use
Memory, Short-Term
Young Adult