Problematic Use of Internet Associates with Poor Quality of Life via Psychological Distress in Invididuals with ADHD

Chao-Ying Chen; Kuan-Ying Lee; Xavier C C Fung; Ji-Kang Chen; Yu-Chen Lai; Marc N Potenza; Kun-Chia Chang; Chuan-Yin Fang; Amir H Pakpour; Chung-Ying Lin

doi:10.2147/PRBM.S449369

Problematic Use of Internet Associates with Poor Quality of Life via Psychological Distress in Invididuals with ADHD

Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 Feb 9:17:443-455. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S449369. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Chao-Ying Chen^{1

2}, Kuan-Ying Lee³, Xavier C C Fung⁴, Ji-Kang Chen⁵, Yu-Chen Lai⁶, Marc N Potenza^{7

8

9

10

11

12}, Kun-Chia Chang^{13

14}, Chuan-Yin Fang⁶, Amir H Pakpour¹⁵, Chung-Ying Lin^{16

17

18

19

20}

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
² New Taipei City Tucheng Hospital (Chang Gung Medical Foundation), Department of Pediatric Internal Medicine, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
³ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
⁵ Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong.
⁶ Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, 621, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
⁸ Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA.
⁹ Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA.
¹⁰ Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
¹¹ Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
¹² Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
¹³ Department of General Psychiatry, Jianan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan.
¹⁴ Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
¹⁵ Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
¹⁶ Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
¹⁷ Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
¹⁸ Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
¹⁹ Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
²⁰ INTI International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, 71800, Malaysia.

Abstract

Background: Problematic use of internet (PUI) may have negative impacts on psychological distress and quality of life (QoL). This situation might be more profound in people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to poorer behavioral control and regulatory capacity. However, there is little evidence regarding mediated effects in the associations between PUI, psychological distress, and QoL in people with ADHD.

Aims: To investigate mediating effects of psychological distress in the associations of problematic smartphone use (PSPU), problematic use of social media (PUSM), and problematic gaming (PG) with QoL in individuals with ADHD.

Methods and procedures: PUI behaviors of participants with ADHD (n = 99) were assessed using the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and Internet Gaming Disorder-Short Form. Psychological distress was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale and QoL using the Kid-KINDL.

Outcomes and results: Psychological distress mediated the associations between PUI and different domains of QoL, except for self-esteem QoL. There were also positively direct effects between PG and physical QoL, PUSM and friends' QoL, and PSPU and physical QoL.

Conclusions and implications: PUI may associate with poor QoL in people with ADHD via psychological distress. Programs on reducing PUI for people with ADHD are needed.

Keywords: ADHD; addictive behavior; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; impulsive behavior; internet; psychological distress; quality of life.

Grants and funding

UL1 TR001863/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States