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Internet abusers associate with a depressive state but not a depressive trait
Author(s) -
Huang Andrew Chih Wei,
Chen HuaiEn,
Wang YingChou,
Wang LeMin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12124
Subject(s) - psychology , psychiatry , trait , depression (economics) , mood , clinical psychology , the internet , world wide web , computer science , economics , macroeconomics , programming language
Aim The present study investigated three issues: (i) whether Internet abusers display a depressive state without a depressive trait; (ii) which symptoms are shared between Internet abuse and depression; and (iii) which personality characteristics were shown in Internet abusers. Methods Ninety‐nine male and 58 female participants aged 18–24 years were screened with the C hen I nternet A ddiction S cale. After screening, subjects were separated into the high‐ ( n = 73) and low‐risk ( n = 84) Internet abuser groups. Participants were respectively administered the C hinese version of the B eck D epression I nventory‐ II to assess a depressive state and the M innesota M ultiphasic P ersonality I nventory‐2 to assess a depressive trait. Results The present results showed that high‐risk Internet abusers exhibited a stronger depressive state than low‐risk Internet abusers in the B eck D epression I nventory‐ II . However, high‐risk Internet abusers didnot show a depressive trait in the M innesota M ultiphasic P ersonality I nventory‐2 compared to low‐risk Internet abusers. Therefore, high‐risk Internet abuse participants exhibited a depressive state without a depressive trait. Conclusions In a comparison of the symptoms of depression and Internet abuse, it was found that high‐risk Internet abuse participants shared some common behavioral mechanisms with depression, including the psychiatric symptoms of loss of interest, aggressive behavior, depressive mood, and guilty feelings. High‐risk Internet abuse participants may be more susceptible to a temporal depressive state but not a permanent depressive trait. The present findings have clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of Internet abuse.