Ömer Şenormancı1, Güliz Şenormancı2, Oya Güçlü3, Ramazan Konkan3. 1. Bülent Ecevit University School of Medicine psychiatry department, Zonguldak, Turkey. Electronic address: senorman_7@hotmail.com. 2. Zonguldak Atatürk State Hospital, Zonguldak, Turkey. 3. Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, İstanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although the Internet is used effectively in many areas of life, some users experience problems because of over-use due to a lack of control. The diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction include disruptions in family relationships, but adequate data on the attachment styles and family functioning associated with this condition are limited. This study aimed to investigate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction. METHOD: The sample included 30 male patients consecutively admitted to the Bakırköy Mental Health and Research Hospital Internet Addiction Outpatient Clinic, who were diagnosed in clinical interviews as having Internet addiction according to Young's (1998) criteria. Thirty healthy males who were matched with the experimental group in terms of sociodemographic characteristics were included as control subjects. Both groups provided sociodemographic data and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-r (ECR-r) and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). RESULTS: Patients with Internet addiction had higher BDI scores (P<.001) and higher attachment anxiety subscores on ECR-r (P<.001) compared with those in the control group. Patients with Internet addiction evaluated their family functioning as more negative and reported problems in every aspect addressed by the FAD. Scores on the FAD behaviour control, affective responsiveness, and problem-solving subscales (P<.05) and on the FAD communication, roles, and general functioning subscales (P<.001) were significantly higher in the patient compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Patients with Internet addiction have more anxious attachment styles as well as prominent disruptions in family functioning. Thus, it may be important to evaluate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction. Indeed, comprehensive treatment approaches including other family members may make important contributions to treatment success.
OBJECTIVE: Although the Internet is used effectively in many areas of life, some users experience problems because of over-use due to a lack of control. The diagnostic criteria for Internet addiction include disruptions in family relationships, but adequate data on the attachment styles and family functioning associated with this condition are limited. This study aimed to investigate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction. METHOD: The sample included 30 male patients consecutively admitted to the Bakırköy Mental Health and Research Hospital Internet Addiction Outpatient Clinic, who were diagnosed in clinical interviews as having Internet addiction according to Young's (1998) criteria. Thirty healthy males who were matched with the experimental group in terms of sociodemographic characteristics were included as control subjects. Both groups provided sociodemographic data and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-r (ECR-r) and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). RESULTS:Patients with Internet addiction had higher BDI scores (P<.001) and higher attachment anxiety subscores on ECR-r (P<.001) compared with those in the control group. Patients with Internet addiction evaluated their family functioning as more negative and reported problems in every aspect addressed by the FAD. Scores on the FAD behaviour control, affective responsiveness, and problem-solving subscales (P<.05) and on the FAD communication, roles, and general functioning subscales (P<.001) were significantly higher in the patient compared with the control group. CONCLUSION:Patients with Internet addiction have more anxious attachment styles as well as prominent disruptions in family functioning. Thus, it may be important to evaluate the attachment styles and family functioning of patients with Internet addiction. Indeed, comprehensive treatment approaches including other family members may make important contributions to treatment success.
Authors: Iris Reiner; Ana N Tibubos; Jochen Hardt; Kai Müller; Klaus Wölfling; Manfred E Beutel Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2017-04-04 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Vega González-Bueso; Juan J Santamaría; Daniel Fernández; Laura Merino; Elena Montero; Susana Jiménez-Murcia; Amparo Del Pino-Gutiérrez; Joan Ribas Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2018-05-28