Problematic use of the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic: Good practices and mental health recommendations

Biljana Gjoneska; Marc N Potenza; Julia Jones; Ornella Corazza; Natalie Hall; Célia M D Sales; Edna Grünblatt; Giovanni Martinotti; Julius Burkauskas; Anna Maria Werling; Susanne Walitza; Joseph Zohar; José M Menchón; Orsolya Király; Samuel R Chamberlain; Naomi A Fineberg; Zsolt Demetrovics

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152279

Problematic use of the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic: Good practices and mental health recommendations

Compr Psychiatry. 2022 Jan:112:152279. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2021.152279. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Authors

Biljana Gjoneska¹, Marc N Potenza², Julia Jones³, Ornella Corazza⁴, Natalie Hall⁵, Célia M D Sales⁶, Edna Grünblatt⁷, Giovanni Martinotti⁸, Julius Burkauskas⁹, Anna Maria Werling¹⁰, Susanne Walitza¹¹, Joseph Zohar¹², José M Menchón¹³, Orsolya Király¹⁴, Samuel R Chamberlain¹⁵, Naomi A Fineberg¹⁶, Zsolt Demetrovics¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, Macedonia. Electronic address: biljanagjoneska@manu.edu.mk.
² Department of Psychiatry and Child Study Centre, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Mental Health Centre, New Haven, CT, USA; Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Wethersfield, CT, USA. Electronic address: marc.potenza@yale.edu.
³ Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, UK. Electronic address: j.jones26@herts.ac.uk.
⁴ Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK; Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: o.corazza@herts.ac.uk.
⁵ Centre for Health Services and Clinical Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. Electronic address: n.hall4@herts.ac.uk.
⁶ Centre for Psychology, University of Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: celiasales@soutodacasa.org.
⁷ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: edna.gruenblatt@kjpd.uzh.ch.
⁸ Department of Clinical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK; Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, Clinical Sciences, University "Gabriele d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.martinotti@gmail.com.
⁹ Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania. Electronic address: julius.burkauskas@lsmuni.lt.
¹⁰ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: anna.werling@pukzh.ch.
¹¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and the ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: susanne.walitza@pukzh.ch.
¹² Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: joseph.zohar@sheba.health.gov.il.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Cibersam, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jmenchon@bellvitgehospital.cat.
¹⁴ Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: kiraly.orsolya@ppk.elte.hu.
¹⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK. Electronic address: srchamb@gmail.com.
¹⁶ University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK; Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK; University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.
¹⁷ Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar. Electronic address: zsolt.demetrovics@unigib.edu.gi.

Abstract

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accelerated spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus came jurisdictional limitations on mobility of citizens and distinct alterations in their daily routines. Confined to their homes, many people increased their overall internet use, with problematic use of the internet (PUI) becoming a potential reason for increased mental health concerns. Our narrative review summarizes information on the extent of PUI during the pandemic, by focusing on three types: online gaming, gambling and pornography viewing. We conclude by providing guidance for mental health professionals and those affected by PUI (with an outline of immediate research priorities and best therapeutic approaches), as well as for the general public (with an overview of safe and preventative practices).

Keywords: Addictive behaviors; COVID-19 pandemic; Online gambling; Online gaming; Online pornography; Problematic internet use.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Internet
Mental Health
Pandemics / prevention & control
SARS-CoV-2