Trait anxiety and corresponding neuromarkers predict internet addiction: A longitudinal study.

Journal: Journal of behavioral addictions

Volume: 13

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of the Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. College of Computer and Information Science, College of Software, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

Abstract summary 

The high prevalence of internet addiction (IA) has become a worldwide problem that profoundly affects people's mental health and executive function. Empirical studies have suggested trait anxiety (TA) as one of the most robust predictors of addictive behaviors. The present study investigated the neural and socio-psychological mechanisms underlying the association between TA and IA.Firstly, we tested the correlation between TA and IA. Then we investigated the longitudinal influence of TA on IA using a linear mixed effect (LME) model. Secondly, connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) was employed to explore neuromarkers of TA, and we tested whether the identified neuromarkers of TA can predict IA. Lastly, stressful life events and default mode network (DMN) were considered as mediating variables to explore the relationship between TA and IA.A significant positive correlation between TA and IA was found and the high TA group demonstrated higher IA across time. CPM results revealed that the functional connectivity of cognitive control and emotion-regulation circuits and DMN were significantly correlated with TA. Furthermore, a significant association was found between the neuromarkers of TA and IA. Notably, the CPM results were all validated in an independent sample. The results of mediation demonstrated that stressful life events and correlated functional connectivity mediated the association between TA and IA.Findings of the present study facilitate a deeper understanding of the neural and socio-psychological mechanisms linking TA and IA and provide new directions for developing neural and psychological interventions.

Authors & Co-authors:  He Mao Qiu

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  3
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1556/2006.2023.00086
SSN : 2063-5303
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
DMN;IA;TA;control circuit;emotion-regulation circuit;functional connectivity;stressful life events
Study Design
Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Hungary