Internet addiction Especially young men endangered

Internet addiction: Especially young men at risk

03/10/2014

Current research has shown that people who are addicted to the Internet also often find comorbidities such as depression, anxiety disorders or ADHD. Above all, single and unemployed men are at risk.

Concomitant diseases of Internet addicts
People who are addicted to the internet often also have comorbidities. Especially depressive disorders, anxiety disorders or ADHD (attention deficit syndrome) are common here. This finding was the result of an investigation at the LWL Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the Ruhr University in Bochum. The doctors around Dr. med. Bert te Wildt collected the so-called comorbidity profile of 25 Internet addicts and found that each patient had at least one concomitant disease.

Similar to alcoholics
For comparison, the scientists also examined 25 alcohol addicts and found that their comorbidity profile looked very similar. However, only one in two patients suffered from another disease. „The results illustrate the great importance of comorbidity for internet addiction“, said Wildt loudly „idw“. He also emphasized: „Of course, this is not a one-way street, the diseases condition each other.“ The researcher found in another study, however, evidence that the Internet addiction in some of the affected persons could be due to similar stored personality structures.

Single and unemployed men at risk
A study funded by the Federal Ministry of Health came to the conclusion last year that around 560,000 people between the ages of 14 and 65 are internet dependent in Germany. 13.6 percent are at risk. The most widespread is the online gambling addiction. In addition, most sufferers spend a lot of time on social networks. Cybersex also plays a significant role. Both the Bochum and other scientists, however, assume a relatively high number of unreported cases. According to a study, single and unemployed men are particularly vulnerable.

Outsiders point to addiction
It is not always easy to determine from when the Internet use is morbid. Not everyone who likes to spend their time at the computer is addicted. However, if sufferers are no longer able to control their own behavior and feel severe deficiency symptoms, inner turmoil or aggression, for example because of tasks at school or at work, this could indicate a dependency. In many cases, it is apparently outsiders who point to the addictive behavior. (Ad)