BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Kristian Rotaru
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia; and Monash Business School, Monash University, Australia
Lei Ren
Military Medical Psychology Section, Logistics University of the People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, China; and China and Military Mental Health Services and Research Centre, Tianjin, China
Department of Psychiatry, University of Southampton, UK; and Southern Gambling Clinic and Specialist Clinic for Impulsive/Compulsive Disorders, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
Erynn Christensen
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia; and Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
Karyn Richardson
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Rico S. C. Lee
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
Rebecca Segrave
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Obsessive, Compulsive, and Anxiety Spectrum Research Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Amelia Lowe
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Chao Suo
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Reinout W. Wiers
Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, and Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Murat Yücel
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Lucy Albertella
BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Australia
Background Both impulsivity and compulsivity have been identified as risk factors for problematic use of the internet (PUI). Yet little is known about the relationship between impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms, limiting a more precise understanding of mechanisms underlying PUI. Aims The current study is the first to use network analysis to (a) examine the unique association among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, and (b) identify the most influential drivers in relation to the PUI symptom community. Method We estimated a Gaussian graphical model consisting of five facets of impulsivity, compulsivity and individual PUI symptoms among 370 Australian adults (51.1% female, mean age = 29.8, s.d. = 11.1). Network structure and bridge expected influence were examined to elucidate differential associations among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms, as well as identify influential nodes bridging impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms. Results Results revealed that four facets of impulsivity (i.e. negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance) and compulsivity were related to different PUI symptoms. Further, compulsivity and negative urgency were the most influential nodes in relation to the PUI symptom community due to their highest bridge expected influence. Conclusions The current findings delineate distinct relationships across impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI, which offer insights into potential mechanistic pathways and targets for future interventions in this space. To realise this potential, future studies are needed to replicate the identified network structure in different populations and determine the directionality of the relationships among impulsivity, compulsivity and PUI symptoms.
