Internet addiction, Adición a internet

Abstract

The integration of information and communication technologies in daily life has facilitated human life, but it has also produced new problems derived from maladaptive or addictive use. In the case of young populations, it has been observed a few cases seem to present a problem of abuse or addiction to the internet, regardless of the device (for example, problematic mobile phone use). For this reason, in 1996 the Internet addiction construct was coined in the field of psychiatry which, although it has not yet been formally recognized, it has evolved into more specific terms depending on the use of technologies and applications which can generate addictive behaviours. In this Spanish monograph, six empirical works are described which show the scope of these addictive problems and their nature: problematic mobile phone use (e.g., nomophobia, sexting), Facebook addictive use; as well as the underlying cognitive and emotional mechanisms of these problematic uses, their risk and protective factors, and even prevention strategies. After 25 years of psychological research, the problems arising from the misuse of these technologies is still under debate, as remains a clinical entity and the need to develop better understanding about what these problems are, how to detect them in most vulnerable groups, and how to treat or prevent them in order to minimize the possible harm they may cause. In summary, this monograph includes details of how internet addiction is presented, seems to be developed, can be measured, and intervened in countries of southern Europe and Latin America.