On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter?
Abstract Background Studies shows that there is a relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms, especially inattention. A study found that there is a unique relation between each core ADHD symptom and different types of internet activities. Another study found that deficits in inhibitor...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23040-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850225705251504128 |
|---|---|
| author | Tuba Aydın Benjamin A. Parris Gizem Arabacı Marina Kilintari Jacqui Taylor |
| author_facet | Tuba Aydın Benjamin A. Parris Gizem Arabacı Marina Kilintari Jacqui Taylor |
| author_sort | Tuba Aydın |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Studies shows that there is a relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms, especially inattention. A study found that there is a unique relation between each core ADHD symptom and different types of internet activities. Another study found that deficits in inhibitory control moderate the relationship between internet addiction and inattention. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how specific online activities might modify the relationship between inattention, internet addiction and inhibitory control. Methods 205 participants (79 females,126 males) between 18 and 49 years old took part in the study from a community sample. They completed the demographic information form, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom (ASRS-v1.1) Checklist, and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) online. Then, they performed the Stroop Task. Results Consistent with previous research we show that inattention predicts internet addiction, and that this relationship is moderated by inhibitory control ability; the relationship between inattention and internet addiction strengthens as executive function impairment increases. Conclusions These results indicate that ADHD symptoms and executive function impairments interact in a way that leads to real-life consequences, even when there is no relationship between those symptoms and executive function performance. Furthermore, we show that no single online activity is responsible for the relationship between inattention and internet addiction, nor does inhibitory control ability determine which online activity participants engage in. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-58bd99c08f654ed891ea34a76fa74246 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-58bd99c08f654ed891ea34a76fa742462025-08-20T02:05:16ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-06-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23040-4On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter?Tuba Aydın0Benjamin A. Parris1Gizem Arabacı2Marina Kilintari3Jacqui Taylor4Department of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth UniversityDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth UniversityAbstract Background Studies shows that there is a relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms, especially inattention. A study found that there is a unique relation between each core ADHD symptom and different types of internet activities. Another study found that deficits in inhibitory control moderate the relationship between internet addiction and inattention. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how specific online activities might modify the relationship between inattention, internet addiction and inhibitory control. Methods 205 participants (79 females,126 males) between 18 and 49 years old took part in the study from a community sample. They completed the demographic information form, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Symptom (ASRS-v1.1) Checklist, and Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) online. Then, they performed the Stroop Task. Results Consistent with previous research we show that inattention predicts internet addiction, and that this relationship is moderated by inhibitory control ability; the relationship between inattention and internet addiction strengthens as executive function impairment increases. Conclusions These results indicate that ADHD symptoms and executive function impairments interact in a way that leads to real-life consequences, even when there is no relationship between those symptoms and executive function performance. Furthermore, we show that no single online activity is responsible for the relationship between inattention and internet addiction, nor does inhibitory control ability determine which online activity participants engage in.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23040-4ADHDInattentionInternet addictionInhibitionOnline activities |
| spellingShingle | Tuba Aydın Benjamin A. Parris Gizem Arabacı Marina Kilintari Jacqui Taylor On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? BMC Public Health ADHD Inattention Internet addiction Inhibition Online activities |
| title | On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? |
| title_full | On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? |
| title_fullStr | On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? |
| title_short | On the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD symptoms in adults: does the type of online activity matter? |
| title_sort | on the relationship between internet addiction and adhd symptoms in adults does the type of online activity matter |
| topic | ADHD Inattention Internet addiction Inhibition Online activities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23040-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tubaaydın ontherelationshipbetweeninternetaddictionandadhdsymptomsinadultsdoesthetypeofonlineactivitymatter AT benjaminaparris ontherelationshipbetweeninternetaddictionandadhdsymptomsinadultsdoesthetypeofonlineactivitymatter AT gizemarabacı ontherelationshipbetweeninternetaddictionandadhdsymptomsinadultsdoesthetypeofonlineactivitymatter AT marinakilintari ontherelationshipbetweeninternetaddictionandadhdsymptomsinadultsdoesthetypeofonlineactivitymatter AT jacquitaylor ontherelationshipbetweeninternetaddictionandadhdsymptomsinadultsdoesthetypeofonlineactivitymatter |