Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Yimiao Zhao; Zhendong Jiang; Suihuai Guo; Ping Wu; Qingdong Lu; Yingying Xu; Lin Liu; Sizhen Su; Le Shi; Jianyu Que; Yan Sun; Yankun Sun; Jiahui Deng; Shiqiu Meng; Wei Yan; Kai Yuan; Siwei Sun; Li Yang; Maosheng Ran; Thomas R. Kosten; John Strang; Yu Lu; Guofu Huang; Lin Lu; Yanping Bao; Jie Shi

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Yimiao Zhao, Zhendong Jiang, Suihuai Guo, Ping Wu, Qingdong Lu, Yingying Xu, Lin Liu, Sizhen Su, Le Shi, Jianyu Que, Yan Sun, Yankun Sun, Jiahui Deng, Shiqiu Meng, Wei Yan, Kai Yuan, Siwei Sun, Li Yang, Maosheng Ran, Thomas R. KostenJohn Strang, Yu Lu, Guofu Huang, Lin Lu^*, Yanping Bao, Jie Shi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 is still spreading worldwide and posing a threat to individuals’ physical and mental health including problematic internet use (PIU). A potentially high-risk group for PIU are those with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD symptoms), because of restrictions in their physical activity levels and engagement in computer diversions requiring only short attention spans.

Methods

We used convenience sampling in a cross-sectional survey of university students from 30 universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. We assessed PIU using the Internet Addiction Test and ADHD symptoms using the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale. Using logistic regression and linear regression analyses we adjusted for demographic, epidemic-related and psychological covariates in models of the association between ADHD symptoms and PIU.

Results

Among 11,254 participants, we found a 28.4% (95% CI, 27.5%-29.2%) prevalence of PIU, relatively higher than before the pandemic. In our final logistic regression model, participants with ADHD symptoms had approximately two times the risk for PIU (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.89-2.83). Similarly, individuals with depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD symptoms and feeling stress during the pandemic had a higher risk of PIU, while those exercising regularly during the pandemic had a lower risk.

Limitations

The cross-sectional design and reliance on internet based self-reports for ADHD symptoms and PIU assessments, without direct structured interviews for validation, are limitations.

Conclusions

The prevalence of PIU was high during COVID-19, and those people with ADHD symptoms and other mental illness symptoms appear to be at higher risk of PIU. Regular exercise may reduce that PIU risk and hence should be recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	220-227
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume	286
Early online date	16 Mar 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2021

Keywords

COVID-19
Problematic internet use
Symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity
University students

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10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

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Zhao, Y., Jiang, Z., Guo, S., Wu, P., Lu, Q., Xu, Y., Liu, L., Su, S., Shi, L., Que, J., Sun, Y., Sun, Y., Deng, J., Meng, S., Yan, W., Yuan, K., Sun, S., Yang, L., Ran, M., ... Shi, J. (2021). Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Affective Disorders, 286, 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

@article{62323091074348e8a5ce04ec1ffbfb44,

title = "Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic",

abstract = "BackgroundCOVID-19 is still spreading worldwide and posing a threat to individuals{\textquoteright} physical and mental health including problematic internet use (PIU). A potentially high-risk group for PIU are those with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD symptoms), because of restrictions in their physical activity levels and engagement in computer diversions requiring only short attention spans.MethodsWe used convenience sampling in a cross-sectional survey of university students from 30 universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. We assessed PIU using the Internet Addiction Test and ADHD symptoms using the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale. Using logistic regression and linear regression analyses we adjusted for demographic, epidemic-related and psychological covariates in models of the association between ADHD symptoms and PIU.ResultsAmong 11,254 participants, we found a 28.4% (95% CI, 27.5%-29.2%) prevalence of PIU, relatively higher than before the pandemic. In our final logistic regression model, participants with ADHD symptoms had approximately two times the risk for PIU (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.89-2.83). Similarly, individuals with depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD symptoms and feeling stress during the pandemic had a higher risk of PIU, while those exercising regularly during the pandemic had a lower risk.LimitationsThe cross-sectional design and reliance on internet based self-reports for ADHD symptoms and PIU assessments, without direct structured interviews for validation, are limitations.ConclusionsThe prevalence of PIU was high during COVID-19, and those people with ADHD symptoms and other mental illness symptoms appear to be at higher risk of PIU. Regular exercise may reduce that PIU risk and hence should be recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Problematic internet use, Symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity, University students",

author = "Yimiao Zhao and Zhendong Jiang and Suihuai Guo and Ping Wu and Qingdong Lu and Yingying Xu and Lin Liu and Sizhen Su and Le Shi and Jianyu Que and Yan Sun and Yankun Sun and Jiahui Deng and Shiqiu Meng and Wei Yan and Kai Yuan and Siwei Sun and Li Yang and Maosheng Ran and Kosten, {Thomas R.} and John Strang and Yu Lu and Guofu Huang and Lin Lu and Yanping Bao and Jie Shi",

note = "Funding Information: This study is supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2019YFA0706200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81761128036, 81821092 and 31900805), Special Research Fund of PKUHSC for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (no. BMU2020HKYZX008). Funding Information: John Strang is an NIHR Senior Investigator and is supported by the U.K. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, U.K. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078",

language = "English",

volume = "286",

pages = "220--227",

journal = "Journal of Affective Disorders",

issn = "0165-0327",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Zhao, Y, Jiang, Z, Guo, S, Wu, P, Lu, Q, Xu, Y, Liu, L, Su, S, Shi, L, Que, J, Sun, Y, Sun, Y, Deng, J, Meng, S, Yan, W, Yuan, K, Sun, S, Yang, L, Ran, M, Kosten, TR, Strang, J, Lu, Y, Huang, G, Lu, L, Bao, Y & Shi, J 2021, 'Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic', Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 286, pp. 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

TY - JOUR

T1 - Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Zhao, Yimiao

AU - Jiang, Zhendong

AU - Guo, Suihuai

AU - Wu, Ping

AU - Lu, Qingdong

AU - Xu, Yingying

AU - Liu, Lin

AU - Su, Sizhen

AU - Shi, Le

AU - Que, Jianyu

AU - Sun, Yan

AU - Sun, Yankun

AU - Deng, Jiahui

AU - Meng, Shiqiu

AU - Yan, Wei

AU - Yuan, Kai

AU - Sun, Siwei

AU - Yang, Li

AU - Ran, Maosheng

AU - Kosten, Thomas R.

AU - Strang, John

AU - Lu, Yu

AU - Huang, Guofu

AU - Lu, Lin

AU - Bao, Yanping

AU - Shi, Jie

N1 - Funding Information: This study is supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (no. 2019YFA0706200), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81761128036, 81821092 and 31900805), Special Research Fund of PKUHSC for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (no. BMU2020HKYZX008). Funding Information: John Strang is an NIHR Senior Investigator and is supported by the U.K. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, U.K. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/5/1

Y1 - 2021/5/1

N2 - BackgroundCOVID-19 is still spreading worldwide and posing a threat to individuals’ physical and mental health including problematic internet use (PIU). A potentially high-risk group for PIU are those with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD symptoms), because of restrictions in their physical activity levels and engagement in computer diversions requiring only short attention spans.MethodsWe used convenience sampling in a cross-sectional survey of university students from 30 universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. We assessed PIU using the Internet Addiction Test and ADHD symptoms using the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale. Using logistic regression and linear regression analyses we adjusted for demographic, epidemic-related and psychological covariates in models of the association between ADHD symptoms and PIU.ResultsAmong 11,254 participants, we found a 28.4% (95% CI, 27.5%-29.2%) prevalence of PIU, relatively higher than before the pandemic. In our final logistic regression model, participants with ADHD symptoms had approximately two times the risk for PIU (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.89-2.83). Similarly, individuals with depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD symptoms and feeling stress during the pandemic had a higher risk of PIU, while those exercising regularly during the pandemic had a lower risk.LimitationsThe cross-sectional design and reliance on internet based self-reports for ADHD symptoms and PIU assessments, without direct structured interviews for validation, are limitations.ConclusionsThe prevalence of PIU was high during COVID-19, and those people with ADHD symptoms and other mental illness symptoms appear to be at higher risk of PIU. Regular exercise may reduce that PIU risk and hence should be recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AB - BackgroundCOVID-19 is still spreading worldwide and posing a threat to individuals’ physical and mental health including problematic internet use (PIU). A potentially high-risk group for PIU are those with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD symptoms), because of restrictions in their physical activity levels and engagement in computer diversions requiring only short attention spans.MethodsWe used convenience sampling in a cross-sectional survey of university students from 30 universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. We assessed PIU using the Internet Addiction Test and ADHD symptoms using the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale. Using logistic regression and linear regression analyses we adjusted for demographic, epidemic-related and psychological covariates in models of the association between ADHD symptoms and PIU.ResultsAmong 11,254 participants, we found a 28.4% (95% CI, 27.5%-29.2%) prevalence of PIU, relatively higher than before the pandemic. In our final logistic regression model, participants with ADHD symptoms had approximately two times the risk for PIU (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.89-2.83). Similarly, individuals with depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD symptoms and feeling stress during the pandemic had a higher risk of PIU, while those exercising regularly during the pandemic had a lower risk.LimitationsThe cross-sectional design and reliance on internet based self-reports for ADHD symptoms and PIU assessments, without direct structured interviews for validation, are limitations.ConclusionsThe prevalence of PIU was high during COVID-19, and those people with ADHD symptoms and other mental illness symptoms appear to be at higher risk of PIU. Regular exercise may reduce that PIU risk and hence should be recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Problematic internet use

KW - Symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity

KW - University students

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102582662&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2021.02.078

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85102582662

SN - 0165-0327

VL - 286

SP - 220

EP - 227

JO - Journal of Affective Disorders

JF - Journal of Affective Disorders

ER -

Association of Symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity with Problematic Internet Use among University Students in Wuhan, China During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Keywords

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