Interference with Processing Negative Stimuli in Problematic Internet Users: Preliminary Evidence from an Emotional Stroop Task

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License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_6FC53812238C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Interference with Processing Negative Stimuli in Problematic Internet Users: Preliminary Evidence from an Emotional Stroop Task
Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Author(s)
Schimmenti Adriano, Starcevic Vladan, Gervasi Alessia, Deleuze Jory, Billieux Joël
ISSN
2077-0383
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
7
Number
7
Pages
177
Language
english
Abstract
Although it has been proposed that problematic Internet use (PIU) may represent a
dysfunctional coping strategy in response to negative emotional states, there is a lack of experimental
studies that directly test how individuals with PIU process emotional stimuli. In this study, we used
an emotional Stroop task to examine the implicit bias toward positive and negative words in a sample
of 100 individuals (54 females) who also completed questionnaires assessing PIU and current affect
states. A significant interaction was observed between PIU and emotional Stroop effects (ESEs),
with participants who displayed prominent PIU symptoms showing higher ESEs for negative words
compared to other participants. No significant differences were found on the ESEs for positive
words among participants. These findings suggest that PIU may be linked to a specific emotional
interference with processing negative stimuli, thus supporting the view that PIU is a dysfunctional
strategy to cope with negative affect. A potential treatment implication for individuals with PIU
includes a need to enhance the capacity to process and regulate negative feelings.
Keywords
Internet addiction, emotional Stroop, negative emotions, behavioral addictions, problematic Internet use
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
10/01/2020 10:30
Last modification date
13/01/2020 17:58
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