While addictions to substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs have been extensively investigated, interest
has been growing in potential non-substance-related addictive behaviors (e.g., excessive gambling, buying
or playing video games). In the current study, we sought to determine the prevalence and characteristics of a
wide range of addictive behaviors in a general population sample and to identify reliable subgroups of individuals
displaying addictive behaviors.
Seven hundred seventy participants completed an online survey. The survey screened for the presence and characteristics
of the main recognized substance and behavioral addictions (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, other drugs,
gambling, compulsive shopping, intensive exercise, Internet and mobile phone overuse, intensive work involvement,
and overeating) in a three-month period. Key aspects of addictionweremeasured for each reported behavior,
including negative outcomes, emotional triggers (positive and negative emotional contexts), search for
stimulation or pleasure, loss of control, and cognitive salience.
Latent class analysis allowed us to identify three theoretically and clinically relevant subgroups of individuals. The
first class groups problematic users, i.e., addiction-prone individuals. The second class groups at-risk users who
frequently engage in potentially addictive behaviors to regulate emotional states (especially overinvolvement
in common behaviors such as eating, working, or buying). The third class groups individuals who are not
prone to addictive behaviors.
The existence of different groups in the population sheds new light on the distinction between problematic and
non-problematic addiction-like behaviors.