Cue-Induced Craving for Internet Among Internet Addicts

Authors

Geng-Feng Niu, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Xiao-Jun Sun, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; Children's Digital Media Center, UCLA/CSULA, USA.
Kaveri Subrahmanyam, University of North FloridaFollow
Fan-Chang Kong, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Yuan Tian, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Zong-Kui Zhou, Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China; School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China. Electronic address: zhouzk@mail.ccnu.edu.cn.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2016

Abstract

Intense craving is a core feature of addictive disorder, and cue-induced craving is believed to be a key factor in the maintenance and relapse of addictive behaviors. With the rapid development of the Internet, Internet addiction has become a widespread behavioral problem accompanied by many negative effects. This study used the cue-reactivity paradigm to examine cue-induced craving for the Internet among Internet addicts and non-addicts. Participants were exposed to Internet-related words, and asked to report their craving for the Internet. Results indicated that Internet-related words aroused cue-induced craving for the Internet among both Internet addicts and non-addicts; however, the craving was more intense among Internet addicts. These results suggest that craving may not be a unipolar, all or none state found only in addicts, but may also be present among non-addicts. They indicate that Internet-related words may be able to induce craving for the Internet, and that Internet addiction and other addictions may share similar underlying mechanisms. This finding has important implications for designing interventions for Internet addiction.

Publication Title

Addictive Behaviors

Volume

62

First Page

1

Last Page

5

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.012

PubMed ID

27305097

E-ISSN

1873-6327

Language

eng

Citation Information

Niu, G. F., Sun, X. J., Subrahmanyam, K., Kong, F. C., Tian, Y., & Zhou, Z. K. (2016). Cue- induced craving for Internet among Internet addicts. Addictive Behaviors, 62, 1-5.