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Internet addiction is characterized by excessive online usage, often leading to disrupted sleep patterns and impaired academic or occupational performance. The Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) assesses dependency through a series of questions, with individuals considered dependent if they affirm five or more. Cultural norms may mask the negative impacts of excessive Internet use, making it crucial to evaluate the detrimental effects rather than just the amount of time spent online.

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Internet addiction is characterized by excessive online usage, often leading to disrupted sleep patterns and impaired academic or occupational performance. The Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) assesses dependency through a series of questions, with individuals considered dependent if they affirm five or more. Cultural norms may mask the negative impacts of excessive Internet use, making it crucial to evaluate the detrimental effects rather than just the amount of time spent online.

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courseherow23
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While diagnosing Internet addiction is not a direct function of time spent using the

Internet, early studies suggested that those classified as dependent or addicted


online users were generally excessive about their online usage, spending
anywhere from forty to eighty hours per week using the Internet, with sessions that
could last up to twenty hours (Young, 1998, Greenfield 1999). Sleep patterns were
disrupted due to late night log-ins; addicts generally stayed up surfing until late in
the night, with the reality of having to wake up early for work or school. In extreme
cases, caffeine pills were used to facilitate longer Internet sessions. Such sleep
deprivation caused excessive fatigue, impairing academic or occupational
performance that also increased the risk of poor diet and exercise. Researchers
have likened Internet addiction to addictive syndromes similar to impulse-control
disorders on the Axis I Scale in the DSM and utilized various forms of DSM-IV based
criteria to define Internet addiction. Of all the references in the DSM, Pathological
Gambling was viewed as most akin to this phenomenon. The Internet Addiction
Diagnostic Questionnaire (IADQ) was developed as an initial screening instrument
utilized for diagnosis (Young, 1998). The following questionnaire conceptualized
patterns associated with Internet Addiction Disorder: Young- Internet Addiction
Diagnostic Questionnaire 1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about
previous online activity or anticipate next online session)? 2. Do you feel the need
to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve
satisfaction? 3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut
back, or stop Internet use? 4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable
when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use? 5. Do you stay online longer
than originally intended? 6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant
relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet? 7.
Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of
involvement with the Internet? 8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping
from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness,
guilt, anxiety, depression)? Figure 1 Young- Internet Addiction Diagnostic
Questionnaire Test-takers were to consider non-essential computer/Internet usage,
such as for non-business or non-academically related use, over a six-month period.
Subjects were considered ‘dependent’ when endorsing five or more of the
questions and at-risk for dependence when endorsing 3 – 4 questions (Durkee et
al., 2012). The IADQ was used in research examining prevalence of Internet
addiction across cultures. Researchers found The Internet Addiction Test 9
Cronbach alpha measures of internal consistency of between .60 (Li, O’Brien,
Snyder, & Howard, 2001) and .72 (Dowling & Quirk, 2009) Associated features of
Internet addiction, beyond those included in the IADQ, include regular excessive
Internet use, neglect of routine duties or life responsibilities, social isolation, and
being secretive about online activities, or suddenly demanding privacy from friends
or family when online. While the IADQ provides a means to conceptualize
pathological or addictive use of the Internet, these warning signs can often be
masked by cultural norms that encourage and reinforce online use. Even if a client
meets all the criteria, signs of abuse can be rationalized as, “I need this for my job”
or “It’s just a machine” when in reality the Internet is causing significant problems
in a user’s life. Thus, evaluations which focus on the negative impact Internet use
is causing to the user are more indicative of problematic use than those that focus
strictly on overall Internet use.

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