Look out, because the next Internet-based disorder is on its way — “Internet anxiety.”
A study in the upcoming May 2007 issue of Computers in Human Behavior investigated the relationship between Internet identification, Internet anxiety and Internet use. According to the study, the participants were 446 students (319 females and 127 males) from two universities in the UK and one university in Australia. Measures of Internet identification and Internet anxiety were developed.
Happily, the researchers reported that most students in the study were not anxious about using the Internet. I can’t imagine why anyone of student age would be anxious about using the Internet. But they did find 8% who met their criteria of “Internet anxiety.” Those who showed “Internet anxiety” also stayed away from using the Internet, not surpisingly. It’s not unlike those who are afraid of heights staying away from tall buildings, or those who are afraid of terrorists staying away from people who are carrying automatic weapons wearing bandanas.
The study also found that men identify with the Internet more than women, and that people who identify with the Internet spend more time using it. It’s kind of like, when you identify with some music, you go out and buy the album and listen to it more than people who don’t like the same kind of music. Astounding, no?
No.
Reference: Joiner, R. & Colleagues (2007). The relationship between Internet identification, Internet anxiety and Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(3), May 2007. pp. 1408-1420.
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2 Comments to
“What is Internet Anxiety?”
When used wisely and carefully the Internet is great tool and resource. It almost seems like life before the Internet should be defined as a prehistoric age, a time where “doing research” probably meant spending days in a row looking through book stacks at library basements. Mastery of Internet use can definitely be helpful in facilitating less stressful, more convenient, do it all from your own home lives, but of course, there is a dark side. Perhaps this Internet anxiety people demonstrate is rooted from the horrible news reports we so often hear about internet predators. The horror stories so common to the public about scams and deadly encounters with strangers can bring some to fear and become anxious when using the Internet. However, Internet anxiety should not be labeled a “disorder”. I think its more reasonable to inform people on how to take necessary precautions when using this resource than to solve the problem by classifying it a disorder. We have plenty of serious illnesses to worry about, Internet anxiety disorder seems like something that can very easily be treated.
The first thing a practically-minded person would think about is the danger of online predators and scams, but I expected internet anxiety to be addressed as some kind of social anxiety. One thing that can make someone anxious about using the internet is communicating with people via text. The absence of emotion and the ambiguity of tone can easily make any statement seem pretty hostile or awkward. Add to that the knowledge that everyone is “safe” from physical or social consequences.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 6 Feb 2007
