TY - JOUR
T1 - Problematic use of the internet in low- and middle-income countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review
AU - Gjoneska, Biljana
AU - Potenza, Marc N.
AU - Jones, Julia
AU - Sales, Célia M.D.
AU - Hranov, Georgi
AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt
N1 - © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. his is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Funding Information:
The publication of this work is kindly supported by the Hungarian National Consortium (Electronic Information Service National Programme, EISZ) . ZD’s contribution was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office ( KKP126835 ; K128614 ; K134807 ). MNP was supported by the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Children and Screens, and the National Institute of Mental Health RF1 MH128614 .
Funding Information:
ZD reports no conflicts of interest with respect to the content of this manuscript. ZD’s contribution was supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (KKP126835; K128614; K134807). The ELTE Eötvös Loránd University receives funding from the Szerencsejáték Ltd. to maintain a telephone helpline service for problematic gambling. ZD has also been involved in research on responsible gambling funded by Szerencsejáték Ltd. and the Gambling Supervision Board and provided educational materials for the Szerencsejáték Ltd’s responsible gambling program. The University of Gibraltar receives funding from the Gibraltar Gambling Care Foundation. ZD has been member of a WHO advisory group on the public health consequences of addictive behaviors. In this capacity he has been eligible for travel support from WHO or the host center to attend advisory group meetings but have not been remunerated for their work. However, these funding aren’t related to this study and the funding institution had no role or any influence on this publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - People from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represent large portions of the world population, often occupy less favorable living conditions, and typically suffer greater health risks, yet frequently receive little research and global health attention. The present study reviews emerging evidence on problematic use of the Internet (PUI) in LMICs prior/during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzed studies mainly focused on general properties of PUI in university students, problematic gaming in youth, or problematic use of social media in adults, registering higher prevalence estimates, as compared with earlier reports. Research mainly focused on initially affected regions and COVID-exposed populations. Overall, unfavorable circumstances, including poor social support, family relationships, and lifestyle tendencies/habits, may present potential risk for PUI in LMICs, likely exacerbated during the pandemic.
AB - People from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) represent large portions of the world population, often occupy less favorable living conditions, and typically suffer greater health risks, yet frequently receive little research and global health attention. The present study reviews emerging evidence on problematic use of the Internet (PUI) in LMICs prior/during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzed studies mainly focused on general properties of PUI in university students, problematic gaming in youth, or problematic use of social media in adults, registering higher prevalence estimates, as compared with earlier reports. Research mainly focused on initially affected regions and COVID-exposed populations. Overall, unfavorable circumstances, including poor social support, family relationships, and lifestyle tendencies/habits, may present potential risk for PUI in LMICs, likely exacerbated during the pandemic.
KW - problematic use of Internet
KW - MENTAL HEALTH
KW - low income countries
KW - scoping review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137396200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101208
DO - 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101208
M3 - Review article
C2 - 35919788
SN - 2352-1546
VL - 48
JO - Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
JF - Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
M1 - 101208
ER -