TY - JOUR
T1 - A systematic review and meta-analysis of risky decision-making in specific domains of problematic use of the internet
T2 - Evidence across different decision-making tasks
AU - Müller, Silke M.
AU - Antons, Stephanie
AU - Wegmann, Elisa
AU - Ioannidis, Konstantinos
AU - King, Daniel L.
AU - Potenza, Marc N.
AU - Chamberlain, Samuel R.
AU - Brand, Matthias
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - This systematic review summarizes empirical evidence on risky decision-making (objective risk and ambiguity) in specific domains of problematic use of the internet (PUI) focusing on online addictive behaviors. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42020188452) PubMed search for PUI domains: gaming, social-network use, online buying-shopping, online pornography use, and unspecified PUI. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. Relevant studies were identified only for gaming (n = 19), social-network use (n = 8), unspecified PUI (n = 7), and online gambling (n = 1). The meta-analyses included 25 studies (2498 participants) comparing PUI and control groups regarding decision-making performance under objective risk and ambiguity. Across PUI domains, individuals with PUI compared to control participants showed more disadvantageous decision-making in measures of objective risk (g = −0.42 [−0.69, −0.16], p = .002) but not ambiguity (g = −0.22 [−0.47, −0.04], p = .096). PUI domain and gender were significant moderators. In the risk domain, effects were particularly present in gaming disorder, especially in exclusively male samples. Overall, the paucity of empirical studies in the considered area necessitates further research to identify probable gender- and disorder-specific cognitive relationships.
AB - This systematic review summarizes empirical evidence on risky decision-making (objective risk and ambiguity) in specific domains of problematic use of the internet (PUI) focusing on online addictive behaviors. We conducted a pre-registered (PROSPERO: CRD42020188452) PubMed search for PUI domains: gaming, social-network use, online buying-shopping, online pornography use, and unspecified PUI. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for quality assessment. Relevant studies were identified only for gaming (n = 19), social-network use (n = 8), unspecified PUI (n = 7), and online gambling (n = 1). The meta-analyses included 25 studies (2498 participants) comparing PUI and control groups regarding decision-making performance under objective risk and ambiguity. Across PUI domains, individuals with PUI compared to control participants showed more disadvantageous decision-making in measures of objective risk (g = −0.42 [−0.69, −0.16], p = .002) but not ambiguity (g = −0.22 [−0.47, −0.04], p = .096). PUI domain and gender were significant moderators. In the risk domain, effects were particularly present in gaming disorder, especially in exclusively male samples. Overall, the paucity of empirical studies in the considered area necessitates further research to identify probable gender- and disorder-specific cognitive relationships.
KW - Addictive behavior
KW - Compulsive behavior
KW - Decision-making
KW - Gambling task
KW - Gaming disorder
KW - Impulsive behavior
KW - Internet addiction
KW - Social networks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162149940&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105271
DO - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105271
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37277009
AN - SCOPUS:85162149940
SN - 0149-7634
VL - 152
JO - NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
JF - NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
M1 - 105271
ER -