TY - JOUR
T1 - Severity of behavioral addiction symptoms among young adults using non-prescribed sedatives/hypnotics
AU - Péter, Lea
AU - Paksi, Borbála
AU - Magi, Anna
AU - Eisinger, Andrea
AU - Kótyuk, Eszter
AU - Czakó, Andrea
AU - Griffiths, Mark D
AU - Demetrovics, Zsolt
AU - Andó, Bálint
PY - 2023/6
Y1 - 2023/6
N2 - Introduction: Young adulthood is considered a critical period in terms of non-medical use of sedatives/hypnotics (NMUSH) as well as different types of behavioral addictions (BAs). However, the relationship between these behaviors has received scarce attention among young adult samples. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between NMUSH and symptoms of distinct BAs among young adults. Materials and methods: Analyses were conducted based on the data of two large sample studies (including a representative sample) carried out with young adult samples. The following BAs were assessed: problematic internet use, problematic video gaming, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior, problematic mobile phone use, work addiction, and hair pulling. Symptoms of distinct BAs were analyzed in three groups formed based on the NMUSH: non-users, lifetime users, and current users. Results: The symptoms of problematic internet use, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior and work addiction were significantly more severe among lifetime and/or current non-medical sedative and hypnotic users, compared to the non-user participants. The symptoms of problematic mobile phone use were the most severe in the non-user group. Conclusions: The results suggest co-occurrence between NMUSH and distinct BAs among young adults. These findings draw attention to the need for preventive interventions for this high-risk population.
AB - Introduction: Young adulthood is considered a critical period in terms of non-medical use of sedatives/hypnotics (NMUSH) as well as different types of behavioral addictions (BAs). However, the relationship between these behaviors has received scarce attention among young adult samples. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between NMUSH and symptoms of distinct BAs among young adults. Materials and methods: Analyses were conducted based on the data of two large sample studies (including a representative sample) carried out with young adult samples. The following BAs were assessed: problematic internet use, problematic video gaming, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior, problematic mobile phone use, work addiction, and hair pulling. Symptoms of distinct BAs were analyzed in three groups formed based on the NMUSH: non-users, lifetime users, and current users. Results: The symptoms of problematic internet use, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior and work addiction were significantly more severe among lifetime and/or current non-medical sedative and hypnotic users, compared to the non-user participants. The symptoms of problematic mobile phone use were the most severe in the non-user group. Conclusions: The results suggest co-occurrence between NMUSH and distinct BAs among young adults. These findings draw attention to the need for preventive interventions for this high-risk population.
KW - Behavioral addictions
KW - Hypnotics
KW - Non-medical prescription drug use
KW - Sedatives
KW - Young adults
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149759812&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100485
DO - 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100485
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85149759812
SN - 2352-8532
VL - 17
JO - Addictive Behaviors Reports
JF - Addictive Behaviors Reports
M1 - 100485
ER -