{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T05:47:24Z","timestamp":1790401644319,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,2]],"date-time":"2011-12-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1322784000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In the discussions for the future DSM-5, the Substance-Related Disorders Work Group has been addressing \u201caddiction-like\u201d behavioral disorders such as \u201cInternet addiction\u201d to possibly be considered as potential additions for the diagnostic system. Most research aiming to specify and define the concept of Internet addiction (or: Excessive\/Compulsive\/Problematic Internet Use\u2014PIU), takes its point of departure in conventional terminology for addiction, based in established DSM indicators. Still, it is obvious that the divide between characteristics of addiction and dimensions of new lifestyles built on technological progress is problematic and far from unambiguous. Some of these research areas are developing from the neurobiological doctrine of addiction as not being tied to specific substances. The concept of \u201cbehavioral addictions\u201d, based on biological mechanisms such as the reward systems of the brain, has been launched. The problems connected to this development are in this study discussed and reflected with data from a Swedish survey on Internet use (n = 1,147). Most Swedes (85%) do use the Internet to some degree. The prevalence of excessive use parallels other similar countries. Respondents in our study spend (mean value) 9.8 hours per week online at home, only 5 percent spend more than 30 hours per week. There are both positive and negative social effects at hand. Many respondents have more social contacts due to the use of Internet, but there is a decline in face-to-face contacts. About 40% of the respondents indicate some experience of at least one problem related to Internet use, but only 1.8% marked the presence of all problems addressed. Most significant predictors for problem indicators, except for age, relate to \u201ctime\u201d and time consuming activities such as gaming, other activities online or computer skills.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph8124488","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,3]],"date-time":"2011-12-03T12:47:52Z","timestamp":1322916472000},"page":"4488-4501","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":38,"title":["Extensive Internet Involvement\u2014Addiction or Emerging Lifestyle?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"8","author":[{"given":"Karin Helmersson","family":"Bergmark","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sociology & Addiction Research Group, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anders","family":"Bergmark","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Social Work & Addiction Research Group, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olle","family":"Findahl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"World Internet Institute, P.O. Box 975, S-80133 Gavle, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,12,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1177\/145507250902600406","article-title":"The diffusion of addiction to the field of MMORPGs","volume":"26","author":"Bergmark","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nord. Stud. Alcohol Drug."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.3109\/16066350008998987","article-title":"The globalization of addiction","volume":"6","author":"Alexander","year":"2000","journal-title":"Addict. Res."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Eklund, L., and Bergmark, K.H. Available online:http:\/\/www.medier\u00e5det.se\/Kunskapsbanken\/Ovrigt\/Foraldrars-kontroll-av-mediekonsumtion."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Available online:www.nordicom.gu.se\/common\/publ_pdf\/323_internetbarometer2009.pdf."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Findahl, O. (2010). 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