When Does a Lot Become Too Much? A Q Methodological Investigation of UK Student Perceptions of Digital Addiction
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Design
2.2. Q methodology
2.2.1. Description of Q Methodology
2.2.2. Sampling the Concourse and Creating the Q-Set for This Study
2.3. Additional Data: Background Characteristics of the Sample and Assessment of Digital Addiction
2.4. Study Population
2.5. Incentive
2.6. Data Collection and Analysis
2.7. Factor Extraction and Interpretation
3. Results
3.1. Viewpoint I: Digital Addiction Is Differentiated by the Negative Consequences Experienced by Addicted Individuals
‘Using digital devices and social media has become a part of individuals’ everyday lives, I think it would be unrealistic to try and deter people away from using these platforms… encouraging people to take time away from these platforms reminds people that they can function without them and it isn’t a necessity.’ (Female, PG, age 22 years, mild IAT)
‘It is not okay to be digitally addicted, and I think the issue is, is that most people aren’t aware that they have a ‘problem’ and that it needs to be ‘fixed” (Female, UG, age 21 years, moderate IAT)
‘This is a serious negative and life threatening impact. Anything which has this effect should be viewed as an addiction’ (Male, UG, age 21, mild IAT)
3.2. Viewpoint II: Digital Addiction Comes from Our Fascination with the Digital World
‘Everything is designed to take time and keep you coming back. Games in particular are guilty of this, for example candy crush refreshing ‘lives’ over a period of time… Obviously the internet is huge, there is something for everyone and it is so easily accessible’ (Male, UG, 18 years, IAT normal)
‘Just because an individual is obese doesn’t mean they’re going to be more likely to be digitally addicted… they may spend a lot of time online but that doesn’t mean they’re addicted… all genders can experience the same things online… both as likely to become digitally addicted…’ (Female, UG, age 19 years, IAT mild)
‘Phones/laptops/tablets are now an extension of our lives offline. We use them to communicate, to find and locate things, to play, to search for information, to read, to book appointments, etc.’ (Female, PG, age 23 years, IAT mild)
3.3. Viewpoint III: Digital Addiction Is an Attempt to Escape Real World Problems and Impacts Mental Health and Relationships
‘… relationships do suffer as a result of digital addiction… if addiction is significantly impacting on mental wellbeing and relationships then it is a problem that needs to be looked at… addiction has a negative impact on mental wellbeing irrespective of type’ (female, PhD, age 33 years, IAT mild)
‘Strongly disagree that females are more likely than males to become digitally addicted… would like to think both are equally likely to be addicted…’ (female, PhD, age 33 years, IAT mild)
3.4. Viewpoint IV: Digital Addiction Is Defined by the Amount of Time One Spends Online
‘Everyone now days is on their phone or iPad or laptop… there is no need for digital addiction. Everyone just needs other hobbies… someone who is digitally addicted can just change their lifestyle and should limit the time spent on the internet… it is a problem because it affects people’s actual physical lives’ (Female, UG, age 20 years, IAT normal)
‘… The majority of people use the internet a lot and are not addicted. Internet usage is inevitable for many occupations so many people are compulsive users. Addiction is not inevitable just through usage. There’s nothing inherently and universally addictive about the internet’ (Male, UG, 21 years, IAT normal)
3.5. Consensus Statements
4. Discussion
5. Study Strengths and Limitation
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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N | (%) | |
---|---|---|
Students | 33 | |
Age Mean (SD) | 21.85 | (3.51) |
Gender | ||
Female | 23 | (70) |
Male | 10 | (30) |
Current student status | ||
Undergraduate | 23 | (70) |
Postgraduate | 6 | (18) |
PhD | 4 | (12) |
Faculty | ||
Arts, humanities, and cultures | 11 | (30) |
Biological sciences | 2 | (5) |
Business | 6 | (16) |
Engineering and physical sciences | 7 | (19) |
Environment | 4 | (11) |
Medicine and health | 5 | (14) |
Social sciences | 2 | (5) |
Internet Addiction Test categorisation | ||
Normal internet use | 14 | (42) |
Mild impairment | 16 | (48) |
Moderate impairment | 3 | (9) |
Severe impairment | 0 | (0) |
Frequency of checking feeds | ||
Every 5 min | 3 | (9) |
Every 15 min | 2 | (6) |
Every 30 min | 9 | (27) |
Once an hour | 7 | (21) |
5–6 times a day | 10 | (30) |
3–4 times a day | 1 | (3) |
2 times a day | 1 | (3) |
No. | Statement | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spending excessive amounts of time on digital devices means you are a digital addict. | 0 | 0 | −3 * | 3 * |
2 | Being digitally addicted has a negative impact on your mental well-being. | 2 | 0 * | 4 | 4 |
3 | Digital addiction is caused by the sense of anticipation. Waiting for the next text, status update or reward hooks us in. | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
4 | The online world is addictive. | 1 * | 4 | −2 | 4 |
5 | Putting yourself at risk by looking at your digital device and not paying attention to the real world (e.g., texting when driving, tweeting while crossing the road) means you are a digital addict. | 4 * | −2 | −1 | −2 |
6 | Digital addiction is most problematic in China, Korea and Taiwan—digital addiction is not an issue in the United Kingdom. | −2 | −4 | −3 | −4 |
7 | Someone who is socially awkward is more likely to become digitally addicted because online platforms (such as fantasy games) makes them feel confident. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
8 | Feeling depressed because you can’t get online means you are a digital addict. | 2 | −2 * | 2 | 1 |
9 | People become digital addicts because the digital world allows them a private hidden place where they can do what they want. | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 * |
10 | If you are digitally addicted you don’t need professional help. Digital addicts can treat themselves. | −3 | −2 | −2 | 2 |
11 | Digital addiction is negatively affecting students’ academic life because they are choosing to go on their digital device rather than study. | −1 | −2 | 2 | 2 |
12 | Regardless of your age, if you engage with the online world you have the same chance of being digitally addicted. | −1 | −1 | 2 * | −2 |
13 | It is okay to be digitally addicted. It is not a problem that needs to be fixed. | −4 | −1 * | −4 | −4 |
14 | If you find yourself often losing track of time due to using your digital device you are a digital addict. | −3 | −3 | −1 | 0 |
15 | If you use the digital world to escape from your real life problems you are digitally addicted. | 0 | −1 | 2 | 0 |
16 | Digital addiction is a consequence of the endless supply of information and things to do online. | 0 | 3 * | −1 | 1 |
17 | If you lie or hide the amount of time you use your digital device then you are a digital addict. | −1 | −1 | 1 | −1 |
18 | Being unable to feel like you were at an event unless you posted it online is a sign of being digitally addicted (i.e., if you didn’t post about it you feel like you weren’t there). | 1 | −1 | 1 | −1 |
19 | You are more likely to be a digital addict if you already have an addictive personality. | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
20 | People who are isolated in the real world and who lack real world relationships become digitally addicted to recreate virtual relationships online. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
21 | The main reason people are addicted to the online world is because of the buzz you get (e.g., feel good when you receive likes, the good feeling from knowing you’re up to date on social media, the rush when you win an online game). | 2 | 1 | 0 | −3 * |
22 | Someone who needs to keep checking digital devices for fear of missing out is digitally addicted. | 1 | −1 | 1 | 0 |
23 | To prevent becoming digitally addicted people should regularly have a digital detox (i.e., go offline for a while). | 1 | −1 | 0 | 3 * |
24 | People who are digitally addicted are those with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. | 0 | −3 * | 0 | −1 |
25 | If you quit digital use and you experience anxiety then you are a digital addict. | 2 | 1 | 2 | −2 * |
26 | The main reason digital addiction is a problem is because of the physical consequences (e.g., backaches, weight gain, headaches, short sightedness). | −2 | −2 | −2 | −1 |
27 | Given all the benefits we gain from the online world it is a necessary evil that some people get digitally addicted. | −1 | 2 | 1 | −2 |
28 | Digitally addicted people feel more comfortable talking to people online than they do talking to people in the real world. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
29 | Being digitally addicted means that real life relationships will suffer because digital devices take priority over the people in front of them. | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
30 | You can’t define digital addiction by the amount of time spent online - what one considers addictive use depends on the person. | −2 | 3 | 3 | −3 |
31 | People become digitally addicted as a result of their desire to increase their online popularity (e.g., number of relationships they have online). | 1 | 1 | 0 | −2 |
32 | The digital world is a medium, peoples true addiction is what they seek online (e.g., Gambling, gaming, pornography). You can’t be addicted to the medium. | −1 | 0 | −2 | −1 |
33 | Females are more likely than males to become digitally addicted. | −2 | −3 | −4 | −1 |
34 | Looking at your digital device and not paying attention to the real world (e.g., walking down the street) means you are a digital addict. | −1 | −2 | −1 | −1 |
35 | Digital addiction is inevitable because digital devises are essential for daily tasks (e.g., banking, looking up medical information, booking appointments). | −4 * | 1 | 1 | 0 |
36 | If you feel aggressive when access to the digital world is taken away from you (e.g., losing signal, battery dies) then you are digitally addicted. | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
37 | People with mental health problems are more likely to be digitally addicted. | −1 | −3 | −3 | 1 |
38 | People become digitally addicted because the digital world (e.g., apps, games, content) is designed to be addictive. | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
39 | People don’t realise they are digitally addicted because using and having digital devices on you at all times is the social norm. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
40 | Being digitally addicted is not a disorder but is covering up other disorders - such as social anxiety or panic disorder. | −3 | −1 | −2 | 1 |
41 | People get digitally addicted because social media allows them to portray the perfect life online. | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
42 | People who have jobs that require them to use the digital world are more likely become digitally addicted even outside of work. | −2 | 0 | 0 | −2 |
43 | Digital addicts like to stay in contact with their digital device because it makes them feel they are more connected to the world. | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
44 | Digital addiction (e.g., an addiction to social media) is making people more egocentric and self-centred. | 2 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
45 | Digital addiction is because digital technology fascinates us. We are compelled to digitally explore and find out more. | −1 | 3 | −1 | 2 |
46 | If you are obese you are more likely to be digitally addicted. | −2 | −4 * | −2 | 0 * |
47 | If using your digital device has caused a substantial negative impact on your economic situation (e.g., job loss, in-game purchases) you are digitally addicted. | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
48 | A sign of a digital addiction is someone whose use of digital devices gets in the way of essential life activities (e.g., eating and sleeping). | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
49 | Needing to always have backup digital devices and/or charging devices with you in case the battery dies means you are a digital addict. | −2 | −2 | −3 | −3 |
50 | Being a compulsive user of the internet does not necessarily mean you are digitally addicted | 0 | 4 | −1 | 3 |
51 | Over time someone who is digitally addicted will need to spend longer online to get the same amount of satisfaction. | 0 | 0 | 1 | −2 * |
52 | Conforming to social pressure to always be online leads to digital addiction. | −3 | 1 * | −1 | −1 |
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Share and Cite
Turner, L.; Bewick, B.M.; Kent, S.; Khyabani, A.; Bryant, L.; Summers, B. When Does a Lot Become Too Much? A Q Methodological Investigation of UK Student Perceptions of Digital Addiction. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 11149. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111149
Turner L, Bewick BM, Kent S, Khyabani A, Bryant L, Summers B. When Does a Lot Become Too Much? A Q Methodological Investigation of UK Student Perceptions of Digital Addiction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(21):11149. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111149
Chicago/Turabian StyleTurner, Luke, Bridgette M. Bewick, Sarah Kent, Azaria Khyabani, Louise Bryant, and Barbara Summers. 2021. "When Does a Lot Become Too Much? A Q Methodological Investigation of UK Student Perceptions of Digital Addiction" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 21: 11149. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111149