| Popis: |
With the recent diversification and universalization of the Internet, the Internet use rate has increased rapidly. A growing body of research suggests that Internet addiction, defined as pathologically preoccupied Internet use, which results in physical, psychological, social, and/or financial distress, has become a serious health and social problem worldwide. The catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) (Val158Met) is one of the candidate genes that have been studied to understand the various illnesses related to dopaminergic neurotransmission, including substance-related and addictive disorders (SRADs). However, little research has been conducted to examine the association between the COMT genotype and Internet addiction. This dissertation is composed of three papers. The first paper is a systematized review of the literature, which aims to synthesize the findings regarding the psychosocial risk factors of Internet addiction among undergraduate students. The second paper is also a systematized review of the literature, which aims to investigate the relationship between the COMT genotype and SRADs. The third paper is a cross-sectional descriptive study that aims to (a) identify issues related to the feasibility of conducting a study that involves the collection of saliva samples and web-based survey data with participants who are undergraduate students in South Korea and (b) describe the relationships among Internet addiction, the COMT genotype, and psychological variables (depressive symptoms, social anxiety, self-esteem, self-efficacy, stress, and coping strategy). The PI recruited 250 Korean undergraduate students from university campuses in Seoul and the Seoul metropolitan area. The study procedure, including the collection of saliva samples and the web-based survey, was found to be feasible. 54.8% of the participants were categorized as having Internet addiction. COMT (Val158Met) was not significantly associated with Internet addiction. However, Internet addiction was significantly associated with all investigated psychological variables. Studies should not be limited to only one genotype, but should include analysis of the multi-locus genetic profile that may be related to Internet addiction. Research that focuses on gene-gene interactions and gene-environmental interactions in terms of Internet addiction is needed. Future research is needed to continue the development of standardized assessment tools and feasible and effective interventions and treatments for Internet addiction. |
