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The Moderator Effect of Subthreshold Autistic Traits on the Relationship between Quality of Life and Internet Addiction.

Francesco SullaMichela CamiaMaristella ScorzaSara GiovagnoliRoberto PadovaniErika Benassi
Published in: Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) (2023)
People with sub-threshold autistic traits (SATs) are more prone to develop addictive behaviors such the ones linked to Internet abuse. The restrictions for anti-COVID-19 distancing measures encourage social isolation and, consequently, increase screen time, which may lead to Internet addiction (IA). However, a better quality of life (QoL) may have function as a protective factor against the development of IA. This study wanted to investigate the relation between SATs, QoL, and the overuse of the Internet in a group of 141 university students in the North of Italy. Participants completed a battery of tests. Results suggest that QoL is a predictive factor of IA and that the relationship between QoL and IA is significantly moderated by SATs. This could mean that SATs might represent a risk factor for IA, even when people have a better quality of life. Differences between female and male students are discussed, as well as possible implications for practice.
Keyphrases
  • health information
  • healthcare
  • coronavirus disease
  • sars cov
  • genome wide
  • primary care
  • mental health
  • social media
  • dna methylation
  • gene expression