Comparison of brain functions between healthy participants and methamphetamine users with various addiction histories:Data analysis based on EEG and fNIRS

The electroencephalogram(EEG)rhythm and functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS)activation levels have not been compared between a healthy control group(HCG)and methamphetamine user group(MUG)with different addiction histories.This study used 64-electrode EEG and fNIRS to conduct an experiment that analyzed the resting and craving states.The EEG and fNIRS data of 56 participants were collected,including 14 healthy participants,14 methamphetamine users with an addiction history of 0.5–5 years,14 users with an addiction history of 5–10 years,and 14 users with an addiction history of 10–15 years.Isolated effective coherence(iCoh)within the brain network was used to process the EEG data.Statistical analysis was performed to compare differences in iCoh among the delta,theta,alpha,beta,and gamma bands and explore oxyhemoglobin activation levels in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex,dorsolateral prefrontal cortex,orbitofrontal cortex,and frontopolar prefrontal cortex(FPC)of the control group.Finally,the Kmeans,Gaussian mixed model(GMM),linear discriminant analysis(LDA),support vector machine(SVM),Bayes,and convolutional neural networks(CNN)algorithms were used to classify methamphetamine users based on drug and neutral images.A 3-class accuracy was achieved.Changes in EEG and fNIRS activation levels of HCG and MUG with varied addiction histories were demonstrated.

Microglia in drug addiction:A perspective from neuroimmunopharmacology

Drug addiction refers to a state of dependence that arises from habitual drug intake and can result in specific withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.The most commonly abused substances include psychostimulants,cannabinoids,and opioids.When drugs are consumed,they stimulate the release of dopamine,a neurotransmitter crucial for the pleasure and reward centers of the brain.With repeated drug use,the brain undergoes various changes,leading to tolerance,dependence,and addiction(Lüscher et al.,2020).The mechanisms involved in drug addiction are highly complex and involve diverse cell types within the brain.

Validity,Reliability,and Measurement Invariance of the Thai Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

Background:In recent years,there has been increased research interest in both smartphone addiction and social media addiction as well as the development of psychometric instruments to assess these constructs.However,there is a lack of psychometric evaluation for instruments assessing smartphone addiction and social media addiction in Thailand.The present study evaluated the psychometric properties and gender measurement invariance of the Thai version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale(SABAS)and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale(BSMAS).Method:A total of 801 Thai university students participated in an online survey from January 2022 to July 2022 which included demographic information,SABAS,BSMAS,and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form(IGDS9-SF).Results:Confirmatory Factor Analyses(CFAs)found that both the SABAS and BSMAS had a one-factor structure.Findings demonstrated adequate psychometric properties of both instruments and also supported measurement invariance across genders.Moreover,scores on the SABAS and BSMAS were correlated with scores on the IGDS9-SF.Conclusion:The results indicated that the SABAS and BSMAS are useful psychometric instruments for assessing the risk of smartphone addiction and social media addiction among Thai young adults.

Relationships among Sedentary Time,Electronic Product Addiction,and Depression in Adolescents during the COVID-19 Epidemic:A Cross-Lagged Study

Objective:This study was conducted to explore the relationships among sedentary behavior(SB),electronic product addiction(EPA),and depression(D)in adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods:A total of 604 adolescents(including 309 girls and 295 boys aged 12-18)were selected from Qufu City,Shandong Province,China for three rounds of investigation.The model was constructed using AMOS 23.0 software,and cross-lagged analysis was conducted.Results:SB at T1 can significantly positively predict SB and EPA at T2(p<0.05).EPA at T1 can significantly positively predict SB and D at T2(p<0.05).Physical activity level and SB at T2 can significantly predict SB and EPA at T3(p<0.05).EPA at T2 can significantly predict SB,EPA,and D at T3(p<0.05).Conclusions:SB and EPA are predictive factors for D.Moreover,SB can significantly positively predict D and indirectly predict D through the mediating effect of EPA.

Associations between Social Media Use and Sleep Quality in China:Exploring the Mediating Role of Social Media Addiction

Sleep quality is closely linked to people’s health,and during the COVID-19 pandemic,the sleep patterns of residents in China were notably poor.The lockdown in China led to an increase in social media use,prompting questions about its impact on sleep.Therefore,this study investigates the association between social media use and sleep quality among Chinese residents during the COVID-19 outbreak,highlighting the potential mediating role of social media addiction.Data were collected via questionnaires through a cross-sectional survey with 779 valid responses.Variance analysis was used to test for differences in social media use among different demographic variables.Bivariate correlation analysis was employed to explore the relationships between variables,while regression analysis investigated the correlations between various media factors and sleep quality.Additionally,Bootstrap sampling was utilized to analyze the potential mediating influence of social media addiction in the relationship between social media use and sleep.The study's findings reveal a significant correlation between social media use,particularly before bedtime,and sleep quality(p<0.01),with pre-sleep activity notably linked to poorer overall sleep scores(β=0.141,p=0.004).Although the daily use of social media did not directly impact most individuals’sleep quality,specific platforms like news apps,short video apps,dating apps,and content community platforms were associated with higher levels of social media addiction,subsequently negatively affecting sleep quality.Specifically,the use of news apps(B=0.068,95%CI[0.000,0.019]),short video apps(B=0.112,95%CI[0.001,0.031]),dating apps(B=0.147,95%CI[0.000,0.028]),and content community platforms(B=0.106,95%CI[0.001,0.028])was found to increase the risk of social media addiction,subsequently leading to adverse effects on sleep quality.The study underscores a notable link between social media use and sleep quality,suggesting that mindful social media habits,particularly before bedtime,and reducing addiction-associated apps could enhance sleep quality.

A Problem Not to Be Ignored: The Influencing Factors of Mobile Phone Addiction and Its Influence on Sleep Quality

Background and Objective: With the popularity and widespread use of mobile phones, the effects of mobile phone dependence and addiction on individuals’ physical and mental health have attracted more and more attention. The present study aims to analyze the current state of mobile phone addiction and its impact on sleep quality within the population, while also exploring the influence of related factors on sleep quality. Ultimately, this research will provide a scientific foundation for targeted intervention measures and strategies. Methods: A total of 253 permanent residents in Nanjing were randomly selected as study subjects. The Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to evaluate the degree of smartphone addiction and sleep quality of the study subjects. Body mass index (BMI) was measured according to standardized procedures. Independent sample t-test, Chi-square test, rank sum test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the correlation between mobile phone addiction and sleep quality, and P Results: 117 people (46.2%) were addicted to mobile phones. Chi-square test showed that the rate of mobile phone addiction in drinking group was significantly higher than that in non-drinking group (P P P P P P P P P P Conclusion: Mobile phone addiction may lead to shorter sleep duration and reduce sleep efficiency. The withdrawal of mobile phone addiction may have a negative impact on sleep quality. According to the characteristics of the population, appropriate comprehensive intervention measures should be taken to build an effective evaluation system, so as to reduce the impact of mobile phone addiction and withdrawal problems on sleep and improve sleep quality.

The Role of Impulsivity and Addiction in Gambling Behaviors: How Applied Neuroscience Research Can Help in the Monitoring and Management of Mental Health Issues

One in five Americans experience symptoms associated with at least one mental health disorder every year. These include behavioral addictions, which have long been overlooked despite their similar neural bases with substance addictions. Gambling addiction, a type of behavioral addiction, deserves particular attention given the significant negative effects, this addiction has on financial and interpersonal health. The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature concerning the behavioral and neural processes involved in gambling addiction, including: the anticipation of reward, the role of dopamine, and the neural substrates of the decision-making processes involved in gambling addiction. Market research has also identified solutions that integrate applied neuroscience and self-tracking systems to monitor and manage mental health issues associated with gambling addiction. The authors then propose a gambling treatment-focused mobile app solution that addresses outstanding issues with a special design aimed at reversing plasticity in order to relieve the effects of gambling addiction. .

Resting-state electroencephalography theta predicts neurofeedback treatment 4-month follow-up response in nicotine addiction

Background The high rate of long-term relapse is a major cause of smoking cessation failure.Recently,neurofeedback training has been widely used in the treatment of nicotine addiction;however,approximately 30%of subjects fail to benefit from this intervention.Our previous randomised clinical trial(RCT)examined cognition-guided neurofeedback and demonstrated a significant decrease in daily cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.However,significant individual differences were observed in the 4-month follow-up effects of decreased cigarette consumption.Therefore,it is critical to identify who will benefit from pre-neurofeedback.Aims We examined whether the resting-state electroencephalography(EEG)characteristics from pre-neurofeedback predicted the 4-month follow-up effects and explored the possible mechanisms.Methods This was a double-blind RCT.A total of 60 participants with nicotine dependence were randomly assigned to either the real-feedback or yoked-feedback group.They underwent 6 min closed-eye resting EEG recordings both before and after two neurofeedback sessions.A follow-up assessment was conducted after 4 months.Results The frontal resting-state theta power spectral density(PSD)was significantly altered in the real-feedback group after two neurofeedback visits.Higher theta PSD in the real-feedback group before neurofeedback was the only predictor of decreased cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.Further reliability analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between theta PSD pre-neurofeedback and post-neurofeedback.A leave-one-out cross-validated linear regression of the theta PSD pre-neurofeedback demonstrated a significant correlation between the predicted and observed reductions in cigarette consumption at the 4-month follow-up.Finally,source analysis revealed that the brain mechanisms of the theta PSD predictor were located in the orbital frontal cortex.Conclusions Our study demonstrated changes in the resting-state theta PSD following neurofeedback training.Moreover,the resting-state theta PSD may serve as a prognostic marker of neurofeedback effects.A higher resting-state theta PSD predicts a better long-term response to neurofeedback treatment,which may facilitate the selection of individualised interventions.

Relationship between depression,smartphone addiction,and sleep among Chinese engineering students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND Existing research has demonstrated that depression is positively related to smartphone addiction, but the role of sleep has not been discussed thoroughly, especially among engineering undergraduates affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.AIM To evaluate sleep as a mediator of the association between smartphone addiction and depression among engineering undergraduates.METHODS Using a multistage stratified random sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 692 engineering undergraduates from a top engineering university in China, and data were collected by self-reported electronic questionnaires. The data included demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version(SAS-SV), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between smartphone addiction and depression, while structural equation models were established to evaluate the possible mediating role of sleep.RESULTS Based on the cutoffs of the SAS-SV, the rate of smartphone addiction was 63.58 percent, with 56.21 percent for women and 65.68 percent for men, among 692 engineering students. The prevalence of depression among students was 14.16 percent, with 17.65 percent for women, and 13.18 percent for men. Smartphone addiction was positively correlated with depression, and sleep played a significant mediating effect between the two, accounting for 42.22 percent of the total effect. In addition, sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction significantly mediated the relationship between depression and smartphone addiction. The mediating effect of sleep latency was 0.014 [P < 0.01;95% confidence interval(CI): 0.006-0.027], the mediating effect of sleep disturbances was 0.022(P < 0.01;95%CI: 0.011-0.040), and the mediating effect of daytime dysfunction was 0.040(P < 0.01;95%CI: 0.024-0.059). The influence of sleep latency, sleep disturbances, and daytime dysfunction accounted for 18.42%, 28.95%, and 52.63% of the total mediating effect, respectively.CONCLUSION The results of the study suggest that reducing excessive smartphone use and improving sleep quality can help alleviate depression.

Prevalence of social media addiction among nursing students

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and level of social media addiction among nursing students in the Faculty of Nursing,Cairo University.Materials and Methods:A descriptive cross‑sectional research design was conducted on samples of 340 students at the Faculty of Nursing,Cairo University.Data were collected through demographic background information sheet and Social Networking Addiction Scale.Results:All the students were addicted as 6.76%were severely addicted and 60.59%and 32.65%were moderately and mildly addicted,respectively.Significant relations were found between social media addiction and students’age(χ^(2)=11.331,P=0.003),educational level(χ^(2)=20.239,P=0.003),and grade point average(χ^(2)=19.378,P=0.013).Conclusion:Internet addiction was prevalent among all students but at different levels,so early screening of students for Internet addiction using the Internet Addiction Scale is important to provide early treatment and prevent hazards to health.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Smartphone Addiction among Adolescents–A Nationwide Study in Malaysia

Smartphone ownership among adolescents is getting common in this decade especially in Malaysia;Adolescent are strongly devoted to their smartphone and this may lead to smartphone addiction.Studies have reported that smartphone addiction has become an emerging social and health problem especially among the youth in many countries however there is lack of study among adolescents in Malaysia.This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors associated with smartphone addiction among adolescents in Malaysia.This was a cross-sectional study involving adolescents from 15 primary care clinics throughout the country.Respondents were assessed on their smartphone activities using the Malaysian short version of the Smartphone addiction scale(SAS-M-SV).Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of smartphone addiction among adolescents.The study was conducted among 921 adolescents with 49.6%male(n=457).The mean age of adolescents was 16.4±2.4 years.The ethnicity distribution were 74.6%Malay,7.3%Chinese,4.7%Indian and 13.4%other ethnicities.The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 37.1%(342/921);37.4%in male and 36.9%in female.Based on multiple logistic regression analysis,longer duration of smartphone use per week was associated with higher odds of smartphone addiction among adolescent(odd ratio=1.005%,95%confidence interval=1.000–1.009,p-value=0.039).Smartphone addiction is present in nearly four in ten adolescents in Malaysia.Adolescents who spend longer duration in smartphone usage per week were associated with higher odds of having smartphone addiction.Parents should be more alert and vigilant about this finding.Hence,parents should limit their children from spending too much of time with smartphone in order to prevent their children from getting smartphone addiction.

Determinants of internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca: a cross-sectional study

Objective:This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determinants of Internet addiction among medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca,Morocco.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted among students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Casablanca between October and March 2020.An online questionnaire was administered to students to collect data and internet addiction was assessed by the Young questionnaire.A score threshold≥50 was adopted to define addiction.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with internet addiction.Results:Out of a total of 4093 FMPC students enrolled in the 2020-2021 academic year,506 agreed to participate in this study,including 303 females and 203 males.The mean addiction score assessed on the Young scale was(49.08±16.11).The prevalence of Internet addiction was 44.5%(225/506,95% CI:40% to 49%).Multiple regression analysis showed that being older than 20 years(OR=0.17,95% CI:0.40 to 0.64),being female(OR=1.70,95% CI:1.04 to 2.78),being in the dissertation year(6th year)(OR=5.17,95% CI:2.23 to 11.44),having a history of psychiatric consultation(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.34 to 5.21),having divorced parents(OR=2.64,95% CI:1.05 to 5.87),use of sleeping medication(OR=2.9,95% CI:1.05 to 3.70),sleep disorders(OR=2.06,95% CI:1.25 to 3.79),sleep deprivation(OR=2.26,95% CI:1.39 to 3.65),excessive daytime sleepiness(OR=5.39,95% CI:2.19 to 13.24),anxiety disorders(OR=1.47,95% CI:1.18 to 2.30),duration of internet connection(>4 h)(OR=11.43,95% CI:4.85 to 27.66),and having frequent conflicts with parents(OR=2.37,95% CI:1.49 to 3.79)and friends(OR=0.26,95% CI:0.11 to 0.65)were independently associated with internet addiction.Conclusion:The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students in Casablanca remains high.Targeted action on the determinants would be of great value in prevention.

Association between social media addiction and sleep quality among undergraduate nursing students:a cross-sectional study

Objectives:To examine the association between social media addiction and sleep quality among undergraduate nursing students.Methods:This research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach.The sampling technique was purposive sampling of 150 nursing students at a private university in Malang,Indonesia.Respondents filled out a questionnaire about self-identity,a sleep quality questionnaire from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),and social media addiction from Social Media Addiction Scale(SMAS).This was a bivariate analysis which was conducted using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation test.Results:The results of this study reported that most nursing students were addicted to social media(76%).As for the parameter of the quality variable,most respondents had poor sleep quality,which were about 106 people(70.3%).The result of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation test obtained a P value of 0.000.The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.358.Social media addiction(adjusted odds ratio[OR]4.80,95%confidence interval[CI]=2.08-11.02),gender(adjusted OR 3.79,95%CI=1.58-9.12),and using social media for a long time(adjusted OR 4.21,95%CI=1.97-10.48)were associated with sleep quality.Conclusions:We found that there is an association between social media addiction and sleep quality among nursing students.Furthermore,we might be educating nursing students to manage their time to improve their quality of sleep to avoid any health problems.

The Relationship between Internet Addiction and Cyberbullying Perpetration: A Moderated Mediation Model of Moral Disengagement and Internet Literacy

Internet addiction and cyberbullying have emerged as significant global mental health concerns in recent years.Although previous studies have shown a close association between Internet addiction and cyberbullying,the underlying mechanisms connecting these two phenomena remain unclear.Therefore,this study aimed to reveal the mechanisms involved between Internet addiction and cyberbullying perpetration from the perspective of cognition function.This study recruited 976 Chinese youth through online survey,using the short version of Internet Addiction Test(s-IAT),Chinese Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire(C-CIPQ),Cyberbullying Moral Disengagement Scale(CMDS),and Internet Literacy Questionnaire(ILQ)to investigate the relationship between Internet addiction,moral disengagement,Internet literacy and cyberbullying perpetration.The keyfindings of this study were as follows:after controlling gender and age,(1)Internet addiction had a significant positive predictive effect on cyberbullying perpetration;(2)moral disengagement acted as a mediator between Internet addiction and cyberbullying perpetration;and(3)Internet literacy played a moderating role between moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration.In conclusion,there was a moderated mediating effect between Internet addiction and cyberbullying perpetration,contributing to a better understanding of the relationship between these two phenomena.

Influence of childhood trauma on adolescent internet addiction: The mediating roles of loneliness and negative coping styles

BACKGROUND In the information age,the use of the internet and multimedia tools has large effects on the life of middle school students.Improper use of the internet may result in internet addiction(IA).Thus,actively exploring the factors influencing adolescent and the mechanism of addiction as well as promoting adolescent physical and mental health and academic development are priorities that families,schools,and society urgently need to address.AIM To explore the effect of childhood trauma on adolescent IA and to consider the roles of loneliness and negative coping styles.METHODS A total of 11310 students from six junior high schools in Henan,China,completed the child trauma questionnaire,IA test,loneliness scale,and simple coping style questionnaire.In addition,data were collected from 1044 adolescents with child-hood trauma for analysis with IBM SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 28.0;we examined the relationships among childhood trauma,IA,loneliness,and negative coping styles.RESULTS We found that childhood trauma not only directly affected adolescents’IA but also affected IA through loneliness and negative coping styles.CONCLUSION Therefore,this study has theoretical implications regarding adolescent mental health and may inform interventions for IA.

Correlation analysis of mental health conditions and personality of patients with alcohol addiction

BACKGROUND Alcohol addiction,or alcohol dependence,refers to a psychological state of strong craving for alcohol caused by drinking when both the drinking times and alcohol consumption reach a certain level.Alcohol addiction can cause irreversible damage,leading to mental illness or mental disorders,negative changes in their original personality,and a tendency to safety incidents such as committing suicide or violent attacks on others.Significant attention needs to be given to the mental health of alcohol addicts,which could reflect their abnormal personality traits.However,only a few papers on this issue have been reported in China.AIM To investigate the correlation between mental health and personality in patients with alcohol addiction.METHODS In this single-center observational study,we selected 80 patients with alcohol addiction as the research subjects,according to the criteria of the K10 scale to evaluate the mental health of patients with alcohol addiction,and divided these patients into four groups based on the evaluation results:Good,average,relatively poor and bad.And then analyzed the correlation between mental health conditions and personality characteristics from these four groups of patients.RESULTS The average score of the K10 scale(Kessler 10 Simple Psychological Status Assessment Scale)in 80 patients with alcohol addiction was 25.45 points,the median score was 25 points,the highest score was 50 points,and the lowest score was 11 points.Pearson's analysis showed that the K10 score was positively correlated with the scores of these two subscales,such as the P-subscale and the N-subscale(P<0.05).In contrast,the K10 score had no significant correlation with the scores from the E-subscale and the L-subscale(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The mental health conditions of patients with alcohol addiction are positively correlated with their personality characteristics.

Effects of sports on school adaptability, resilience and cell phone addiction tendency of high school students

BACKGROUND Sport help promote healthy physical and mental development of high school students.To date,there have been few studies on the effect of sport on school adaptability,resilience and cell phone addiction tendency of high school students.AIM To explore the effects of sports on school adaptability,resilience and cell phone addiction of high school students.METHODS A stratified random sampling method was used to select 600 students from two high schools in Lhasa,and Physical Activity Rating Scale,School Adjustment Scale for High School Students,Chinese Adolescents Resilience Scale,and Mobile Phone Addiction Index were used for field questionnaire survey.RESULTS Sport was positively correlated with school adaptability and resilience(P<0.01),school adaptability was positively correlated with resilience(P<0.01)and cell phone addiction was negatively correlated with sports,school adaptability and resilience(P<0.01).The direct effect of sport on cell phone addiction was significant(P<0.001),accounting for 20.51%of the total effect.The mediating effect of school adaptability on sport and cell phone addiction was significant(P<0.001),accounting for 17.38%and 35.36%of the total effect value,respectively.School adjustment and resilience had a significant chain-mediated effect on sport and cell phone addiction(P<0.001),accounting for 26.75%of the total effect.CONCLUSION Sport affected the cell phone addiction tendency of senior high school students through the mediating effect of school adaptability and resilience,and through the chain mediation effect of both.

Prevalence and predictors of smartphone addiction and insomnia among nurses working in the outpatient department after the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Objectives:The present study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of smartphone addiction and insomnia among nurses working in the outpatient department(OPD)after the second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Materials and Methods:A descriptive,cross-sectional study was carried out among 117 OPD nurses between October and December 2021 using a purposive sampling technique.Two self-reported standardized scales,the Smartphone Addiction Scale-ShortVersion and Insomnia Severity Index were used.Kolmogorov–Smirnov test,Mann–Whitney U,and Kruskal–Wallis Htest were used.Pearson’s correlation and Scatter plot were used to determine the relationship between the study variables.A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was also performed.Results:The majority of participants had slight smartphone addiction(78.6%)and suffered from sub-threshold to severe forms of insomnia(73.5%).A significant mild positive correlation was found between smartphone addiction and insomnia(r=0.195,P<0.05).Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis predicted factors such as female gender and exposure to smartphones for more than 5 years influencing smartphone addiction.A strong influence of exposure to the smartphone for more than 5 years was found on insomnia severity.Conclusion:Smartphone addiction and insomnia were identified problems among nurses working in the OPD after the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,requiring an urgent need to identify and manage various factors responsible for smartphone addiction and insomnia such as female gender and years of exposure to smartphones.

The Psychology of Shopping Addiction in Consumer Behaviour

This comprehensive article examines the phenomenon of consumer addiction,primarily focusing on shopping addiction and its dimensions,including brand addiction.It delves into the underlying causes,manifestations,and consequences of consumer addiction from both consumer and marketer perspectives,shedding light on the ethical and cultural considerations within today's society.Consumer addiction is characterized by recurrent,irresistible purchasing behaviors driven by negative emotions such as anxiety and impulsivity.It is recognized as a behavioral addiction closely intertwined with consumerism.The article emphasizes the imperative for ethical marketing practices to mitigate the exacerbation of addictive behaviors while acknowledging the impact of culture on consumer choices.The article also discusses the crucial role of research in understanding the implications of consumer addiction on the economy,and it suggests that marketers should focus on fostering positive brand addiction rather than exploiting consumerism.It underscores the influence of cultural factors on addictive consumption and calls for responsible marketing practices and governmental regulations.In conclusion,this article highlights the critical significance of consumer addiction in the field of marketing and its multifaceted implications for both consumers and businesses.It underscores the need for ethical marketing strategies,cultural awareness,and responsible brand management to address this complex phenomenon in contemporary society.

Cybersex Addiction in Benin Schools (2023)

Introduction: The development of digital technology over the last few decades has facilitated access to websites and videos in the field of sexuality, eliminating many of the boundaries that were restrictive for some and protective for others. While this evolution has favored better information sharing, it has also precipitated the emergence of an entirely new phenomenon: cybersexuality. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate addiction to cybersexuality in schools in the city of Parakou in 2023. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in general, technical and vocational secondary schools in Parakou, northern Benin, from December 2022 to September 2023. A self-administered questionnaire integrating the “short Internet sex Addiction Test” (s-IATsex) scale was used to assess cybersexuality. Results: A total of 482 students participated in the study. The prevalence of problematic use of cybersexuality in Parakou schools was 11.4% according to the s-IATsex (Short Internet sex Addiction Test) scale. The average age of the students was 16.99 ± 2.16 years, with extremes of 11 and 30 years. The majority were in secondary school (67.8%). Factors associated with addiction to cybersexuality were: place of residence (OR = 0.164;p = 0.017), external genitalia discharge (OR = 5.37;p = 0.049), sexual partner (OR = 2.53;p = 0.010), access to pornographic sites (OR = 7.96;p < 0.001), anxiety (OR = 3.86;p = 0.001) and depression (OR = 2.75;p = 0.018). Conclusion: Approximately one pupil in 10 is addicted to cybersexuality at school in the town of Parakou/Parakou city, Benin. The multiple consequences of this addiction call for effective preventive actions aimed at vulnerable groups of pupils.