Effects of different interventions on internet addiction: A meta-analysis of random controlled trials

Xueqing Zhang; Jianghui Zhang; Kexin Zhang; Juan Ren; Xiaoyan Lu; Tianli Wang; Huayu Yang; Haiyun Guo; Guojing Yuan; Zhihui Zhu; Jiahu Hao; Ying Sun; Puyu Su; Linsheng Yang; Zhihua Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.013

Effects of different interventions on internet addiction: A meta-analysis of random controlled trials

J Affect Disord. 2022 Sep 15:313:56-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.013. Epub 2022 Jun 26.

Authors

Xueqing Zhang¹, Jianghui Zhang¹, Kexin Zhang¹, Juan Ren², Xiaoyan Lu¹, Tianli Wang¹, Huayu Yang¹, Haiyun Guo¹, Guojing Yuan¹, Zhihui Zhu¹, Jiahu Hao³, Ying Sun³, Puyu Su³, Linsheng Yang⁴, Zhihua Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230601, China.
³ Department of Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China. Electronic address: yanglinsheng@ahmu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Center for Evidence Based Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China. Electronic address: zhangzh@ahmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35760188
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.06.013

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of different interventions on Internet addiction (IA), a meta-analysis and network meta-analyses were performed.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest, CNKI, WanFang, VIP database, and CBM from their inception to August 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where the effects of interventions on IA were assessed. The risk of bias was evaluated according to the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2). The R studio Software and Stata 14.0 were used to perform traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analyses.

Results: A total of 59 RCTs including 3832 participants were incorporated into meta-analysis. The results of the traditional meta-analysis of 24 studies showed that CBT, group counseling, sports intervention, and Internet-based intervention could significantly reduce IA levels (SMD = -1.90, 95%CI: -2.26 to -1.55, P < 0.01, I² = 85.9%) as compared to no-treatment control groups. Network meta-analyses based on different scales showed that combined interventions had the highest probability of being the best interventions for IA (SUCRA = 91.0 % based on IAT; SUCRA = 89.0 % based on CIAS).

Discussion: Most interventions have significant effects on the treatment of IA. Compared with single interventions, combined interventions showed a more pronounced improvement in Internet addiction symptoms.

Keywords: CBT; Internet addiction; Interventions; Meta-analysis; Network meta-analysis; RCT.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Counseling*
Humans
Internet
Internet Addiction Disorder*
Network Meta-Analysis
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic