Severity of behavioral addiction symptoms among young adults using non-prescribed sedatives/hypnotics

Lea Péter; Borbála Paksi; Anna Magi; Andrea Eisinger; Eszter Kótyuk; Andrea Czakó; Mark D Griffiths; Zsolt Demetrovics; Bálint Andó

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100485

Severity of behavioral addiction symptoms among young adults using non-prescribed sedatives/hypnotics

Addict Behav Rep. 2023 Mar 7:17:100485. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100485. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Lea Péter¹, Borbála Paksi², Anna Magi^{3

4}, Andrea Eisinger^{3

4}, Eszter Kótyuk⁴, Andrea Czakó^{4

5}, Mark D Griffiths⁶, Zsolt Demetrovics^{4

5}, Bálint Andó¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 8-10 Korányi fasor, Szeged H-6720, Hungary.
² Institute of Education, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 23-27 Kazinczy Street, Budapest H-1075, Hungary.
³ Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 46 Izabella Street, Budapest H-1064, Hungary.
⁴ Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 46 Izabella Street, Budapest H-1064, Hungary.
⁵ Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming, University of Gibraltar, Europa Point Campus, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar.
⁶ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Introduction: Young adulthood is considered a critical period in terms of non-medical use of sedatives/hypnotics (NMUSH) as well as different types of behavioral addictions (BAs). However, the relationship between these behaviors has received scarce attention among young adult samples. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association between NMUSH and symptoms of distinct BAs among young adults.

Materials and methods: Analyses were conducted based on the data of two large sample studies (including a representative sample) carried out with young adult samples. The following BAs were assessed: problematic internet use, problematic video gaming, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior, problematic mobile phone use, work addiction, and hair pulling. Symptoms of distinct BAs were analyzed in three groups formed based on the NMUSH: non-users, lifetime users, and current users.

Results: The symptoms of problematic internet use, problematic social media use, problem gambling, exercise addiction, eating disorders, compulsive buying behavior and work addiction were significantly more severe among lifetime and/or current non-medical sedative and hypnotic users, compared to the non-user participants. The symptoms of problematic mobile phone use were the most severe in the non-user group.

Conclusions: The results suggest co-occurrence between NMUSH and distinct BAs among young adults. These findings draw attention to the need for preventive interventions for this high-risk population.

Keywords: BA, behavioral addiction; BLS, Budapest Longitudinal Study; BWAS, Bergen Work Addiction Scale; Behavioral addictions; CUs, current users; DSM‐IV‐MR‐J, Diagnostic Statistical Manual‐IV‐Adapted for Juveniles; EAI, Exercise Addiction Inventory; Hypnotics; IGD, internet gaming disorder; IGDT-10, Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test; LUs, lifetime users; MGH-HPS, Massachusetts General Hospital Hairpulling Scale; NMUSH, non-medical use of sedatives/hypnotics; NUs, non-users; Non-medical prescription drug use; PGA, Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictive Behaviors Study; PGSI, Problem Gambling Severity Index; PIUQ, Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire; PMPUQ-SV, Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire; POGQ, Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire; RCBS, Richmond Compulsive Buying Scale; Sedatives; Young adults.