British researchers have noted an association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and addiction to technology, particularly social media and mobile phones.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause attention deficit, motor hyperactivity or impulsivity.
- A British study observed a link between signs of ADHD and addiction to technology, particularly smartphones and social media.
- Inattention and hyperactivity have notably been associated with an addiction to social media.
Around 2 million French people have attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD). The intensity and manifestation of symptoms vary depending on the person, but ADHD mainly results in the association of three symptoms:
- an attention deficit, which manifests itself by an inability to maintain attention, to complete a task as well as frequent forgetfulness;
- motor hyperactivity, which is characterized by incessant restlessness and an inability to sit still;
- impulsivity, which leads to difficulty waiting correlated with a tendency to interrupt the activities of others.
The causes of ADHD are not yet known with certainty. However, this disorder is not linked to a poor family context in terms of education, psychological stress, poor academic training or a lack of desire to learn.
A correlation between signs of ADHD and technology addiction
In a study published in the journal Current Psychologyresearchers have identified an association between ADHD-related symptoms and an addiction to technology, particularly social networks, the Internet and smartphones. “Like many young people, I was often criticized by adults because I spent too much time looking at my cell phone (…) Then, when smartphones became more common, it became clear to me that adults there were also addicted and spent more time watching them than I did! After discovering that you could have symptoms of ADHD without being diagnosed as such, I decided to study how different adult behaviors could affect the different types of technology addiction”explained Tuba Aydin, lead author of the study and doctoral researcher at Bournemouth University (UK).
To reach these conclusions, scientists from Bournemouth University questioned 150 adults who had not been diagnosed with ADHD about their use of social networks, the Internet and their smartphones. The volunteers were also asked about their online shopping habits. A checklist was also completed by each participant to report any ADHD-related symptoms.
Inattention and hyperactivity associated with social media addiction
Characteristics of ADHD have been found in some adults. According to the results, participants showing signs of this neurodevelopmental disorder are more at risk of suffering from technology addiction. The research team then further explored this finding by examining different types of technology addiction. The scientists then found that people who had suffered from inattention and hyperactivity were more likely to experience addiction problems linked to the use of social networks and smartphones.
It could be estimated that inattention and impulsivity would be strongly correlated with online shopping addiction. While a link was indeed established, it was not strong enough to predict that someone with these symptoms might become addicted to online shopping. “Our findings offer valuable insights into how different types of technology addiction may affect adults differently. This may be important in helping healthcare professionals develop preventative strategies and treatment plans for different addictions.”underlined Tuba Aydin.
