Online peer support groups to combat digital addiction: User acceptance and rejection factors

Manal Aldhayan*, Sainabou Cham, Theodoros Kostoulas, Mohamed Basel Almourad, Raian Ali

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The obsessive usage of digital media may exhibit symptoms traditionally associated with behavioural addictions such as mood modification, salience, tolerance and conflict. The educational methods, interventions, and treatments available to prevent or control such a digital addiction are, currently, very limited. Digital Addiction (DA) is yet not formally recognised as a mental disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Recently, in 2018, the World Health Organization recognised gaming disorder. Fortunately, the nature of digital media can also help the hosting of methods and mechanics to combat DA, e.g. in the monitoring of online usage and enabling individuals to stay in control of it. One of the techniques proposed in the literature is Online Peer Groups platforms, towards allowing people to form a group and provide peer support to control and regulate their usage, collectively. Online peer support groups are meant to provide peer support, counselling, motivational and learning environment, and ambivalence reduction through sharing and hope installation. However, there is a lack of research about the factors influencing people with DA to accept or reject online peer support groups. In this work, we conduct user studies and explore the acceptance and rejection factors to join and participate in such DA regulation and relapse prevention method. This will help to design and introduce the method and increase its adoption.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Knowledge in Information Systems and Technologies - Volume 3
EditorsHojjat Adeli, Sandra Costanzo, Luís Paulo Reis, Álvaro Rocha
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages139-150
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)9783030161866
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventWorld Conference on Information Systems and Technologies, WorldCIST 2019 - Galicia, Spain
Duration: 16 Apr 201919 Apr 2019

Publication series

NameAdvances in Intelligent Systems and Computing
Volume932
ISSN (Print)2194-5357
ISSN (Electronic)2194-5365

Conference

ConferenceWorld Conference on Information Systems and Technologies, WorldCIST 2019
Country/TerritorySpain
CityGalicia
Period16/04/1919/04/19

Keywords

  • Behavioural change
  • Digital addiction
  • Online peer groups

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Online peer support groups to combat digital addiction: User acceptance and rejection factors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this