scholarly journals Genetic-linked Inattentiveness Protects Individuals from Internet Overuse: A Genetic Study of Internet Overuse Evaluating Hypotheses Based on Addiction, Inattention, Novelty-seeking and Harm-avoidance

Author(s):  
Cheng Sun ◽  
Rita Spathis ◽  
Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan ◽  
Chim W. Chan ◽  
J. Koji Lum

The all-pervasive Internet has created serious problems, such as Internet overuse, which has triggered considerable debate over its relationship with addiction. To further explore its genetic susceptibilities and alternative explanations for Internet overuse, we proposed and evaluated four hypotheses, each based on existing knowledge of the biological bases of addiction, inattention, novelty-seeking, and harm-avoidance. Four genetic loci including DRD4 VNTR, DRD2 Taq1A, COMT Val158Met and 5-HTTLPR length polymorphisms were screened from seventy-three individuals. Our results showed that the DRD4 4R/4R individuals scored significantly higher than the 2R or 7R carriers in Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The 5-HTTLPR short/short males scored significantly higher in IAT than the long variant carriers. Bayesian analysis showed the most compatible hypothesis with the observed genetic results was based on attention (69.8%), whereas hypotheses based harm-avoidance (21.6%), novelty-seeking (7.8%) and addiction (0.9%) received little support. Our study suggests that carriers of alleles (DRD4 2R and 7R, 5-HTTLPR long) associated with inattentiveness are more likely to experience disrupted patterns and reduced durations of Internet use, protecting them from Internet overuse. Furthermore, our study suggests that Internet overuse should be categorized differently from addiction due to the lack of shared genetic contributions.

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1217
Author(s):  
Marta Niewczas ◽  
Anna Grzywacz ◽  
Katarzyna Leźnicka ◽  
Krzysztof Chmielowiec ◽  
Jolanta Chmielowiec ◽  
...  

Four factors—namely, harm avoidance, novelty seeking, reward addiction and persistence—represent the nature of temperament that is not genetically determined in itself. It was shown in earlier studies that a strong propensity to look for novelty or a tendency to engage in risky behavior is correlated with genetic variants in the area of the genes encoding dopamine receptors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between personality traits and genetic variants in the area of the DRD2 dopamine receptor gene in MMA athletes. The participants consisted of 85 mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes and 284 healthy, non-MMA male participants. Their personality traits were measured using the Revised Temperament and Character Inventory. Blood was collected for genetic assays and all samples were genotyped using the real-time PCR method. We observed a statistically significant effect of a complex factor of the DRD2 rs1799732 genotype on MMA participants’ control and reward dependence. Engaging in high-risk sport may be associated with several personality characteristics. The DRD2 rs1799732 polymorphism may be associated with reduced harm avoidance in martial arts athletes, thereby modulating athletes’ predisposition to participate in high-risk sport.


2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladislav Hosák ◽  
Marek Preiss ◽  
Martin Halíř ◽  
Eva Čermáková ◽  
Ladislav Csémy

AbstractWe applied the temperament and character inventory (TCI) personality questionnaire in 41 inpatients dependent on metamphetamine, and 35 controls. Novelty seeking, harm avoidance and self-transcendence were significantly higher, and persistence, self-directedness and cooperativeness were significantly lower in the patients than in the healthy volunteers. The detected differences may be important for prevention and treatment.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1407-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
KELLY L. KLUMP ◽  
MICHAEL STROBER ◽  
CYNTHIA M. BULIK ◽  
LAURA THORNTON ◽  
CRAIG JOHNSON ◽  
...  

Background. Previous studies of personality characteristics in women with eating disorders primarily have focused on women who are acutely ill. This study compares personality characteristics among women who are ill with eating disorders, recovered from eating disorders, and those without eating or other Axis I disorder pathology.Method. Female participants were assessed for personality characteristics using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): 122 with anorexia nervosa (AN; 77 ill, 45 recovered), 279 with bulimia nervosa (BN; 194 ill, 85 recovered), 267 with lifetime histories of both anorexia and bulimia nervosa (AN+BN; 194 ill, 73 recovered), 63 with eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS; 31 ill, 32 recovered), and 507 without eating or Axis I disorder pathology.Results. Women ill with all types of eating disorders exhibited several TCI score differences from control women, particularly in the areas of novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. Interestingly, women recovered from eating disorders reported higher levels of harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness scores than did normal control women.Conclusions. Women with eating disorders in both the ill and recovered state show higher levels of harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness scores than normal control women. Although findings suggest that disturbances may be trait-related and contribute to the disorders' pathogenesis, additional research with more representative community controls, rather than our pre-screened, normal controls, is needed to confirm these impressions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 817-817
Author(s):  
A. Suzuki ◽  
Y. Matsumoto ◽  
N. Shibuya ◽  
R. Sadahiro ◽  
M. Kamata ◽  
...  

AimsThere is a growing body of data suggesting the gene-environment interaction in the characterization of personality traits, but variation in ordinary parental rearing among environmental factors has not been focused yet. We examined the effects of the interaction between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and parental rearing on personality traits.MethodsSubjects were 710 Japanese healthy volunteers. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which consists of the care and protection factors. Personality assessment was performed by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), which has 7 dimensions, i.e., novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, persistence, self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was detected by the PCR-RFLP method.ResultsParental rearing has significant main effects on all TCI dimensions except novelty seeking, while no significant main effects of the BDNF genotype on the TCI scores were found. The interaction between the BDNF genotype and maternal care of the PBI had significant effects on harm avoidance and self-directedness of the TCI. Post-hoc analyses showed that decreased maternal care was correlated with increased harm avoidance and decreased self-directedness in most of the genotype groups, and for both personality traits the correlation was highest in the Met/Met genotype and lowest in the Val/Val genotype and that for the Val/Met genotype was in between the two values.ConclusionThe present study suggests that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism moderates the effects of parenting rearing, especially maternal care, on harm avoidance and self-directedness in healthy subjects.


2000 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 398 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schüssler ◽  
C. Gebhardt ◽  
K. Fuchs ◽  
T. Stompe ◽  
W. Sieghart ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 71 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1027-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D. Wetzel ◽  
Stephen L. Brown ◽  
Mary Ann Knesevich ◽  
Harold A. Wolff ◽  
Charles J. Horn ◽  
...  

The pattern of correlations between selected MMPI scales and the scales of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire were examined in a convenience sample of 88 patients who had received both tests. Time between tests (usually less than one year) did not affect the correlations, but MMPI response-set variables ( L, F, K, F–K) did. The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire harm avoidance scale and subscales had many correlates on the MMPI. The Novelty seeking scale and subscales showed a number of moderate correlations with a smaller number of MMPI scales; these correlations did not significantly exceed the correlations with MMPI response-set variables. The Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire reward dependence scale and subscales had few, if any, significant MMPI correlates. It was also noted that no Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire scales were related to MMPI repression factor scores.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S298-S299
Author(s):  
G. Hurtado ◽  
G. Mateu ◽  
R. Martinez ◽  
A. Farre ◽  
J. Marti ◽  
...  

Personality dimensions related with drug use are novelty seeking, impulsivity and harm avoidance. Studies predicting drug of choice over personality variables are controversial.ObjectiveTo describe personality profile of drug users in relation to substance of choice.AimsTo know personality dimension differences according to drug used.MethodsCloninger's TCI-R was administered to 218 patients in a dual diagnosis unit.SPSS was applied.ResultsOf the patients, 33.94% had personality disorder. Principal substances used were alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.Most of drug users had normal scores in each dimension. No high scores were found in reward dependence, self-directedness and cooperativeness with any drug.High scores were observed for novelty seeking in 42.9% of timulants users; for arm avoidance in a quarter of cocaine, alcohol and methadone users and for persistence in 18.2% of hypnotics users.Low scores were observed for reward dependence in 45% of heroine and hypnotics users; for persistence in 50% of methadone and 32% of cocaine users; for self-directedness in most of types of drug users and for cooperativeness in up to 50% in heroine, hypnotics, stimulants and cocaine users.Statistical significant differences were observed for cocaine use and high novelty seeking and low cooperation; for non cannabis use and high harm avoidance; for non anfetamine use and low scores in reward dependence; for opiate use and low self-directedness.ConclusionsMost of patients had normal scores in the different dimensions.Presence of comorbid personality disorder led us to consider the results with caution.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2002 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 448-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Van Gestel ◽  
T Forsgren ◽  
S Claes ◽  
J Del-Favero ◽  
C M van Duijn ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enjeline Hanafi ◽  
Kristiana Siste ◽  
Tjhin Wiguna ◽  
Irmia Kusumadewi ◽  
Martina Wiwie Nasrun

AbstractTemperament profiles of an individual with high novelty seeking and low harm avoidance have been reported to be related to substance addiction, but smartphone addiction could be different from substance addiction. Medical students have high exposure to smartphone use. Screening their risk of smartphone addiction based on the temperament profile may help in deciding best prevention approach. This research aimed to examine the temperament profile and its association with vulnerability to smartphone addiction of medical students in Jakarta, Indonesia. The research was conducted with cross sectional design and simple random sampling. The Temperament and Character Inventory and the Smartphone Addiction Scale were used to measure desired outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the relationship between demographic factors, pattern of smartphone use, temperament type, and vulnerability to smartphone addiction. Of the 185 samples, most subjects have low novelty seeking, high reward dependence, and high harm avoidance. The average smartphone usage in a day was 7.94 hours (SD 3.92) with the initial age of smartphone usage was 7.58 years (SD 2.43). The respondents used smartphone for communication and accessing social media. High harm avoidance temperament was significantly associated with risk of smartphone addiction with OR 2.035; 95% CI 1.119 to 3.701). This study shows that smartphone addiction has similarities with other behavior addictions. Harm avoidance temperament is associated with the risk of smartphone addiction. Screening on risk of smartphone addiction based on temperament type should be done on medical students.


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