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Internet Users' Prior Psychological and Social Difficulties

This study addressed the hypothesis that frequent Internet use produces social and psychological difficulties. An Internet-administered survey was given to a sample of Internet users. Comparisons were made between this sample and general population norms on a selection of social and psychological variables. Internet users showed a more detrimental mean rating on 11 of 13 of the variables (two measures of social contact were more positive among the user sample). However, for those variables for which time of onset was available (n = 7), the disorder had begun 5-22 years before Internet use. These findings are not in accord with the theory that Internet use causes disorder or social difficulty, and suggest the possibility that the Internet may provide a particular benefit for certain individuals who have already displayed these personal and social difficulties.