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Published on: October 3, 2020
Approach-avoidance tendencies in problematic usage of the internet: Evidence from a multisite study
Martin Diers1, Silke M Müller2,3,4, Annica Kessling2
11Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Journal of Behavioral Addictions
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Individuals with problematic internet use (PIU) show increased approach tendencies towards online cues, with pathological users exhibiting the strongest reactions. Motivational responses vary with symptom severity, suggesting personalized interventions are needed.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) involves maladaptive patterns in activities like gaming, social networking, online shopping, or pornography use.
- Theoretical frameworks such as the I-PACE model and incentive-sensitization theory inform the understanding of PUI.
- Automatic approach and avoidance tendencies toward internet-related cues are crucial in PUI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine automatic approach and avoidance tendencies in individuals with varying levels of problematic internet use.
- To investigate the relationship between these tendencies, symptom severity, cue reactivity, and outcome expectancies.
- To explore the clinical relevance of approach-avoidance tendencies as behavioral markers for PUI.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter study involving 1,015 participants.
- Utilized an explicit Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) to assess reaction times to addiction-related and neutral stimuli.
- Correlated reaction times with measures of symptom severity, cue reactivity, and outcome expectancies.
Main Results:
- Participants across all groups (non-problematic, risky, pathological) showed relative approach tendencies toward internet-related stimuli.
- Pathological users exhibited the strongest differentiation between addiction-related and neutral cues.
- Approach tendencies correlated linearly with cue reactivity and gratification; quadratic associations were found for symptom severity, indicating potential approach or avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Approach tendencies towards internet cues increase with reward experiences and cue reactivity.
- At high symptom severity, both approach and avoidance responses can occur, highlighting heterogeneous motivational responses in PUI.
- Approach-avoidance tendencies may serve as clinical markers for PUI development and maintenance, informing individualized prevention and intervention strategies.
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