Research shows that exercise helps reduce symptoms of internet addiction



The Internet has brought great convenience to people who want to access information and interact with others, and research has shown that

it is associated with increased happiness worldwide. However, some people fall into the trap of using the Internet to the point that it interferes with their daily lives, and treatment is needed. A new study has found that by having Internet addicts 'exercise,' it may be possible to reduce the symptoms of Internet addiction.

Effects of exercise interventions on Internet addiction among college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460324002089

Exercise eases internet addiction in Chinese college students
https://www.psypost.org/exercise-eases-internet-addiction-in-chinese-college-students/

The Internet, which exploded in popularity in the early 21st century, has changed people's lives in many ways, including work, communication, and hobbies. The Internet has made many things more convenient, but for some people, the desire to use the Internet has become obsessive, leading to Internet addiction that has a negative impact on daily life, relationships, and mental health.

People with internet addiction use the internet for social media, gaming, online shopping, browsing, and other activities, and have difficulty controlling the time they spend on the internet. As a result, they are unable to stop using the internet, which leads to disruption of their lives, sleep disorders, and mental distress. This condition, like other behavioral addictions, is said to be related to the dopamine -driven reward system in the brain.



A research team from

Guangxi University in China analyzed data from previous studies published in Chinese or English to evaluate how effective 'exercise interventions' are in managing and improving the symptoms of Internet addiction.

The analysis used data from randomized controlled trials in which exercise interventions were administered to students with internet addiction or similar disorders such as smartphone addiction. Fourteen studies were included in the analysis, which included the results of a total of 19 experimental tests, with a total of 760 students with internet addiction participating.

The exercise interventions were broadly divided into two types: 'open athletic ability exercises' and 'closed athletic ability exercises,' as well as a combination of the two. Of these, open athletic ability exercises are exercises that require individuals to adapt flexibly to changes in the environment, such as basketball and soccer. On the other hand, closed athletic ability exercises are exercises in a controlled and stable environment that involve repetitive movements, such as running, swimming, and weight training.

These exercise sessions were conducted for 4 to 18 weeks, with sessions lasting 50 to 120 minutes at moderate intensity, 2 to 5 times per week. The control group did not receive any exercise and continued to live their normal lives.



Analysis of the data showed that the exercise intervention had a strong effect on reducing the symptoms of Internet addiction: participants reported significantly reduced negative emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, stress, and feelings of inadequacy, improved mental health, and to some extent reduced fatigue and depressive symptoms.

The research team stated, 'This review demonstrated that exercise-based interventions can effectively reduce the level of Internet addiction and improve the psychological symptoms of college students with Internet addiction. The optimal type of exercise for college students suffering from Internet addiction was a combination of both open and closed motor skill exercises.'

However, all of the studies were conducted on Chinese university students, so results may differ in cultural and demographic groups other than China.

in Science, Posted by log1h_ik