Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Use of Communication and Information Technologies, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cybersecurity of Users

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Communication and Informatics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 17762

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juan Bautista Herrero Olaizola

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Interests: smartphone addiction; psychological well-being; partner violence; social support; multilevel analysis; structural equation modeling; growth models

Dr. Alberto Urueña López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Departamento de Ingeniería de Organización, Administración de Empresas y Estadística, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
Interests: safe device use habits; smartphone addiction; adoption of security measures in users; risk habits and attitudes; sensation seeking; machine learning; multivariate statistical analyses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Studies on the effects of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on the psychosocial wellbeing of users have focused both on studying how these ICTs can favor the sociability of their users and on analyzing a less benign aspect of these communication technologies: their capacity to generate dependence in users and, in some cases, addiction. Dependence on ICTs may generate undesirable outcomes that can increase the vulnerability of users. This vulnerability may refer to the psychosocial adjustment of users, although it is not the only type of potentially associated vulnerability (e.g., cybervictimization). In this Special Issue, we intend precisely to give visibility to empirical research on the effects of psychological dependence on new technologies and their various effects on the social life and the security of users. Special attention will be given to aspects such as addiction to social communication devices (e.g., smartphones), taking into account their main background at the individual, social, and cultural levels. Empirical research that seeks to link the technological dependence and cybersecurity of users will also be welcome. Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard coupled with a special emphasis on new methodological approaches (advanced research methods, target and national representative samples, etc.) and theoretical advances consistent with empirical evidence (pioneering empirical studies, empirical evidence of new theoretical approaches, etc.).

Dr. Alberto Urueña López
Dr. Juan Bautista Herrero Olaizola
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

psychological dependence on ICTs
user vulnerabilities
cyber victimization
psychosocial adjustment
smartphone addiction
social support
emotional dependence
psychological distress
personality factors
social factors
cultural factors

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Other

15 pages, 906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Stress and Problematic Use of Short-Form Video Applications among Middle-Aged Chinese Adults: The Mediating Roles of Duration of Use and Flow Experience

by Qing Huang, Mingxin Hu and Hongliang Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 132; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19010132 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6185

Abstract

The pervasiveness of smartphones and the popularity of short-form video applications (SVAs), such as TikTok, among middle-aged Chinese adults have raised concerns about problematic SVAs use. Although a plethora of research has examined problematic smartphone use among teenagers and young adults, scarce attention has been paid to the middle-aged group. This study integrates the psychopathological approach and the compensatory use approach to explicate problematic SVAs use among middle-aged Chinese adults. We aim to examine the relationship between stress and problematic SVAs use via the mediating roles of duration of use and flow experience. A total of 194 middle-aged adults from across the nation participated in an online survey. The results showed that stress was positively associated with problematic SVAs use. We also found that duration of use positively mediated the relationship between stress and problematic SVAs use. Furthermore, a serial mediation effect of duration of use and flow experience was found. The findings suggest that the aforementioned two approaches are complementary to each other in explicating problematic SVAs use, but the compensatory use approach explains more than the psychopathological approach does. Flow experience extends the original compensatory use approach and demonstrates the importance of incorporating techno-psychological predictors in understanding problematic SVAs use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Communication and Information Technologies, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cybersecurity of Users)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 617 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smartphone Addiction and Cybercrime Victimization in the Context of Lifestyles Routine Activities and Self-Control Theories: The User’s Dual Vulnerability Model of Cybercrime Victimization

by Juan Herrero, Andrea Torres, Pep Vivas, Antonio Hidalgo, Francisco J. Rodríguez and Alberto Urueña

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3763; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18073763 - 04 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6175

Abstract

(1) Background: This paper combines lifestyle-routine activities (L-RAT) and self-control (SCT) theories along with the literature on smartphone addiction in a joint model that addresses the multiple vulnerabilities that make the smartphone user a potential victim of cybercrime. This model, which we call the dual vulnerability model of cybercrime victimization, was subjected to empirical testing on a nationally representative sample of smartphone users. (2) Methods: Data from 2837 participants from a nationally representative sample of Spanish smartphone users were modeled using Mplus causal modeling software. (3) Results: The results of the study confirm the predictions of L-RAT and SCT in explaining cybercrime victimization (higher cybercrime victimization under conditions of high exposure, proximity, and suitability, relative absence of capable guardian, and low self-control). A significant effect of smartphone addiction on cybercrime victimization was also observed above and beyond L-RAT and SCT predictors. (4) Conclusions: The potential victim of cybercrime presents a double vulnerability, on the one hand, those identified by criminological theories such as L-RAT and SCT, and on the other hand, those derived from the deregulated-addicted use of the Internet access device (smartphone in our work). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Communication and Information Technologies, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cybersecurity of Users)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Feelings of Loneliness: Understanding the Risk of Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Internet Addiction. A Theoretical Model to Answer to a Systematic Literature Review, without Results

by Eugénie Khatcherian, Daniele Zullino, Diego De Leo and Sophia Achab

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2012; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19042012 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4467

Abstract

The Internet has become an essential tool for adolescents. It is part of their social integration within peers and supports their identity construction. The Internet can also become a source of addiction, especially when used as a coping strategy towards unpleasant life situations. Addiction to the Internet is often linked with an increase in the feeling of loneliness. The feeling of loneliness is an emotion present during adolescence. However, in excess, it can lead to suicidal ideation. Addiction to the Internet is also linked to an increased suicide risk. We questioned ourselves on the impact of the feeling of loneliness on the link between an excessive use of the Internet by adolescents and the risks of suicidal ideation. We attempted to find an answer to this question by performing a systematic review of the literature. We found no result matching our search criteria. We noted the absence of studies with regards to the interaction between the feeling of loneliness, addiction to the Internet and the risk of suicidal ideation amongst adolescents. We established a theoretical model which could be used as a lead for future research. We insist on the importance that studies need to be conducted in this domain, in order to enable us to establish efficient preventive measures for the risks of suicidal ideation amongst adolescents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Communication and Information Technologies, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cybersecurity of Users)

► Show Figures