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Research reveals heavy internet use makes us grumpier, more stressed
Researchers said temptation, not stress alone, drove continued online use in a 900-adult study published in PLOS One.
- On Wednesday, a study published in PLOS One by Silke M. Müller from the University Hospital Essen linked 'problematic' internet use to higher stress, worse mood, and greater neglect of daily activities.
- Researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen tested 900 German adults over 14 days, tracking how daily stress, mood, and temptation predict internet usage across gaming, social networking, and shopping.
- Temptation serves as the 'central mechanism' linking emotional states to problematic internet use, with feelings of pleasure and relief emerging as reinforcing factors, co-author Andreas Oelker noted.
- Helping individuals recognize and manage moments of temptation may be more effective for treatment than focusing on stress or mood alone, Oelker stated, as these urges determine resulting consequences.
- Understanding why at-risk individuals go online at specific moments is essential for developing better prevention strategies, as the study confirms that common theoretical models of problematic usage appear in everyday life.
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Problematic internet use linked to higher daily stress and mood
People described as 'problematic' Internet users report higher stress, worse mood, and greater neglect of other activities than those who surf the web sparingly, according to a study published July 29, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS One by Silke M. Müller from the University Hospital Essen, Germany, and colleagues.
·Mona Vale, Australia
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
C 64%
R 27%
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