Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40397526›Full record

ArticleJournal of behavioral addictions2025

Q-single: Linking functional impairment to problematic internet use through a single-question approach.

Vilma Jakiene, Orsolya Király, Zsolt Demetrovics, Aurelija Podlipskyte, Ausra Saudargiene, Roma Jusiene, Egle Milasauskiene, Julija Gecaite-Stonciene, Evelina Palaityte-Urbone, Julius Burkauskas and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of behavioral addictions, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Vilma Jakiene1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0002-3361-5074
Orsolya Király3Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd, University, Budapest, Hungary.ORCID 0000-0001-9981-4212
Zsolt Demetrovics2Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5604-7551
Aurelija Podlipskyte1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0003-1412-6168
Ausra Saudargiene5Laboratory of Biophysics and Bioinformatics, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0003-2768-3334
Roma Jusiene6Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0003-1917-6666
Egle Milasauskiene1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0009-0006-3136-9064
Julija Gecaite-Stonciene1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0002-1560-1402
Evelina Palaityte-Urbone1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0009-0007-3414-3658
Julius Burkauskas1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0002-3928-2151
Vesta Steibliene1Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania.ORCID 0000-0002-8374-2768

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Short versions of problematic internet use (PIU) questionnaires may provide a convenient and effective way of assessing internet-related problems in various contexts, ranging from research to clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single yes/no question (Q-single) regarding "functional impairment due to PIU" could serve as a screening tool to indicate the potential absence of PIU, given the lack of functional impairment. Methods: Data from two online studies (N = 524 and N = 272) assessing internet-related behaviors among students were used for the analyses. Participants completed questionnaires (the nine-item Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire [PIUQ-9], the Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS], the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, depression module [PHQ-9], the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]), questions about their internet use time, besides answering the Q-Single question. Block-wise multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the predictive effect of the Q-Single on PIU (as measured with the PIUQ-9 and the CIUS) and its association with depression and anxiety symptom scores (as measured with the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7). Results: The Q-Single demonstrated a high negative predictive value in screening the absence of PIU, however positive predictive value was low to moderate. Q-Single proved to be a good predictor of PIU (β = 0.484, p < 0.001 [PIUQ-9] and β = 0.481, p < 0.001 [CIUS]) when controlling for age, gender, and internet use time. Adjusting for the same controlling variables, the Q-Single had a moderate association with depression symptoms (β = 0.385, p < 0.001 [PHQ-9]) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.252, p < 0.001) [GAD-7]) supporting the validity of the single-question instrument. Conclusions: The finding that a single question could predict absence of PIU in students, implies that functional impairment is an important indicator of PIU.

Indexed as

InternetInternet Addiction DisorderAdolescentAdultDepressionFemaleHumansMalePsychiatric Status Rating ScalesStudentsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultanxietyassessmentbehavioral addictionsdepressioninternet addictionproblematic internet usepsychological correlatesQ-singlequestionnaire

Identifiers

PMID40397526
PMCPMC12231437

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.