Problematic Internet Use as a Predictor of Eating Disorders in Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study
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Hinojo Lucena, Francisco Javier; Aznar Díaz, Inmaculada; Cáceres Reche, María Del Pilar; Trujillo Torres, Juan Manuel; Romero Rodríguez, José MaríaEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Internet addiction Eating disorders Students Systematic review Meta-analysis
Date
2019-09-09Referencia bibliográfica
Hinojo-Lucena, F. J., Aznar-Díaz, I., Cáceres-Reche, M. P., Trujillo-Torres, J. M., & Romero-Rodríguez, J. M. (2019). Problematic Internet Use as a Predictor of Eating Disorders in Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study. Nutrients, 11(9), 2151.
Abstract
Problematic Internet use (PIU) has begun to be linked to the development of certain
eating disorders. This uncontrolled use of the Internet is mainly found in the student population.
The purposes of this paper were to determine PIU-related eating disorders in students from a
systematic review of the literature and to analyze the incidence of PIU in eating disorders through a
meta-analysis of the literature. We used two electronic databases (Web of Science and Scopus) from
inception to June 2019. The systematic literature review was based on fixed inclusion and exclusion
criteria. A total of 12 studies were identified (systematic review) and 10 studies for meta-analysis,
which included 16,520 students. Di erent eating disorders were associated with PIU: anorexia
nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, food preoccupation, loss of control eating, and
dieting. Furthermore, meta-analysis confirmed that PIU is a predictor of eating disorders in students.
The groups of students with PIU presented a higher rate in the presence of eating disorders, these
di erences being significant. Finally, this study showed empirical evidence on the link between PIU
and eating disorders. The need for prevention in childhood and adolescence is highlighted.