Internet addiction: Meta-synthesis of qualitative research for the decade 1996-2006

Internet addiction is an individual's inability to control their Internet use, Which ill turn leads to feelings of distress and functional impairment of daily activities [Shapira, N., Lessig, M., Goldsmith, T., Szabo, S., Lazoritz, M., Gold, M. et al. (2003). Problematic Internet use: Proposed classification and diagnostic criteria. Depression and Anxiety, 17(4), 207-216]. Previous research in this field has offered inconclusive data oil whether Internet addiction call be classified as a disorder. This Study provides all in-depth and comprehensive analysis of internet addiction through a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on excessive Internet use Published during the period of 1996-2006. Several constructs pertaining to the domain of Internet addiction have been identified and a theoretical model of Internet addiction has been proposed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.