The relationship between autism quotient, anxiety, and internet addiction

This study investigated internet addiction across the broad autism phenotype, and assessed the degree to which internet addiction in individuals with higher autism quotient scores may be mediated by co-morbid depression and anxiety. Ninety participants were given a range of psychometric assessments to determine their level of problematic internet usage (Internet Addiction Test), autism traits (Autism Quotient Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Speilberger Trait Anxiety Scale). Significant associations were found between both autism, and anxiety, and internet addiction. However, the association between autism traits and internet addiction was moderated by high level for anxiety, such that individuals with high numbers of autism traits showed less evidence of internet addiction if they also displayed high levels of anxiety. It is suggested that the presence of anxiety in these individuals alters the function that internet behavior serves, and makes internet addiction less likely.