Excessive time online linked to stress and worse mood – study

Researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen conducted a study published in PLOS One. In 2025, they surveyed 900 German adults who reported using gaming, pornography, social networks, or online shopping at least once in the past year. Based on usage frequency, internet use was classified as pathological, risky, or non-problematic. Problematic internet use was defined as excessive use leading to functional impairment or distress.

Participants completed evening assessments for two weeks, reporting mood, stress, temptation to engage in problematic use, total internet time, pleasure derived, and neglect of other activities.

Results showed that those with more severe problematic internet use had worse mood, more stress, longer internet times, and greater neglect of other life areas. Temptation was the main driver for continued use, with feelings of pleasure and relief as reinforcing factors.

Co-author Andreas Oelker noted that momentary urge to go online, rather than actual stress or mood, determines engagement and its consequences. He suggested that helping people recognize and manage temptation may be more effective than focusing on stress alone.

Researchers emphasize that not all internet use is negative; only problematic or excessive use. Co-author Silke M. Müller added that only a small percentage develop pathological patterns, and internet can bring joy and relief as long as other important areas like exercise, outdoors, or social activities are not neglected.

Previous studies have indicated that young people with internet addiction show brain chemistry changes that may lead to more addictive behaviors, evident across multiple neural networks.