Background: International research has emphasized that youths are at higher risk for the onset of internet addiction (IA), but studies investigating biological, psychological, and social factors associated with this condition are limited. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible association between IA and genetic polymorphisms in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), serotonin-transporter (5-HTTPR), dopamine receptor (DRD4), and dopamine transporter (DAT1) genes by considering the role played by the perception of young adults in their family functioning and their depression, anxiety, and avoidant personality problems. Methods: In a sample of 104 male and female young adults aged between 19 and 23 years (mean age 21.87, SD 2.29 years) recruited from universities in the central southern part of Italy, we addressed the presence of IA using the Young criteria of the IA test. Moreover, the perception of young adults of their family functioning and their psychopathological symptoms were assessed through the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the Adult Self-Report, respectively. Results: We found no significant association between IA and any genetic polymorphisms, neither among males or females. Young adults with IA reported significantly higher scores in the subscale of FAD affective responsiveness (AR; P=.01) and in depressive problems (P=.02), anxiety problems (P=.009), and avoidant personality problems (P=.003) than those in the control group. Results of mediation analyses showed a mediation role played by depressive symptoms (B=0.99; 95% CI 0.22 to 1.97) and avoidant personality problems (B=1.09; 95% CI 0.32 to 2.05) of young adults on the relationship between the FAD, AR, and IA. Finally, this relationship was moderated by the genotype of the 5-HTTLPR (P<.001), DAT1 (P<.001), and MAO-A (P<.001) genes in young adults. Conclusions: This exploratory study supports the recent evidence on the mutual relationship among biological, individual, and social risk factors associated with IA in young adulthood. Our findings may have important clinical implications for the development of prevention and treatment programs.

中文翻译：

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互联网成瘾，遗传多态性，家庭功能和心理病理风险之间的关联：跨部门的探索性研究。

背景：国际研究强调，青少年上网成瘾（IA）的发生风险较高，但有关与这种情况相关的生物学，心理和社会因素的研究却十分有限。目的：本研究旨在探讨IA与单胺氧化酶A（MAO-A），5-羟色胺转运蛋白（5-HTTPR），多巴胺受体（DRD4）和多巴胺转运蛋白（DAT1）基因多态性之间的可能关联。年轻人对他们的家庭功能以及他们的抑郁，焦虑和回避性格问题的看法所起的作用。方法：从意大利中南部大学招募的104位年龄在19至23岁（平均年龄21.87，标准差2.29岁）之间的男性和女性青年样本中，我们使用IA测试的Young标准解决了IA 。此外，分别通过家庭评估装置（FAD）和成人自我报告来评估年轻人对其家庭功能的感知和心理病理症状。结果：我们发现IA与任何遗传多态性之间均无显着相关性，无论是男性还是女性。患有IA的年轻成年人在FAD情感反应亚评分（AR; P = .01）和抑郁症（P = .02），焦虑症（P= .009），以及回避型人格问题（P = .003）。调解分析结果表明，年轻人的抑郁症状（B = 0.99； 95％CI为0.22至1.97）和回避型人格问题（B = 1.09； 95％CI为0.32至2.05）对FAD之间的关系起着调解作用， AR和IA。最后，这种关系通过年轻人中的5-HTTLPR（P <.001），DAT1（P <.001）和MAO-A（P <.001）基因的基因型得以缓解。结论：这项探索性研究支持了有关年轻成年期IA的生物学，个体和社会风险因素之间相互关系的最新证据。我们的发现可能对预防和治疗计划的制定具有重要的临床意义。