The validity of the constructs of problematic Internet or smartphone use and Internet or smartphone addiction has been extensively debated. The spectrum hypothesis posits that problematic online behaviors (POBs) may be conceptualized within a spectrum of related yet distinct entities. To date, the hypothesis has received preliminary support, and further robust empirical studies are still needed. The present study tested the spectrum hypothesis of POBs in an Australian community sample (n = 1,617) using a network analysis approach. Psychometrically validated self-report instruments were used to assess six types of POBs: problematic online gaming, cyberchondria, problematic cybersex, problematic online shopping, problematic use of social networking sites, and problematic online gambling. A tetrachoric correlation matrix was computed to explore relationships between online activities and a network analysis was used to analyze relationships between POBs. Correlations between online activities were positive and significant, but of small magnitude (0.051 ≤ r ≤ 0.236). The community detection analysis identified six distinct communities, corresponding to each POB, with strong relationships between items within each POB and weaker relationships between POBs. These findings provide further empirical support for the spectrum hypothesis, suggesting that POBs occur as distinct entities and with little overlap.

有问题的互联网或智能手机使用以及互联网或智能手机成瘾的结构的有效性一直存在广泛争论。谱假说假设有问题的在线行为 (POB) 可能在一系列相关但不同的实体中被概念化。迄今为止，该假设已得到初步支持，仍需进一步稳健的实证研究。本研究使用网络分析方法在澳大利亚社区样本 (n = 1,617) 中测试了 POB 的频谱假设。经心理测量验证的自我报告工具用于评估六种类型的 POB：有问题的在线游戏、网络疑病、有问题的网络性行为、有问题的在线购物、有问题的社交网站使用和有问题的在线赌博。计算四元相关矩阵以探索在线活动之间的关系，并使用网络分析来分析 POB 之间的关系。在线活动之间的相关性显着且呈正相关，但幅度很小 (0.051 ≤ r ≤ 0.236)。社区检测分析确定了六个不同的社区，对应于每个 POB，每个 POB 内的项目之间有很强的关系，POB 之间的关系较弱。这些发现为谱假设提供了进一步的实证支持，表明 POB 作为不同的实体出现并且几乎没有重叠。社区检测分析确定了六个不同的社区，对应于每个 POB，每个 POB 内的项目之间有很强的关系，POB 之间的关系较弱。这些发现为谱假设提供了进一步的实证支持，表明 POB 作为不同的实体出现并且几乎没有重叠。社区检测分析确定了六个不同的社区，对应于每个 POB，每个 POB 内的项目之间有很强的关系，POB 之间的关系较弱。这些发现为谱假设提供了进一步的实证支持，表明 POB 作为不同的实体出现并且几乎没有重叠。