A simple way to reduce Internet addiction has been found

Internet addiction negatively affects daily life, social relationships, and mental health. It can manifest itself in the form of addiction to social networks, video games, online shopping, or continuous viewing of content. Like other addictions, Internet addiction is caused by the production of dopamine, which gives a person a sense of pleasure, which is why it is very difficult to control.

A group of scientists led by Dr. Yang Yang from Guangxi University in China evaluated the effectiveness of physical exercise as a method of combating Internet addiction among students in their study.

Experts analyzed the results of 14 scientific studies involving 760 students diagnosed with Internet addiction. All experiments were conducted in China.

Physical activity in these studies included three types of movement skills: exercises that develop open movement skills, exercises that develop closed movement skills, and combinations of these. Open movement skills require physical activity in a changing environment and require responding to external stimuli. Team sports such as basketball or soccer are examples of this. Closed movement skills, on the other hand, involve repetitive movements in a stable environment—such as running, swimming, or performing muscle exercises.

The programs lasted from four to eighteen weeks, with sessions held two to five times a week. Each session lasted from 50 to 120 minutes. Students in a separate control group did not receive any physical activity and continued their usual lifestyle.

The results showed that physical activity had a significant effect on reducing symptoms of Internet addiction. In addition, exercise helped reduce anxiety, stress, feelings of loneliness, and self-doubt, as well as improving overall mental health.

The results were particularly significant for participants who engaged in open-ended movement skills or combined them with closed-ended skills.

“Our study shows that physical activity is an effective way to combat Internet addiction among students. The best results are achieved when using exercises that combine open-ended and closed-ended movement skills,” the study authors concluded.

Despite the reliable results, the study has certain shortcomings. First, since all experiments were conducted only in China, the generalizability of the findings to other countries and cultures may be limited.

Second, the study only involved students; the effect of physical exercise on Internet addiction in other age groups was not studied. Nevertheless, the data obtained demonstrate the importance of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of Internet addiction. They may serve as a basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies in the field. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”