Behavioral addictions and psychological distress: Insights from psychology students in Eastern Turkey

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of behavioral addictions in undergraduate psychology students and create a risk profile for behavioral addictions based on these variables. A total of 329 (251 females and 78 males) psychology students from two different public universities were included in the study. Participants completed a socio-demographic data form, Exercise Dependence Scale-21, Internet Addiction Test, Compulsive Buying Scale, South Oaks Gambling Screen Test, Yale Food Addiction Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The prevalence of food addiction was 21%, exercise addiction 5.5%, gambling addiction 3.3%, internet addiction 10.3%, and compulsive buying 10.3%. Behavioral addictions varied by demographics: compulsive buying and food addiction were more common in females, while exercise and gambling addictions were higher in males. Internet addiction showed no gender differences. Higher income was linked to increased compulsive buying. Furthermore, phobic anxiety was a predictor for internet addiction and food addiction; depression was a predictor for internet addiction; and paranoid ideation was a predictor for compulsive buying and internet addiction. The results of the current study have enhanced the understanding of the prevalence of behavioral addictions in undergraduate psychology students, as well as the underlying shared and distinct etiological factors for each of the behavioral addictions. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and intervention strategies for at-risk students in clinical settings, informing practitioners about the multifaceted nature of behavioral addictions and their psychological implications.