Relationship between autism traits and withdrawal effects in high internet users

OBJECTIVE: The study assessed whether the immediate impact of internet exposure on the mood of those who report more internet-based problem behaviors is moderated by autistic traits. It has been suggested that patterns of internet use may serve different functions in those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which may protect them from internet addiction problems, such as withdrawal effects. DESIGN: Participants were given a battery of psychological tests to explore levels of internet addiction, autism traits, depression, and current mood. They were then given exposure to the internet for 15min, and re-tested for mood. RESULTS: High internet users also showed a pronounced decrease in mood following internet use compared to the low internet-users. This effect was not mitigated by levels of autism traits. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that those with higher numbers of autism traits are just as likely to experience withdrawal-like effects on stopping using the internet as those with lower AQ scores.