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Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and...
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Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 4465

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sabina Mandic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Behavioral Disorders, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: behavioural addiction; gambling;gaming; risk behaviours; behavioural disorders; delinquency
Dr. Dora Dodig Hundric

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Behavioural Disorders, Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: behavioural addiction; gambling; gaming; risk behaviours; behavioural disorders; delinquency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Behavioral addictions and emotional well-being represent two critical areas of research, with behavioral addictions—such as gambling disorder, gaming disorder, and compulsive social media use—posing significant challenges for individuals and society and requiring continued research into their mechanisms, assessment, prevention, and treatment. The second area of research, emotional well-being, remains essential for understanding human behavior.

Despite significant progress in both fields, important gaps remain. Research on behavioral addictions continues to explore reliable assessment tools, underlying neurobiological and psychological mechanisms and effective intervention strategies. Similarly, emotional well-being research seeks to refine conceptual models, identify protective factors, and develop innovative approaches to foster resilience and mental health. By advancing these topics, the aim of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive platform for novel findings.

We invite contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Theoretical models and conceptual advancements in behavioral addictions or emotional well-being;
  • Psychometric assessment tools and validation studies;
  • Empirical research on risk and protective factors;
  • Prevention and treatment strategies tailored to behavioral addictions or emotional well-being;
  • Multidisciplinary perspectives, including psychology, neuroscience, social sciences, and clinical research;
  • Cultural and cross-national differences in behavioral addictions and emotional well-being.

Submissions may include original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and case studies. We encourage contributions that deepen our understanding of these domains and offer practical implications for research, policy, and clinical practice. We look forward to your submissions.

Dr. Sabina Mandic
Dr. Dora Dodig Hundric
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • behavioral addictions
  • emotional well-being
  • gambling
  • gaming
  • social networks
  • interventions
  • assessment
  • prevalence
  • models

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 605 KB  
Article
Escape into Social Media? A 4-Week Tracking Study on Nomophobia and Smartphone Coping
by Jiahao Li, Yang Chu, Shan Liu, Yanfang Liu and Jie Xu
Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091125 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 420
Abstract
Background: Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, has become an increasing public health concern. While existing theories suggest that smartphones often serve as tools for emotional regulation, the situational mechanisms driving these compensatory behaviors remain under-explored. This study investigated [...] Read more.
Background: Nomophobia, the fear of being without a mobile phone, has become an increasing public health concern. While existing theories suggest that smartphones often serve as tools for emotional regulation, the situational mechanisms driving these compensatory behaviors remain under-explored. This study investigated how nomophobia levels interact with daily emotional fluctuations and busyness to influence smartphone-based coping patterns. Methods: We employed an intensive longitudinal approach combining objective smartphone tracking with a 4-week daily diary design. Thirty-seven participants were monitored, yielding 837 daily observations. Smartphone use was categorized into Instant Messaging (IM), Social Media Use (SMU), and Non-social Use (NSU). Multilevel linear regression analyzed the interaction effects on usage metrics. Results: Nomophobia significantly correlated with the duration and frequency of SMU, but not IM or NSU. A significant three-way interaction was observed: individuals with high levels of nomophobia exhibited a significantly increased frequency of overall usage, SMU and NSU when experiencing negative emotions during periods of low busyness. In contrast, low-nomophobia individuals maintained stable usage patterns regardless of situational stressors. Conclusions: By conceptualizing smartphone usage as a behavioral proxy for the coping process, this study provides preliminary evidence that nomophobia is associated with a situation-dependent coping pattern, primarily involving increased social media usage. These findings underscore the importance of integrating situational contexts and underlying coping processes to better understand and manage problematic smartphone use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions)
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16 pages, 906 KB  
Article
Beyond Screen Time: Stress, Loneliness, Emotional Competence and Problematic Internet Use in Adolescence
by Roberta Matković and Lucija Vejmelka
Healthcare 2026, 14(8), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14080986 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 528
Abstract
Background: Problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents has emerged as a significant public health concern, associated with the types of online activities and underlying psychological processes rather than screen time alone. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 750 adolescents (46.4% female) with a mean [...] Read more.
Background: Problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents has emerged as a significant public health concern, associated with the types of online activities and underlying psychological processes rather than screen time alone. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 750 adolescents (46.4% female) with a mean age of 15.39 years (SD = 1.76; range = 13–19) recruited from 7th and 8th grade primary school students and secondary school students in Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia). The study investigated the associations between specific online activities, psychological variables, and PIU using hierarchical regression and multiple mediation analyses. Results: Results revealed that time spent online remains the most strongly associated with PIU. While streaming and online shopping showed significant associations with problematic use, reading and browsing for information did not. Stress and loneliness were identified as variables associated with higher that significantly statistically mediate the relationships between online engagement and PIU, whereas emotional competence functioned as a protective factor, particularly in relation to social media use. These findings support theoretical models that conceptualize PIU as a maladaptive coping strategy for psychological distress. Conclusions: Based on these findings, prevention efforts should move beyond simple screen-time reduction and focus on strengthening adolescents’ emotional competence, stress management, and self-regulatory skills to promote healthier and more adaptive patterns of digital engagement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions)
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18 pages, 763 KB  
Article
Cyberbullying Victimisation as a Mediator Between Social Media Use and Emotional Problems Among Elementary School Students
by Sanja Radić Bursać, Sabina Mandić, Martina Lotar Rihtarić, Dora Dodig Hundrić and Neven Ricijaš
Healthcare 2026, 14(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14020271 - 21 Jan 2026
Viewed by 800
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a developmental period characterised by intensive use of social media and an increased prevalence of emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Scientific evidence indicates that the modality of social media use (active or passive) can significantly predict these problems, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a developmental period characterised by intensive use of social media and an increased prevalence of emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Scientific evidence indicates that the modality of social media use (active or passive) can significantly predict these problems, with active use being linked to a higher likelihood of cyberbullying victimisation. As victimisation is associated with more severe emotional problems, social media represents an important context for understanding adolescent mental health. Following this, the main aim of this study was to examine how the modality of social media use (SMU) is related to emotional problems, and whether cyberbullying victimisation mediates this relationship. Methods: This study was conducted on a convenient sample of N = 1822 students (49.0% boys, 51.0% girls; Mage = 13.22 years, SDage = 0.629) from a total of 64 elementary schools throughout Croatia. A modified Croatian version of the Active and Passive Use of Social Networks Scale, the Anxiety and Depression subscales of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale—Youth Version, and the Cyber-Victimisation subscale of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire were used. Results: The results indicate that passive SMU among boys is directly related only to anxiety, while that among girls contributes only to the explanation of depression. Regarding cyberbullying victimisation as a mediator, full mediation in the association between active SMU and emotional problems was found for both girls and boys. Conclusions: This represents a significant theoretical contribution, as well as a contribution to the development of psychosocial interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions)
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18 pages, 278 KB  
Article
Gendered Attitudes Toward Corporal Punishment: Implications for Prevention of Mental Health Problems in Youth
by Miroslav Rajter and Milani Medvidović
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3053; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233053 - 25 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1789
Abstract
Background: Corporal punishment is a form of violence that poses long-term risks to children’s mental health and wellbeing. Understanding the attitudes that justify such practices is essential for designing preventive and health promotion interventions. Previous research suggests gender differences in these attitudes, [...] Read more.
Background: Corporal punishment is a form of violence that poses long-term risks to children’s mental health and wellbeing. Understanding the attitudes that justify such practices is essential for designing preventive and health promotion interventions. Previous research suggests gender differences in these attitudes, yet the extent and nature of these differences remain unclear. Objective: This study examined gender-related differences in attitudes toward corporal punishment and their implications for youth mental health promotion. Participants and Setting: The study involved 582 university students aged 18 to 40, with a mean age of 22 years. Participants were from various fields of study and were surveyed online. Methods: The Short Situational Scale of Attitudes towards Corporal Punishment (SSS-CP) was developed for this study, depicting hypothetical conflicts between parents and children, culminating in corporal punishment. A quasi-experimental design was used, varying the gender of the participant, parent, and child. Data was analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for previous experience of corporal punishment. Results: Physical punishment was more justified when the participant was male (6% of criterion variance), when the perpetrator was a female parent (1.3%), and when the child was male (1.8%); however, no significant interaction effects were found. Previous experience with corporal punishment also predicted more approving attitudes toward its use (1.7% of criterion variance). Conclusions: Gender differences in the justification of corporal punishment highlight how social norms shape the acceptance of violence and, consequently, the normalization of behaviors linked to poorer mental health outcomes in youth. Prevention and health promotion programs should integrate gender-sensitive components that address beliefs about violence, foster emotion regulation, and reduce the intergenerational transmission of harmful disciplinary practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing Behavioral Addictions and Promoting Emotional Well-Being: Insight, Challenges, and Solutions)
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