A new research has said that dependence on Internet and gambling habit are not linked in any way.

N. A. Dowling, PhD, from the University of Melbourne, and M. Brown from Monash University, both in Australia, discovered that both behaviors, although addictive, are not linked but share psychological matters like depressive disorder, tension, anxiety and loneliness.

The study researcher said that similar vulnerabilities, attributable to feelings of nervousness, tension, sadness, loneliness, and social isolation, appear to contribute to excesses in Internet usage and gambling behavior.

Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCIA, Editor-in-Chief of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, from the Interactive Media Institute, San Diego, CA said, "It is clear that effectively evaluating and treating these disorders requires a clear understanding of the individual symptomatology and internal conflicts particular to each patient."

The article appears in Rapid Communication in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. (With Inputs from Agencies)