Abstract
Background and aims: Discrepancy between ideal self-guide and actual self-concept evoke dejection-related feeling, and often individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) use games as the tool to escape those negative emotions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of self-discrepancy based on actual and ideal self-images and elucidate the neural correlates underlying the distorted self in individuals with IGD.Methods: Nineteen male individuals with IGD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging where they decided on whether they agreed with the adjectives describing their actual or ideal self on a four-point Likert Scale. Two-sample t-test on the self-discrepancy contrast was conducted for neuroimaging analysis and correlation analysis was performed between the behavioral data and regional activities.Results: The IGD group evaluated both their ideal self and actual self more negatively than the HC group. Actual self-concept was associated with satisfaction with psychological needs as opposed to ideal self-guide. Brain activity in the inferior parietal lobule was significantly decreased in individuals with IGD relative to HCs in the self-discrepancy contrast. In addition, neural activity during evaluating actual self-concept showed a significant group difference.Conclusion: These results provide novel evidence for distorted self-concept of people with IGD. Individuals with IGD had a negative ideal and actual self-image. Neurobiologically, dysfunction in the inferior parietal lobule associated with emotional regulation and negative self-evaluation was found in IGD. Considering the characteristics of IGD that often develop in adolescence, this self-concept problem should be noted and applied with appropriate therapy.
Highlights
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is characterized by functional impairment in personal or social life from excessive internet game use
Considering that the features of IGD have not yet been fully studied, participants who were suffering from on-going psychiatric illness except IGD or those who suffered from other addictive disorders were excluded
IPL activity in the self-discrepancy contrast was positively correlated with the self-discrepancy scores (r = 0.6, p < 0.01) in healthy controls (HCs), but not in individuals with IGD (Figure 3B)
Summary
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is characterized by functional impairment in personal or social life from excessive internet game use. It is an emerging disorder due to the spread of the Internet [1]. This condition has a significant symptomatic similarity to substance use disorders and behavior addiction [2, 3]. One of the developmental tasks to be accomplished in adolescence is the formation of identity [6]. Because games reduce other interests in daily life, adolescents preoccupied with games might be thwarted in achieving the formation of identity and other developmental tasks [7]. Discrepancy between ideal self-guide and actual self-concept evoke dejection-related feeling, and often individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) use games as the tool to escape those negative emotions.
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