Prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in University Students and its Relationship with Depression

Abstract

Introduction: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is the emerging disorder in adolescents. The most commonmotivators behind IGD is coping with stressors, escapism, control over one’s life, excitement and challenges.Aims: The current study was done with the aims: 1) To find the prevalence of IGD in university students2) To find the prevalence of depression among university students 3) To find the association of IGD withdepression among university students.Settings and Design: A descriptive research design was used to collect data from a private university.Setting of the study was food court of the selected university.Methods and Material: A total of 91 college students were recruited from a selected university. Purposivesampling method was used to collect the data. Internet Gaming Disorder addiction was checked with thehelp of DSM-5 criteria. Depression was checked with the help of PHQ-9 questionnaire.Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square was used to check the association between IGD and depression.Results: Twenty-one (23%) respondents were found to have IGD. Out of 21 respondents who had IGD,9 were having mild depression, 4 were having moderate and 3 were having severe depression. Out of 70respondents who did not suffer from IGD, 28 showed no signs of depression, 36 had mild depression andonly 6 reported moderate depression. None of them had severe depression. The results demonstrated thatinternet gaming disorder was significantly associated with depression (p<0.005).Conclusions: Majority of the respondents having IGD had also reported co-morbid depression on PHQ-9questionnaire. Thus depression needs to be identified and treated in clients suffering with Internet gamingdisorder.