Abstract
As the number of individuals who play videogames has increased in recent years, the frequency with which patients seek treatment for problematic videogame playing (PVGP) behaviors has also risen. Thus, explorations into the specific characteristics of PVGP are essential now more than ever before. However, the current state of the literature primarily relies on comparisons between PVGP and pathological gambling, utilizing modified measures of the latter to assess the former. More recently, scales have emerged to tap the DSM-5 criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder. However, to date, no studies have attempted to adapt the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder (SUD), specifically, in an effort to understand PVGP within the context of addiction, and currently no single measure exists that adequately captures the full DSM-5 criteria for SUD or “addiction.” The current study sought to address these questions by adapting SUD criteria to address videogame-related behavior via a measure we call the Videogame Addiction Scale (VGAS). Comparisons of the psychometrics and criterion validity of the VGAS with existing measures of PVGP suggested the VGAS was superior. Lastly, a model of videogame addiction was generated that aligns with the SUD literature. Specifically, impulsivity, maladaptive coping, weekly game playing time (akin to “dose”), and particular structural game characteristics (akin to “route of administration” in addiction) were associated with problematic videogame play when conceptualized as an addiction. Results suggest that the addiction construct, in contrast to “problematic play,” best captures the underlying features of excessive videogame play.
Highlights
Developing a specific definition for a “videogame” is an everevolving process, as technology continually changes this term’s referent
In order to conceptualize problematic videogame playing (PVGP) as an addictive behavior, it must first be assessed in accordance with establish criteria for addictive disorders to allow for the comparison with traditional addictions, such as substance use disorder
Given the debate as to whether excessive game play is a symptom of some other unresolved problem or an addictive disorder in its own right, the primary aim of the present study was to determine if a measure that maps onto Substance Use Disorder (SUD) criteria would be conceptually valid and relate in meaningful fashion to a set of variables that are well-documented to be associated with addictive disorders in general, i.e., impulsivity [30], depression [31], self-consciousness [32], poor coping skills [33], and family history of addiction [34]
Summary
Developing a specific definition for a “videogame” is an everevolving process, as technology continually changes this term’s referent. The conceptualization of PVGP and its accompanying symptomatology varies across studies, most researchers agree that the term refers to negative consequences resulting from game play, not the amount of time spent playing. This constellation of symptoms that encapsulates more than just excessive play may constitute a behavioral addiction, with symptoms that align with those characteristic of addictive disorders. In order to conceptualize PVGP as an addictive behavior, it must first be assessed in accordance with establish criteria for addictive disorders to allow for the comparison with traditional addictions, such as substance use disorder This marks the first attempt to move the field of video game research in the direction of measuring PVGP as an addiction, without defining the behavior as atheoretically “pathological”
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
