Internet Game Addiction Research Articles

Behavioural Addiction: a Useful Construct?

The concept of ‘addiction’ has long been used with reference to substance use disorders. There has, however, been growing interest in applying the term to other conditions, i.e. behavioural addictions, which are characterized by preoccupation with and decreased control over a range of behaviours other than substance intake that are rewarding but have adverse consequences. The best studied behavioural addiction, gambling disorder, is now included in DSM-5 under the rubric of substance-related and addictive disorders. In contrast, an ICD-11 proposal argues that pathological gambling continues to be classified as an impulse control disorder. Other putative behavioural addictions, such as compulsive sexual behaviour and internet gaming addiction, are equally controversial. Here, we review some of the relevant debates. We argue that while the construct of behavioural addiction may be useful in clinical practice and in research contexts, further work is needed to assess the extent of its diagnostic validity and clinical utility.

Online Gaming Behavior And Psychosocial Well-Being In Greek Adolescents

Online gaming is an appealing and popular activity among adolescents. However, several studies have shown that excessive engagement is related to psychosocial problems. The present study is based on data from the EU NET ADB project and examined the association between problematic online gaming and psychosocial well- being in a Greek school-student’s sample. Problematic online gaming is classified in the DSM-5 as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and was measured with the Assessment of Internet and Computer game Addiction Scale —Gaming Module (AICA-S-gaming). Negative aspects of psychosocial well-being were operationally defined as a combination of behavioral, affective and cognitive problems and were assessed through the Youth Self-Report (YSR) scale. The results indicate that IGD has a significant impact on the externalizing and internalizing dimensions of the YSR scale and particularly in the subscales anxious-depressed, withdrawn- depressed, social problems, thought problems, somatic complaints, rule-breaking behavior and aggressive behavior. Limitations and applications of the study are discussed.

중학생의 자기 효능감과 인터넷게임 중독 간의 관계에서 자기 조절력, 무망감의 매개효과 검증

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to examine the multiple mediated effects of self-regulation and hopelessness between self efficacy and internet game addiction in middle school students. Methods: The participants were 458 middle school students in G City, South Korea. Multiple mediation was analyzed using Indirect SPSS macro and the bootstrapping method. Results: Significant negative correlations were observed for internet game addiction, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. Self-efficacy and self-regulation were positively correlated. Self-efficacy showed a direct effect on Internet game addiction. The results of the indirect effects of all mediators showed the mediated effect of self-regulation (estimated effect=-.11, 95% CI[-.20, -.03]) and hopelessness(estimated effect=-.06, 95% CI[-.12, -.01]). Conclusion: Based on these study results, we suggest that self-efficacy should be examined to prevent development of Internet game addiction in middle school students. It is necessary to provide Internet game addiction preventive programs focusing on changing the self-regulation and relieving the feelings of hopelessness.

Positive Outcome Expectancy Mediates the Relationship Between Peer Influence and Internet Gaming Addiction Among Adolescents in Taiwan.

The present study examined the role of positive outcome expectancy in the relationship between peer/parental influence and Internet gaming addiction (IGA) among adolescents in Taiwan. Two thousand, one hundred and four junior high students completed the Chen Internet Addiction Scale for IGA, Parental Influence for IGA, peer influence for IGA, and Positive Outcome Expectancy of Internet Gaming Questionnaire. Results showed that the three types of peer influences (positive attitudes toward Internet gaming, frequency of Internet game use, and invitation to play) and positive outcome expectancy were significantly and positively correlated with IGA. Moreover, peer influence was also positively correlated with positive outcome expectancy. On the other hand, positive outcome expectancy and parental influences had a low correlation. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that positive outcome expectancy did not mediate the relationship between either type of parental influences and IGA, and only the parent's invitation to play Internet games directly predicted IGA severity. However, peers' positive attitude or the frequency of peers' Internet game use positively predicted IGA and was fully mediated through positive outcome expectancy of Internet gaming. In addition, the frequency of peers' invitation to play Internet games directly and indirectly predicted IGA severity through a partial mediation of positive outcome expectancy of Internet gaming. The overall fit of the model was adequate and was able to explain 25.0 percent of the variance. The findings provide evidence in illuminating the role of peer influences and positive outcome expectancy of Internet gaming in the process of why adolescents may develop IGA.

인터넷 게임중독과 정신-정서적 변인과의 관계

The purpose of this study was to research on the relationship of Internet Game Addiction to Psycho-emotional Variables(self-identity, depression, meaning of life). The cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. We selected 275 adults through randomised sampling and analysis the result by chi-square test and hierarchial regression method. The result of this study was as follows; The effects of personal characteristics to Internet Game Addiction was sex, age, smoking and family including social characteristics were level of mother's education, father's education, and family economic status in a row. The relationship of Internet Game Addiction to Psycho-Emotional Variables were self-identity and depression. Therefore we suggest that the practical support system for 20's age adult to increase the self-identity and decrease the depression will be applied.

Internet Game Addiction among Middle School Students (Focusing on SNS Addiction Tendencies, Self-Esteem and Interpersonal Relationships)

In this study, we conducted a survey to examine the relationship among SNS addiction tendencies, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, and internet game addiction in middle school students. The data were collected via structural questionnaires completed by 590 middle students located in Seoul who agreed to participate in this study. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between SNS addiction tendencies and self-esteem, and there were positive correlations among SNS addiction tendencies, interpersonal relationships, and internet gaming addiction. Also, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between interpersonal relationships and self-esteem and a negative correlation between internet gaming addiction and interpersonal relationships. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the influence of internet game addiction and to identify its correlations with SNS addiction tendencies, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships. Hierarchical Step 1, which controlled for general characteristics, showed that gender (p<.001) influenced IGA, and the explanatory power for explaining the internet game addiction of the control variables was found to be 16.0%. Including independent variables, Model 2 showed a significant increase in its explanatory power to explain internet game addiction (34.9%, p<.001).

Casual relation among interpersonal relationship satisfaction, internet game addiction, and emotional problems in early adolescents

Casual relation among interpersonal relationship satisfaction, internet game addiction, and emotional problems in early adolescents

The Effect of Academic Stress on Internet-Game Addiction and the Moderating Effect of Parent-Child Positive Communication - Focused on the Male Game Addiction Group among Adolescents -

The Effect of Academic Stress on Internet-Game Addiction and the Moderating Effect of Parent-Child Positive Communication - Focused on the Male Game Addiction Group among Adolescents -

A Study on Internet Game, Physical Exercise and Obesity of Children in Korea and USA

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationships between Internet game addiction, obesity and exercise of children in Korean and United States. The survey was conducted with 162 elementary 3rd~6th grade students in S city, Republic of Korea and 160 Korean school 3rd~6th grade students in B city, United States. Data were collected from March 3 to May 30, 2014, and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA with SPSS 20.0. There was a significant difference in general characteristics of academic record(t=23.576, p=.000), economic status(t=9.45, p=.012) and time of using internet game(t=11.753, p=.000). There was a significant Internet game addiction difference according to physical characteristics of obesity, disturbance of sleeping, time of exercise of obesity of children in Korean(F=-2.179, p=.032) and United States(F=-2.380, p=.025), disturbance of children in Korean(F=3.283, p=.012) and time of exercise of children in United States(F=3.57, p=.013). These results suggest that the development of exercise program is needed to Received (June 11, 2015), Review Request(June 12, 2015), Review Result(June 27, 2015) Accepted(July 20, 2015), Published(August 31, 2015) 220-804 Dept. Nursing, KyungDong Univ., 815 Gyeonhwonro, Munmak, Wonju, Gangwondo, Korea email: choiny@kduniv.ac.kr A Study on Internet Game, Physical Exercise and Obesity of Children in Korea and USA Copyright c 2015 HSST 308 prevention and intervention of internet game addiction for children.

인터넷 중독 중재 프로그램으로서의 인지행동요법: 생리적 관점에서의 이론적 기틀 및 활용에 대한 고찰

Purpose: This study was conducted to review physiological mechanisms of internet addiction and to construct a theoretical framework for cognitive behavioral therapy for internet addicts. Methods: We searched for relevant literature in the PubMed and RISS databases using the terms “internet addiction”, “internet game addiction”, “internet abuser”, and “online game”. Only English, full-text articles published from 2000 to 2015 were included in this review of physiological indicators of internet addiction. Finally, 12 articles were selected for review. Results: The theoretical framework developed based on the review proposes that excessive internet use itself may induce physiological stress responses with an increase of stress-related hormones and neurotransmitters. Prolonged abnormal responses of these physiological features produce negative structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex, which is mainly involved in cognitive and executive functions. These changes may result in decreased cognitive function. As a stressor, excessive internet use leads to transforming voluntary use into involuntary, habitual use and thus promotes the development of internet addiction. Conclusion: The proposed theoretical framework encompasses cognitive processes that may contribute to the effects of internet use-induced physiological stress on internet addiction. We believe that this framework has important implications for developing cognitive behavioral strategies for internet addicts.

The Mediating Role of Symptoms of Psychopathology Between Irrational Beliefs and Internet Gaming Addiction

While Internet gaming addiction has recently been proposed as a disorder, it is still discussed whether it is to some extent an effect of other disorders. By integrating the results of the previous studies of Internet gaming addiction and the postulates of REBT theory, we set up two goals. One is to determine whether the symptoms of psychopathology are mediators between irrational and rational beliefs and Internet gaming addiction. Another goal is to compare a large number of symptoms of psychopathology and determine which of these have the greatest effect on the Internet gaming addiction. An online survey was conducted on a sample of online games users, 219 high school and university students of both sexes, aged 23.87 years on average, who filled in the Gaming Addiction Scale, the Symptom Checklist and Serbian version of the General Attitude and Belief Scale. The hypothesis that the symptoms of psychopathology have a mediatory role in a relationship between irrational beliefs and Internet gaming addiction has been confirmed. A more thorough analysis determined that the obsessive–compulsive symptoms are the main mediator. We can conclude that the exploration of this type of symptoms can be helpful in the preparation of prevention and treatment programs of Internet gaming addiction. However, future research with longitudinal design is required to verify the results.

Is the Internet gaming‐addicted brain close to be in a pathological state?

Internet gaming addiction (IGA) is becoming a common and widespread mental health concern. Although IGA induces a variety of negative psychosocial consequences, it is yet ambiguous whether the brain addicted to Internet gaming is considered to be in a pathological state. We investigated IGA-induced abnormalities of the brain specifically from the network perspective and qualitatively assessed whether the Internet gaming-addicted brain is in a state similar to the pathological brain. Topological properties of brain functional networks were examined by applying a graph-theoretical approach to analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired during a resting state in 19 IGA adolescents and 20 age-matched healthy controls. We compared functional distance-based measures, global and local efficiency of resting state brain functional networks between the two groups to assess how the IGA subjects' brain was topologically altered from the controls' brain. The IGA subjects had severer impulsiveness and their brain functional networks showed higher global efficiency and lower local efficiency relative to the controls. These topological differences suggest that IGA induced brain functional networks to shift toward the random topological architecture, as exhibited in other pathological states. Furthermore, for the IGA subjects, the topological alterations were specifically attributable to interregional connections incident on the frontal region, and the degree of impulsiveness was associated with the topological alterations over the frontolimbic connections. The current findings lend support to the proposition that the Internet gaming-addicted brain could be in the state similar to pathological states in terms of topological characteristics of brain functional networks.

Erratum to: Determinants of internet game addiction and therapeutic role of family leisure participation

Erratum to: Determinants of internet game addiction and therapeutic role of family leisure participation

Internet Game Addiction, Parental Attachment, and Parenting of Adolescents in South Korea

The adolescent-parent relationship is a major factor influencing juvenile delinquency, and Internet gaming addiction may exacerbate any conflict in that relationship. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among Internet game addiction, parental attachment, and parental attitude toward the rearing of adolescents in South Korea. The initial selected convenience sample comprised 624 middle school and high school students. Self-reported measures of an Internet Game Addiction Scale, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment–Revised version, and the modified Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire were analyzed. A significant relationship was found between Internet game addiction and both parental attachment and the adolescents’ perception of parenting of adolescents. Those helping adolescents with an Internet game addiction should consider not only the adolescents’ Internet game usage pattern but also their relationship with their parents.

The Mediating Effects of Career Attitude Maturity in the Relationship between Family Stress and Internet Game Addiction of Middle School Students

The Mediating Effects of Career Attitude Maturity in the Relationship between Family Stress and Internet Game Addiction of Middle School Students

Early adolescent Internet game addiction in context: How parents, school, and peers impact youth

The aim of this study was to identify the underlying mediating mechanisms between the parent–adolescent relationship and Internet game addiction (IGA). A sample of 833 adolescents initially in the 7th grade completed anonymous questionnaires regarding the parent–adolescent relationship, school connectedness, deviant peer affiliation, and IGA during a one year period. Structural equation models showed that both school connectedness and deviant peer affiliation fully mediated the association between the parent–adolescent relationship and adolescent IGA. School connectedness also significantly predicted deviant peer affiliation, forming a sequential mediation model. In general, the results indicated that a low quality parent–adolescent relationship predicted IGA by way of diminishing school connectedness and enhancing affiliations with deviant peers. The non-significant pathway from parent–adolescent relationship to adolescent IGA supports the idea that a distal parent–adolescent relationship still retains a substantial influence on the development of adolescents’ IGA, but through the more important proximal variables of school connectedness and deviant peer affiliation. Identifying the processes by which the parent–adolescent relationship is associated with adolescents’ IGA has important implications for developing an integrative framework of theory and prevention.

Determinants of internet game addiction and therapeutic role of family leisure participation

This study aims to quantitatively analyze which variables are critical in determining the level of Internet game addiction (IGA) among the Korean adolescents and investigate the role of family leisure as therapy with interdisciplinary perspectives. The results indicate that some personal and household characteristics, including gender, are significant determinants of the level of IGA, where male adolescents, compared to their female counterparts, are proven to be more prone to the addiction. Nevertheless, a substantial portion of the variation in the level of addiction is not explained by personal or household variables, which implies the importance of adopting interdisciplinary approach such as focusing on the dopamine reward system as intensively investigated in the fields including neurobiology, medicine and psychology. The result also shows that the role of family leisure programs deserves more attention. In cases where the adolescents do participate in leisure activities with their family, the level of IGA seems to decrease, compared to those who do not. This quantitative finding is consistent with the previous findings that exercise and social contact encourage the functions of dopamine receptors, implying the usefulness of the interdisciplinary approaches to deal with IGA problems.

Factors Affecting Internet Gaming Addiction:SNS Addiction Tendencies, Self-Esteem, and Interpersonal Relationships among Male Middle School Students

The aims of this study were to verify SNS addiction tendencies, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships and to construct a hypothetical structural model which explains internet game addiction in male middle school students and to test the fitness with collected data. The data were collected via structural questionnaires completed by 213 male students attending a middle school located in Seoul who agreed to participate in this study. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between SNS addiction tendencies and self-esteem, and there were positive correlations among SNS addiction tendencies, interpersonal relationships, and internet gaming addiction. Also, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between interpersonal relationships and self-esteem and a negative correlation between internet gaming addiction and interpersonal relationships. AMOS 20.0 analysis was used to determine the influence of internet game addiction and to identify its correlation with SNS addiction tendencies. The overall fitness indices hypothetical model was good: (Χ2= 78.981, p<.001), Χ2//df =3.43, CFI= .962, TLI=.941, RMSEA=.080. Out of 5 paths, 5 were statistically significant. SNS addiction had the greatest impact on Internet game addiction among the male middle school students in this model.Keywords: Internet Gaming Addiction, Interpersonal Relationships, Self-Esteem, SNS Addiction

소아정신의학 역사 속의 진단기준 발전과 현상학적 기술정신의학

Phenomenology has been developed by philosophers like Kant and Husserl since the late 18th century. Jaspers, a German psychiatrist, adopted it into psychopathology studies and accumulated data by closely observing and recording the patients' symptoms and signs. Among descriptions done even before the psychopathology or diagnostic criteria of disorders in the field of child psychiatry was established, we can find exact and valuable descriptions matching the autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The diagnostic criteria of modern childhood psychiatric disorders were established based on these grounds. Phenomenological/descriptive methods in various psychiatric fields lead to medical study methods for social phenomenon such as oiettolie, hikikomori, and internet game addiction. Since Romanian orphans were adopted to the western world, descriptive studies along with neurobiological studies on the influence of stimulus deprivation on emotional and physical development are being conducted. While phenomenology, which was adopted by Jaspers to verify psychopathology, was developed mainly by observation and description, recent studies are explaining such descriptive phenomena even at the synapse level due to advances in neurobiology. Although phenomenological/descriptive psychiatry, describing precise and detailed experiences of patients, is less applied nowadays among modern study methods, we must remember that such descriptions may lead to biological studies and provide evidence to improve the accuracy of choosing and applying treatment methods.

한국의 인터넷 게임 셧다운제 정책의 효과성에 대한 연구

본 논문은 국내에서 실시되고 있는 인터넷게임 셧다운제의 효과성에 대한 분석을 한다. 청소년보호를 목적으로 정부(문화체육관광부와 여성가족부)에 의하여 실시되고 있는 선택적 셧다운제와 강제적 셧다운제의 효과성을 검증하는 데 중점을 둔다. 분석 결과 인터넷게임과 게임중독간의 원인관계를 명확히 증명하기 어렵다. 또한 인터넷게임 셧다운제 정책만으로는 인터넷게임 중독을 예방할 수 없음을 밝힌다. 이를 기반으로 하여 청소년들의 인터넷게임 중독예방을 위한 다양한 정책을 제언한다.