Gaming Disorder Test Research Articles

The gaming disorder test and gaming disorder scale for adolescents: translation and validation among Vietnamese young adults

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A) have promising validity and reliability when assessing symptoms of gaming disorder among young adults. However, validity and reliability properties of the two scales have not been established among a Vietnamese population.ObjectiveThe present study translated the GDT and GADIS-A into Vietnamese and examined their factor structures, measurement invariance, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and divergent validity among university students.MethodsA total of 610 young adults (mean age = 21.09 years; 63.4% females) were recruited using convenience sampling and who completed a paper-and-pencil survey between April and June 2023. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire, GDT, GADIS-A, and six standardized scales related to gaming disorder, social media addiction, smartphone addiction, and psychological distress. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency testing, and Pearson’s correlations were performed.ResultsCFA showed that the GDT had a one-factor structure and the GADIS-A had a two-factor structure. The internal consistency was excellent for both scales among this population. Moreover, both GDT and GADIS-A showed convergent, concurrent, and divergent validity with other standardized scales.ConclusionThe Vietnamese versions of the GDT and GADIS-A have good psychometrics, which may be utilized in future research regarding gaming disorder among Vietnamese populations.

The Gaming Disorder Identification Test (GADIT) - A screening tool for Gaming Disorder based on ICD-11.

Gaming Disorder was included as an addictive disorder in the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), published in 2022. The present study aimed to develop a screening tool for Gaming Disorder, the Gaming Disorder Identification Test (GADIT), based on the four ICD-11 diagnostic criteria: impaired control, increasing priority, continued gaming despite harm, and functional impairment. We reviewed 297 questionnaire items from 48existing gaming addiction scales and selected 68 items based on content validity. Two datasets were collected: 1)an online panel (N = 803) from Australia, United States, United Kingdom andCanada, split into a development set (N = 589) and a validation dataset (N = 214); and 2) a university sample (N = 408) from Australia. Item response theory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to select eight items to form the GADIT. Validity was established by regressing theGADIT against known correlates of Gaming Disorder. Confirmatory factor analyses ofthe GADIT showed good model fit (RMSEA=<0.001-0.108; CFI = 0.98-1.00), and internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alphas = 0.77-0.92). GADIT scores were strongly associated with the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), and significantly associated with gaming intensity, eye fatigue, hand pain, wrist pain, back or neck pain, and excessive in-game purchases, inboth the validation and the university sample datasets. The GADIT has strong psychometric properties in two independent samples from four English-speaking countries collected through different channels, and shown validity against existing scales and variables that are associated with Gaming Disorder. A cut-off of 5 is tentatively recommended for screening for Gaming Disorder.

Mokken scale analysis of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form and the Gaming Disorder Test

In recent years, research on Gaming Disorder (GD) has grown substantially with researchers developing different psychometric tools for assessing disordered gaming. Two of the most prominent tools are the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) and the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT), which assess disordered gaming under the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) frameworks respectively. The main aim of this study was to assess and compare the scalability, reliability, and validity of both scales to determine if the tools effectively assess GD in a normative sample, through the Mokken Scale Analysis (MSA). A sample of 605 participants (42.31 % female, meanage = 23.98 years, SD = 9.21 years) was recruited for the present study. Results showed that both the IGDS9-SF and GDT were unidimensional, with all items presenting latent monotonicity fitting in the Monotone Homogeneity Model (MHM). Item characteristic curves did not intersect and presented with adequate fit in the Double Monotonicity Model (DMM). These findings further support the psychometric adequacy of the IGDS9-SF and GDT, attesting to their suitability to assess disordered gaming.

Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) in a sample of Quebec French-speaking youth and associations with trauma and PTSD.

Validation of the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) in a sample of Quebec French-speaking youth and associations with trauma and PTSD.

What are escapists made of, and what does it have to do with excessive gambling and gaming?

AbstractResearch shows that escapism and frustration of basic psychological needs are linked with gambling and gaming problems, but an effect of escapism combined with restricted autonomy, competence, and relatedness on excessive gambling and gaming remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify shared characteristics of people who engage in escapist behavior and analyze to what extent the interaction of escapism and basic psychological need frustration predicts excessive gambling and gaming. We conducted a five-wave longitudinal survey with Finnish residents aged 18–75 years (n = 1530, 50.33% male) from April 2021 (T1) to April–May 2023 (T5). Measures included the Problem Gambling Severity Index, the ten-item Internet Gaming Disorder Test, and three escapism-specific questions. We analyzed the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale, sociodemographic controls, and personality traits using multilevel regression models. We found that escapism was related to autonomy frustration, competence frustration, male gender, impulsivity, openness, and having a significant other who has experienced gambling problems. Escapism predicted excessive gambling, and competence frustration moderated this association. Escapism also predicted excessive gaming, and autonomy frustration and competence frustration moderated this association. Research on and treatment of excessive gambling and gaming should consider these underlying factors driving escapism.

The impacts of stress and loneliness on gambling and gaming problems: A nationwide longitudinal study.

Problems related to gambling and digital gaming have been a topic of concern for years. Less attention has been paid to the probable psychosocial factors behind these problems. While previous studies have established links between stress, loneliness, and addiction, there is a lack of longitudinal research investigating how stress and loneliness affect addictive behaviors, including problem gambling and gaming. This study uses multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models to analyze the between- and within-person effects of stress and loneliness on gambling and gaming problems. The interaction between stress and loneliness was also investigated. A representative sample of Finns (N = 1,530) answered a survey in 6-month intervals between spring 2021 and autumn 2023; 49.22% of the sample took part at all six time points. The Problem Gambling Severity Index and the Internet Gaming Disorder Test were used to measure gambling and gaming problems. The three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale was used to assess loneliness, and the Perceived Stress Scale was used to evaluate stress. After controlling for gender and age, loneliness was found to increase only gaming problems at both the between- and within-person levels, but not gambling. In contrast, stress enhanced both gambling and gaming problems at the between- and within-person levels. Additionally, loneliness and stress were found to have negative interaction suggesting that their combined effect was lower than their separate effects. The findings provide longitudinal insight into the psychosocial vulnerabilities behind problem gambling and gaming, which can be helpful in designing targeted interventions.

Network structures of internet gaming disorder and gaming disorder: Symptom operationalization causes variation.

From 2022, the International Classification of Diseases, eleventh edition (ICD-11) includes the first mental disorder based on digital technology, "gaming disorder," which was previously suggested as a condition for further examination in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). In this cross-sectional study, we provide the first large-scale network analysis of various symptom structures for these constructs to understand the complex interconnections between their proposed symptoms. Culturally diverse samples of 2,846 digital game players (M = 25.3 years) and 746 esports players (M = 23.5 years) were recruited. A network approach was applied to explore a multiverse of gaming disorder symptom structures, effects of item operationalization, and possible external moderators. Gaming disorder was measured using the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale 9-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), Gaming Disorder Test, and several items borrowed from Chinese Internet Gaming Disorder Scale, Personal Internet Gaming Disorder Evaluation-9, and Clinical Video game Addiction Test 2.0 scales. Two symptoms (loss of control and continued use despite problems) present in both, the DSM-5 and ICD-11, were systematically central to most of the analyzed networks. Alternative operationalizations of single items systematically caused significant network differences. Networks were invariant across groups of play style, age, gender, gaming time, and most of the psychosocial characteristics. Our results caution practitioners and researchers when studying and interpreting gaming disorder symptoms. The data indicate that even minor operational changes in symptoms can lead to significant network-level changes, thus highlighting the need for careful wording. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Colliding harms of gambling and gaming: A four-wave longitudinal population study of at-risk gambling and gaming in Finland.

Aims: Both gambling and digital gaming are growing in popularity and there is ongoing discussion about their convergence. This population-based longitudinal survey study investigated how gambling and digital gaming types contribute to at-risk gambling and gaming. Methods: The study was based on a representative sample of 18-75-year-olds from mainland Finland. Survey data were collected at 6-month intervals in 2021-2022, starting in April 2021. Of original T1 respondents, 58.95% took part in all four time points. In total, 3,608 observations from 902 individuals were analysed. Outcome measures were at-risk gambling and gaming based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index and the Internet Gaming Disorder Test. Various types of gambling and gaming were investigated. Results: Population-averaged models showed that different forms of gambling were associated with a higher risk of at-risk gaming. Online casino games were associated with the highest likelihood of at-risk gambling and gaming. Prevalence of digital gaming problems was low. Hybrid models were used to investigate the longitudinal within-person and between-person effects of gambling and gaming activities. Online casino games and offline slot machines increased at-risk gambling. Microtransactions within digital games increased at-risk gambling and gaming over time, but the amount of money spent on digital gaming was small compared to gambling. Conclusions: Our results underline the risks of EGMs and online gambling for the participants. Although gambling and gaming are converging, harm is mostly based on gambling.

Psychometric Properties of the Thai Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Thai Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A)

ABSTRACT The present study examined psychometric properties of the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Adolescents (GADIS-A), among Thai university students. A convenience sample of university students (n = 612) completed an online survey. . A one-factor structure for GDT, and a two-factor structure for GADIS-A were confirmed . Omega coefficients for both scales were acceptable. . There were positive significant associations between the assessed scales and other related measures indicating convergent validity. Appropriate fit indices were found (across gender and daily time spent gaming supporting measurement invariance. The GDT and GADIS-A are appropriate instruments to assess gaming disorders among Thai university students. .

Gaming disorder test: Assessing psychometric properties, prevalence, temporal stability, and invariance using a Czech two-time-point longitudinal sample

In 2019, Gaming Disorder (GD) was acknowledged as an official diagnosis by the World Health Organization. The Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) is the most widely used tool to measure GD; however, due to its novelty, various measurement properties are still unexplored, and the number of validated language variants is still limited. The present study is the first to assess the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the GDT. Further, it focuses on its temporal prevalence and stability, gaming genre invariance, and criterion validity. A large-scale sample of adult Czech gamers collected at two points within nine months was analysed – T1 N = 5356; T2 N = 6077; longitudinal sample N = 1430. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modelling (SEM), and multigroup CFA were employed to assess the measurement invariance. The study confirmed the one-factor structure of the GDT and showed that it is invariant across preferred gaming genres and the time of data collection. It showed a negative relationship with life satisfaction and a positive relationship with anxiety, even when controlling for their mutual relationships. The prevalence in the longitudinal sample was equal to or below 1.9% in each wave, but only 0.5% in the longitudinal sample (hence n = 7 participants fulfilled in both waves the criteria for GD). The study suggests that the Czech version of the GDT has good psychometric properties, including temporal stability and invariance across gaming genres, so it is suitable for the survey type and epidemiological investigation of the ICD-11's Gaming Disorder.

Online communities as a risk factor for gambling and gaming problems: A five-wave longitudinal study

Online communities are becoming increasingly important in everyday life, providing opportunities for leisure habits and social organization. Some online communities are also considered risky for participants, but longitudinal studies on the potential negative consequences are needed. This social psychological study was grounded in theories of group behavior and social identification. We examined the longitudinal associations between participation in gambling and gaming online communities and excessive gambling and gaming. The role of social media identity bubbles was also considered. We used linear hybrid models and longitudinal data comprising five time points (T1–T5) to analyze within- and between-person associations. Nationally representative data were collected from Finnish respondents aged 18–75 (N = 1530) between 2021 and 2023. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used to measure gambling problems, and the Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT) was used to measure gaming problems. The Identity Bubble Reinforcement Scale (IBRS) measured involvement in social media identity bubbles. The results indicated that participating in online communities was associated with both gambling and gaming problems at the within- and between-person levels. Interaction analyses showed that these problems were increased among active online community users who were also involved in online identity bubbles. Online identity bubbles play a significant role in the process by which non-problematic leisure activities can become addictive behaviors.

Comparing psychopathological symptoms, life satisfaction, and personality traits between the WHO and APA frameworks of gaming disorder symptoms: A psychometric investigation.

The inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in the fifth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association and Gaming Disorder in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization requires consistent psychological measures for reliable estimates. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT), the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), and the Five-Item Gaming Disorder Test (GDT-5) and to compare the WHO and the APA frameworks of gaming disorder symptoms in terms of psychopathological symptoms, life satisfaction, and personality traits. A sample of 723 Swedish gamers was recruited (29.8% women, 68.3% men, 1.9% other, Mage = 29.50 years, SD = 8.91). The results indicated notable differences regarding the estimated possible risk groups between the two frameworks. However, the association between gaming disorder symptoms and personality traits, life satisfaction, and psychopathological symptoms appeared consistent across the two frameworks. The results showed excellent psychometric properties in support of the one-factor model of the GDT, IGDT-10, and GDT-5, including good reliability estimates (McDonald's omega) and evidence of construct validity. Additionally, the results demonstrated full gender and age measurement invariance of the GDT, IGDT-10, and GDT-5, indicating that gaming disorder symptoms are measured equally across the subgroups. These findings demonstrate that the IGDT-10, GDT-5, and GDT are appropriate measures for assessing gaming disorder symptoms and facilitating future research in Sweden.

Validation of the ACSID-11 for consistent screening of specific Internet-use disorders based on ICD-11 criteria for gaming disorder: A multitrait-multimethod approach

IntroductionWith the inclusion of gaming disorder in the ICD-11, diagnostic criteria were introduced for this relatively new disorder. These criteria may be applied to other potential specific Internet-use disorders. The 11-item Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) was developed for consistent screening of gaming disorder, online buying-shopping disorder, online pornography-use disorder, social networks-use disorder, and online gambling disorder. This study tested the construct validity of the ACSID-11, including convergent and divergent measures. MethodsThe ACSID-11 measures five behavioral addictions with the same set of items by following the principles of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ACSID-11 was administered to a convenience sample of active Internet users (N = 1597) together with validated and established measures of each specific Internet-use disorder along with screeners for mental health. Included are the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10), the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS), the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS), the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Berlin Inventory of Gambling behavior – Screening (BIG-S). The ACSID-11 was compared convergently and divergently through a multitrait-multimethod approach along with contingency tables with the other Internet-use disorder screeners. ResultsThe multitrait-multimethod results shows that each behavior assessed with the ACSID-11 has moderate to strong correlations (r's from 0.462 to 0.609) with the scores of the corresponding established measures and, furthermore, positive correlations (r's from 0.122 to 0.434) with measures of psychological distress and further shows that the ACSID-11 can be used for a comprehensive assessment of different behaviors. The contingency tables reveal large divergences between the ACSID-11 and other screening instruments concerning the classification of problematic specific Internet use based on the given cut-off values. ConclusionThe current work provides additional validation for the ACSID-11. Accordingly, this tool can be considered as reliable and valid for the simultaneous assessment of different Internet-use disorders: gaming disorder, online buying-shopping disorder, online pornography use disorder, social networks use disorder, and online gambling disorder. With a subsequent clinical validation of the scale and the proposed cut-off score, the ACSID-11 will be a thoroughly validated useful screening tool for clinical practice.

No End in Sight; Assessing the Impact of Internet Gaming Disorder on Digital Eye Strain Symptoms and Academic Success.

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been associated with symptoms of Digital Eye Strain (DES) and poor academic performance among adolescent students. The purpose of this study is to assess whether a student's achievement of a specific academic goal within a short period of time can be directly predicted by symptoms of IGD and DES. This is a cross-sectional survey of 140 high school graduates who received an examination of visual acuity as a pre-requisite for entering the written admission examinations of law enforcement and military academies. The students completed the Digital Eye Strain Questionnaire (DESQ) and the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) and stated their own evaluation of their chances for success. They were contacted following their admission examinations, and their success or failure to be admitted was recorded. The students with IGD symptomatology were more likely to present with symptoms of DES. They were also more pessimistic about their chances of success in the subsequent written admission examinations; none succeeded, while the rest of the students recorded an expected rate of success. A combination of IGD and complaints related to the prolonged fixation of the upper body in a specific viewing position was the best predictor variable set for future success in admission examinations. IGD is associated with a failure to achieve academic success. Combining a factor for physical discomfort during prolonged sessions of gaming with the typical criteria for IGD may expand the predictive validity of the construct of gaming disorder.

Extended hours of video game play and negative physical symptoms and pain

BackgroundVideo games are a source of positive experiences and joy for many people. However, some interaction styles may lead to negative consequences. We aimed to examine the potential negative physical problems associated with video gaming behaviors. MethodData were from the 2022 International Gaming Study (IGS22), a cross-sectional survey of 955 individuals aged 18–94 (M = 46.10 [16.19]; 45% male) who played video games. We examined the association between prolonged continuous game play and physical problems identified in the past 12 months. ResultsPlaying video games for three or more hours in one session was associated with higher odds of negative physical symptoms (e.g., overall physical problems, OR = 2.80 [95% CI: 1.52–5.16, p < 0.001 and back or neck pain, OR = 2.19 [95% CI: 1.28–3.74], p < 0.01). Those who met the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) threshold for internet gaming disorder had four times higher odds of physical problems. The positive associations between extended gaming behavior and physical symptoms were not moderated by age, gender, plans to be a professional player, or meeting the diagnostic criteria for internet gaming disorder. ConclusionsPhysical problems and pain occur disproportionately in individuals who engage in extended hours of continuous game play, including risk, women, individuals in older age groups, and those without internet gaming disorder. Video game players across the demographic spectrum should be alerted to these risks,

Prevalence and Assessment of Internet Gaming Disorder in Psychiatric Outpatient Treatment

Abstract: Aim: While Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in the general population has a prevalence of 0.6-3.5 %, its frequency and relevance among clinical samples remains unclear. The present investigation aims at assessing the prevalence of IGD in an adult sample in a German psychiatric outpatient clinic and to identify potential predictors that could be helpful for screening for IGD. Methods: We performed a naturalistic retrospective study on data collected via a self-report survey including the Ten Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT10). Problematic gaming was defined as either reaching the proposed IGDT10 cut-off for IGD or “gamer at risk” or having self-reported problems and negative consequences related to gaming. Age, gender, comorbid diagnoses and response patterns in the IGDT10 were analyzed. Results: 299 outpatients participated in the survey, with 54 % confirming engagement in gaming. 2.0 % (n=6) of the participants fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for IGD and almost all of these (n=5) gave a self-report of problems related to gaming. 5.0 % of the participants met our wider definition of problematic gaming (n=15; 13 male; mean age= 25.3 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of IGD-affected patients resembled results found in epidemiological studies in the general population. Analyses suggest that for an effective screening assessment, particularly questions regarding subjective impairment related to gaming patterns could be helpful.

Deep learning(s) in gaming disorder through the user-avatar bond: A longitudinal study using machine learning.

Gaming disorder [GD] risk has been associated with the way gamers bond with their visual representation (i.e., avatar) in the game-world. More specifically, a gamer's relationship withtheir avatar has been shown to provide reliable mental health information about the user in their offline life, such as their current and prospective GD risk, if appropriately decoded. Tocontribute to the paucity of knowledge in this area, 565 gamers (Mage = 29.3 years; SD =10.6) were assessed twice, six months apart, using the User-Avatar-Bond Scale (UABS) and the Gaming Disorder Test. Aseries of tuned and untuned artificial intelligence [AI] classifiers analysed concurrently and prospectively their responses. Findings showed that AI models learned to accurately and automatically identify GD risk cases, based on gamers' reported UABS score, age, and length of gaming involvement, both concurrently and longitudinally (i.e., six months later). Random forests outperformed all other AIs, while avatar immersion was shown to be the strongest training predictor. Study outcomes demonstrated that the user-avatar bond can be translated into accurate, concurrent and future GD risk predictions using trained AI classifiers. Assessment, prevention, and practice implications are discussed in the light of these findings.

In search of the relationship between predisposition to addictions and impulsivity in online players from the resentment perspective

Over the past few years, there has been a great development of audiovisual electronic media. It brings great opportunities in many scientific fields but is also subject to many judgments of criticism from opponents. Therefore, in view of the enormity of the changes and expansion of the culture, many circles wonder and analyze what changes occur among adults under the influence of these means and especially online games. The author, based on his own research, presents a new psychological approach between the predisposition to addictions and impulsivity in the light of ressentiment. Seventy-two people participated in the study, and the IVE Impulsivity Questionnaire, UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20 Test) and Ressentiment Questionnaire were used. The results of the study showed that there is a link between impulsivity and addiction propensity, but it is determined by the degree of impulsivity in a person. On the other hand, ressentiment in the emotion regulatory system appeared as a negative feeling resulting from a sense of unfulfillment in an online game causing a mental state that extends over time and is underpinned by various types of emotionally tinged reactions. What can cause these feelings to turn into revenge without concrete actions-inducing hatred, but not leading to infliction of harm-and causing jealousy, which will not be confirmed by acts of jealousy. In light of this research, the negative emotion that is generated during online game interaction relates to personal experiences and can affect the emotional state and components of environmental attitudes.

A Four-Item Questionnaire to Measure Problematic Social Media Use: The Social Media Disorder Test.

While the use of video games and social media is an enjoyable recreational activity for most users, a minority develop problematic patterns of use. In the ICD-11, for the first time, there is a category of "disorders due to addictive behaviors" (including gaming disorder). The scientific literature also suggests a potential for the problematic use of social media. Economic screening tools for this are still needed. A very economical questionnaire to record gaming disorder is the ICD-11-based Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). The purpose of the present survey was to investigate the psychometric properties of an adapted questionnaire (Social Media Disorder Test, SMDT) to assess problematic social media use (PSMU). Therefore, 443 youths (mean age: 20.11 years) were examined with the SMDT and other measures regarding PSMU, self-control, and psychopathology. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability and correlation analyses were conducted. For the SMDT, we observed very good fit indices in the CFA, suggesting a one-factor structure; the reliability coefficient was 0.90, and we found the first indications for criterion validity. If the results can be confirmed, the SMDT, with its four questions, would be a very economical instrument to measure PSMU based on the ICD-11 criteria for behavioral addictions.

Internet gaming disorder in medical students: Is it a risk factor for poor educational outcomes?

Background: Today, computer games have taken a prominent place in the lives of children and teenagers, and statistics indicate that online gaming constitutes the majority of computer usage. Numerous studies have explored the detrimental effects of internet gaming on individuals. However, to date, no comprehensive research has been conducted specifically investigating the effect of online gaming on academic performance within a medical education context. To address this gap, we have conducted this study, focusing on the impact of online gaming on the academic performance of Iranian medical students. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 185 medical students from four disciplines ((basic sciences, Physiopathology, extern, intern) were selected through a multi-stage sampling method at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Internet gaming disorder (IGD) test as well as the grade point average (GPA) of the last academic semester, the average study hours on normal days and near the exam, the efficiency of study hours, the number of failed semesters, and academic satisfaction were assessed. Results: In this study, a total of 185 medical students participated, of which 62.2% (115 students) were females. The prevalence of IGD was found to be 3.8%. Interestingly, the prevalence of IGD was approximately four times higher in males than in females (7.1% vs. 1.7%, P=0.106). Furthermore, both the overall daily study time (P&lt;0.001) and the daily study time on days near exams (P=0.031) were found to be significantly higher in students without IGD compared to those with IGD. However, factors such as age, gender, being native to Mashhad, discipline level, last GPA, number of failed semesters, and satisfaction with education showed no correlation with IGD. Conclusion: These findings may serve as a cautionary signal for educational authorities within the Iranian medical education system. However, to obtain more robust results, further investigations are recommended, particularly in other academic majors.