Gaming Disorder Research Articles

Diurnal Profiles of the Endocrine Stress Response in Internet Gaming Disorder

Background: Differences in subjective stress perception and acute response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been reported in internet gaming disorder (IGD). The present study aimed to further investigate alterations in diurnal profiles of the endocrine stress response system in IGD compared to healthy controls (HCs). Methods: The diurnal course of endocrine markers (salivary cortisol and α-amylase) was investigated in a clinical sample of n = 29 adolescents with IGD compared to n = 26 HC. Further, the effect of unrestricted gaming versus restricted gaming was examined within the IGD group. Results: No significant differences in salivary cortisol and α-amylase were observed comparing adolescents with IGD and HC. In addition, in the IGD group, there were no significant differences in salivary cortisol and α-amylase between conditions of unrestricted gaming versus restricted gaming. Compared to the HC group, the IGD group showed a significantly higher body mass index. Conclusions: Our results indicate no alteration in diurnal profiles of the endocrine stress response in IGD.

Alterations of gray matter asymmetry in internet gaming disorder.

Structural asymmetry is a subtle but pervasive property of the human brain, which has been found altered in various psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders. However, little is known regarding potential alterations of structural asymmetry underlying internet gaming disorder (IGD). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the structural features of gray matter asymmetry in IGD. High-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 104 individuals with IGD and 104 recreational game users (RGUs). We applied a whole-brain voxel-based asymmetry (VBA) approach to determine the asymmetrical aberrations of gray matter in relation to IGD. Furthermore, the local abnormalities of structural asymmetry were employed as features to examine the effect of classification using a support vector machine (SVM). The results indicated that individuals with IGD as compared to RGUs showed asymmetrical alterations of gray matter in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), orbitofrontal cortex, precuneus, middle temporal gyrus, superior parietal lobule and inferior temporal gyrus, regions implicated in hedonic motivation, self-reflection, information integration and visuospatial attention processing. Moreover, these atypical asymmetrical features can distinguish IGD subjects from RGUs with high accuracy. These results suggested that disrupted structural asymmetry of motivational reward, visuospatial and default mode circuits might be potential biomarkers for identifying pathological gaming dependence. These findings extended our understanding of structural underpinnings of IGD and provided new insights for developing effective interventions to alleviate compulsive gaming usage.

A cross-sectional descriptive analysis of technology addiction in adolescents: associations with food addiction, emotional eating, and body weight status.

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of technology addiction (TA) in adolescents, as well as investigate the association of TA with food addiction and emotional eating by body weight status. Adolescents (n = 1388) completed a questionnaire that featured socio-demographic characteristics, the Game Addiction Scale (GAS), the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMD), the dimensional Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (dYFAS-C 2.0), and the Emotional Eating Scale Adapted for Use in Children and Adolescents (EES-C). The body mass index (BMI) Z-score was classified according to the World Health Organization. TA was present in one-fifth of adolescents, and boys were four times more likely to develop a digital game addiction (p < 0.001). A 1-point increase in the GAS score is associated with a 1.08-point increase in the dYFAS-C-2.0 score and a 0.5-point increase in the total EES-C score (p < 0.001). A 1-point increase in the SMD score was also related to an increased of 1.21 and 1.26, respectively (p < 0.001). All of these positive associations were significant in adolescents with overweight (p < 0.001). Given the rapidly increasing prevalence of TA among adolescents, its association with food addiction, emotional eating, and body weight status is worrisome, and our findings shed light on the relevance of developing strategies to reduce the prevalence of TA in this population.

The Role of Videogame Micro-Transactions in the Relationship Between Motivations, Problem Gaming, and Problem Gambling.

Emerging research has highlighted potential associations between micro-transaction use and problematic videogame and gambling behaviour. An increasingly prominent theory highlights that self-determined motivations and basic psychological needs may play crucial roles in the development of problematic videogame and gambling behaviour. However, literature discussing the role thatmicro-transaction use has in this relationship is scarce. The present study examined the role of micro-transactions in the relationship between self-determined motivations for gaming and gambling and problematic behaviour (internet gaming disorder and problem gambling severity). A sample of 370 participants (74.1% male, Mage = 28.24years, SD = 7.88) answered questions related to their gaming and gambling motivations, basic psychological needs, micro-transaction use (i.e., type of micro-transaction, expenditure, and frequency of use), internet gaming disorder, and problem gambling. The present study used structural equation modelling methods to test relationships between these variables. The results indicated positive associations between extrinsic gaming and gambling motivations and frequency of micro-transaction use. Frequency of micro-transaction use (i) partially mediated the relationship between extrinsic gambling motivations and problem gambling severity, and (ii) fully mediated the relationship between externally regulated gaming motivations and problem gambling severity. Expenditure on micro-transactions and basic psychological needs were not found to be significant variables in the present study. Potential explanations for the findings, including a lack of self-esteem and a need to boost ego, social pressure, and rapid reward processes, are discussed. The implications and applications of the research are also discussed, focusing on limit setting and policy development focusing on frequency of micro-transaction use.

Internet Gaming Disorder and Problem Gambling Severity do not Predict Money and Time Spent on Games with Loot Boxes

Internet Gaming Disorder and Problem Gambling Severity do not Predict Money and Time Spent on Games with Loot Boxes

The role of mindfulness in treating gaming addiction in high school students: A case study in Vietnam

The objective of this study is to understand how mindfulness heals gaming addiction among high schoolers in Vietnam by sampling 200 individuals. The analyses thus performed are robust enough to reveal that multiples of psychological constructs related to mindfulness can influence the reduction of self-control, alleviation, related stress, and further emotional control, social and emotional skills, enhancement of focus and attention, motivation for a healthier diet, and reduction of dopamine dependence. The present results also show that this holds the functioning of mindfulness as a significant mediator in healing from gaming addiction, with additional correlations found among constructs. In this study, the increased break was found to contribute more to self-control, emotional regulation, and attention enhancement. This analysis shows that the model is valid and reliable, such that mindfulness interventions tend to mainstreamably nudge adolescents toward engaging in better behaviors. This study points out the necessity of incorporating mindfulness training in the treatment of gaming addiction and promises insights relevant to educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals that will be beneficial in aiding youth in their digital-age challenges with gaming.

Physical Activity as a Predictor of Internet Gaming Disorder in a Swiss Male Cohort (C-SURF): L'activité physique comme prédicteur des troubles liés aux jeux vidéo en ligne dans une cohorte de jeunes hommes suisses (C-SURF).

This study addresses the increasing global concerns surrounding Internet gaming disorder (IGD) by exploring their connection to physical activity (PA) as a potential preventive and early intervention measure. The research aims to examine the relationship between PA and the progression of IGD. Longitudinal data from the Cohort research on Substance Use Risk Factors involving young Swiss men undergoing army conscription was employed. PA levels were assessed using the International PA Questionnaire (IPAQ), while the Game Addiction Scale (GAS) and Compulsive Internet Use Scale determined IGD presence. Analysis involved zero-inflated negative binomial regression models. Higher PA levels were associated with lower IGD risk. Notably, individuals engaging in high physical exercise exhibited a lower IGD prevalence compared to those with moderate or low activity levels. The study suggests that intensive physical exercise might serve as a preventive strategy against developing IGD. This protective effect could stem from various mechanisms. However, the study's limitations, such as a male-only sample and a small low-activity group, should be considered when interpreting results. The longitudinal study demonstrates the positive influence of intense physical exercise on mitigating gaming-related issues. These findings underscore the potential of PA interventions in addressing the growing problem of IGDs and their impact on health. Further research is necessary to uncover underlying mechanisms behind the PA-IGD relationship and validate these findings across diverse demographics.

Group Motivational Interviewing for Adolescents at Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Preliminary Evaluation

Group Motivational Interviewing for Adolescents at Risk of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Mixed-Methods Preliminary Evaluation

Who Am I Inside the Screen? Construction of Virtual Identity in Multiplayer Online Videogames and Its Psychological Functions.

Virtual environments like online videogames offer increasingly more people the opportunity to socialize purely within the digital plane. These interactions, often done through customizable avatars, have brought about the concept of the "virtual-self," understood as the multiple identities that can be expressed in virtual environments. This can take many forms and fulfill different psychological roles, from portraying the individual's ideal-self to allowing them to explore what it feels like to be someone completely different. In this study, we used a constructivist perspective to put forward a typology of the different ways in which players construe their virtual identities in online videogames. We administered the repertory grid technique to 202 online videogame players to measure their perceived discrepancies between their actual-self (how they see themselves), ideal-self (how they wish to be), and virtual-self (how they see their main character in a game of their choice). After conducting a cluster analysis, we found three main patterns of virtual-self construal. The projection-type, where players with a high actual-ideal discrepancy created a virtual character resembling their ideal-self; the exploration-type, where players with a lower actual-ideal discrepancy tended to create a character that was different from both their actual and ideal selves; and the proximal-type, where players created characters that were similar to their actual-self. This typology can be a useful resource for any videogame research that wishes to include an identity perspective, as well as in the diagnosis and treatment of internet gaming disorder.

Relationship of strength and difficulty factors and video game addiction in adolescents of Denpasar Junior High School

Introduction: Video game addiction in adolescents can result in negative impacts on daily functioning, including personal, social, and educational. Finding the strength and difficulty factors and the related factors is beneficial for better diagnosis and treatment. Method: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional study design to examine the relationship between strength and difficulty factors and video game addiction. The research was conducted at three chosen junior high schools in Denpasar City from March to April 2024. The inclusion criteria are junior high school students in Denpasar City. The exclusion criteria were students with severe comorbidities, a history of psychiatric disorders, and who refused research approval. Data analysis consists of descriptive statistical analysis, proportional comparison analysis, and logistic regression tests. Result: From the 209 samples, 56.9% were male, 36.4% played long games, 71.3% had WIFI at home, and 64.6% had low-income parents. The distribution of supporting and confounding factors in the sample based on the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) found that the prevalence of abnormal emotions was 82 (39.2%), abnormal Conduct was 67 (32.1%), abnormal hyperactivity was 105 (50.2%), abnormal peer was 139 (66.5%), total difficulty (ECHP) was 131 (62.7%) and abnormal prosocial was 23 (11%).

Neurophysiological characteristics of reward processing in individuals at different levels of gaming.

Altered reward processing has been repeatedly reported in Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, it remains unclear whether these changes are linked to the severity of addictive symptoms or the extent of gaming experience. This study examined the neurophysiological responses regarding reward anticipation and consummation in individuals at different levels of gaming (including 22 casual gamers, 31 regular gamers, and 27 individuals with IGD) through a monetary incentive delay task. Three event-related potential components during reward anticipation-cue-related P300 (Cue-P3), contingent negative variation, and stimulus-preceding negativity (SPN)-and two during reward consummation-feedback-related negativity and feedback-related P300 (FB-P3)-were measured. We found that IGD individuals exhibited greater Cue-P3 but lower SPN amplitude compared to casual gamers, while regular gamers fell between the two without significant differences. Regressions indicated that more extensive gaming experience, rather than the severity of the symptoms, primarily contributed to the increased Cue-P3 in IGD. No group differences were found during reward consummation. Our results highlight disrupted reward anticipation processing in IGD, characterized by increased attention bias toward reward cues (Cue-P3) but diminished cognitive resources for reward anticipation (SPN) and emphasize the role of gaming experience in increased attention bias in IGD.

Mainland China's 2021 restrictions on under-18s' video game time were imposed when older 2019 restrictions already applied: Omitting the historical regulatory context is misleading.

Investigating the impacts of addiction policymaking following implementation is important. Effective policies should be considered for emulation elsewhere, whilst ineffective policies should be repealed. Zhou etal. (2024) reported how Mainland Chinese under-18s responded to the 2021 restrictions on their online videogame playtime, which were intended to curb online gaming addiction. However, Zhou etal. failed to mention that Mainland China had previously tried to achieve the same regulatory aim by imposing rules in 2019 that were more lenient than the 2021 rules but nonetheless restricted under-18s' gameplay time. These 2019 restrictions were neither acknowledged as crucial background in the introduction section nor accounted for by Zhou etal. when interpreting their results, thus giving readers the incorrect impression that the 2021 rules were the first ones introduced and that under-18s' gameplay time was not restricted at all prior to 2021. Importantly, Zhou etal.'s entire sample of young people therefore consisted not merely of 'heavy gamers' as they euphemistically described them as, but'counterplayers' who actively contravened the 2019 rules. The misleading omission of this context is a major limitation and misrepresentation. The results should be interpreted accordingly and not overgeneralised.

Interaction Effects Between Low Self-Control and Meaning in Life on Internet Gaming Disorder Symptoms and Functioning in Chinese Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Latent Moderated Structural Equation Modeling Study.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is an emerging behavioral addiction with mental health implications among adolescents. Low self-control is an established risk factor of IGD. Few studies have, however, examined the moderating role of meaning in life (MIL) on the relationships between low self-control and IGD symptoms and functioning. This study aimed to examine the effects of low self-control and MIL and their interaction effects on IGD symptoms and family and school functioning in a structural equation model. A sample of 2064 adolescents (967, 46.9% male; mean age 14.6 years) was recruited by multistage cluster random sampling from 5 middle schools in Sichuan, China, in 2022. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire with validated measures on low self-control, presence of MIL, search for MIL, IGD symptoms, school commitment, and family functioning. Construct validity, measurement invariance, and structural invariance of the measures were evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis across sex. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the indirect effects of low self-control and MIL on family and school functioning through IGD symptoms. Latent moderated structural equation modeling was performed to examine the interaction effects between low self-control and MIL on IGD symptoms, school commitment, and family functioning. All scales showed satisfactory model fit and scalar measurement invariance by sex. Males showed significantly greater IGD symptoms and lower levels of self-control (Cohen d=0.25-1.20, P<.001) than females. IGD symptoms were significantly and positively associated with impulsivity (β=.20, P=.01), temper (β=.25, P<.001), and search for meaning (β=.11, P=.048) and significantly and negatively associated with presence of meaning (β=-.21, P<.001). Presence of MIL and impulsivity showed a significant and negative interaction effect (β=-.11, SE .05; P=.03) on IGD symptoms. The positive effect of impulsivity on IGD symptoms was stronger among adolescents with low presence of MIL than those with high presence of MIL. Temper showed significant and positive interaction effects with presence of MIL (β=.08, SE .04; P=.03) and search for MIL (β=.08, SE .04; P=.04) on family functioning. The negative effects of temper on family functioning were stronger among adolescents with low levels of MIL than among those with high levels of MIL. This study provides the first findings on the interaction effects between low self-control and presence of MIL and search for MIL on IGD symptoms and functioning among a large sample of adolescents in rural China. The results have implications for targeted interventions to help male adolescents with lower self-control and presence of meaning.

Prevalence and Prediction of Video Gaming Addiction Among Saudi Adolescents, Using the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA)

Prevalence and Prediction of Video Gaming Addiction Among Saudi Adolescents, Using the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents (GASA)

Public school teachers' perceptions of internet gaming problems among students: current status and challenges

Objectives This study aimed to identify and understand the challenges faced by public school teachers regarding issues related to Internet gaming.Methods An electronic questionnaire was administered to 400 public school teachers in the Saitama Prefecture from September to November 2021. A total of 352 valid responses were obtained. The survey content included teachers' knowledge of gaming disorders, whether their students experienced gaming-related problems, difficulties perceived by teachers, how they discovered the problems, how they dealt with them, the challenges they faced in dealing with the problems, and desired support. Data were analyzed based on the teachers' roles, responsibilities, type of school, and knowledge of gaming difficulties. Fisher's exact probability tests were used to determine significance, and adjusted standardized residuals were used to assess the differences between groups.Results Nearly 63.1% of the teachers already had knowledge of gaming disorders, and 49.4% acknowledged the existence of students with gaming problems. The most common reasons for discovering problems were disrupted daily rhythm (51.7%) and increased tardiness and early dismissal (34.7%). The main actions taken to address gaming problems were "consultation and information sharing with families" (48.6%) and "individual guidance by teachers" (34.1%). Approximately half of the teachers indicated that they regularly experienced difficulties in activities related to prevention, early detection, student support, and interaction with parents. Specific challenges included limited guidance and involvement with families (61.4%) and the inability to intervene and provide effective support (62.5%). Teachers' support included programs for addiction recovery (56.8%), awareness programs for parents (56.0%), and staff training to increase the understanding of gaming disorders (50.5%). The responses varied according to teacher role and school type, indicating that implementation rates and difficulties were higher in middle schools.Conclusion We found that teachers tended to view internet gaming problems as family problems and provide complementary support for home education. Teachers also found it difficult to deal with students with gaming problems. Depending on the teacher's role in the school and the type of school, requests for support varied. Elementary and special-needs schools needed teaching materials that could be used for classroom and school-wide instruction and guidance for concerned students and their parents; junior high schools needed a consultation system with school counselors and other professionals and cooperation with healthcare; and high schools needed measures and support, including social support.

Risk Factor Analysis and Predictive Model Development for Problematic Internet Gaming Disorder Occurrence

&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Aim &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;To examine several aspects, such as sociodemographic, psychological, personality, and parenting characteristics, that may contribute to the occurrence of PIGD in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Additionally, the study intends to create a model that can accurately predict people who are at high risk of developing PIGD.&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;apple-converted-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Methods. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 participants aged 15-25 years in Yogyakarta. The data was gathered through the use of a questionnaire that consisted of demographic measures: the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale&amp;amp;mdash;Short Form (IGDS9-SF), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Big Five Inventory (BFI), and the Parenting Style Questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was utilized for data analysis in order to identify relevant risk factors and construct a risk prediction model.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span class=&amp;quot;apple-converted-space&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Results. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;The study revealed that certain sociodemographic characteristics (male and student), psychological factors (depression, anxiety, and stress), personality traits (high neuroticism, low conscientiousness), and authoritarian parenting style were all significant predictors of the occurrence of PIGD. These characteristics led to the creation of the risk prediction model, which demonstrated strong performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 (95% CI 0.80-0.90).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Conclusion. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Multifaceted issue and variety of risk factors influence PIGD. This study&amp;#039;s risk prediction model can effectively identify individuals at a heightened risk of developing PIGD. This allows for early and targeted preventative and treatment interventions to be implemented.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

The co-occurrence between symptoms of internet gaming disorder, depression, and anxiety in middle and late adolescence: A cross-lagged panel network analysis

The co-occurrence between symptoms of internet gaming disorder, depression, and anxiety in middle and late adolescence: A cross-lagged panel network analysis

The Influence of Loneliness and Self-Control on Online Game Addiction

The development of information technology has brought various conveniences to everyday life, including easier access to online games. However, a negative impact that is often overlooked is online game addiction which can adversely affect a person's physical, mental and social health. The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of loneliness and self-control on online game addiction in gaming community members. This study used a correlational quantitative approach with 220 research subjects from the online gaming community. This study used the OGA scale from Lemmens (2009) to measure online game addiction variables, UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 from Russel (1996) to measure loneliness variables, and Self-Control Scale (SCS) from Tangney (2004) to measure self-control variables. The results showed that there is a significant influence between loneliness and self-control on online game addiction.

Abnormal Granger causal connectivity based on altered gray matter volume and associated neurotransmitters of adolescents with internet gaming disorder revealed by a multimodal neuroimaging study

Although prior studies have revealed alterations in gray matter volume (GMV) among individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD). The brain's multifaceted functions hinge crucially on the intricate connections and communication among distinct regions. However, the intricate interaction of information between brain regions with altered GMV and other regions, and how they synchronize with various neurotransmitter systems, remains enigmatic. Therefore, we aimed to integrate structural, functional and molecular data to explore the GMV-based Granger causal connectivity abnormalities and their correlated neurotransmitter systems in IGD adolescents. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was firstly performed to investigate GMV differences between 37 IGD adolescents and 35 matched controls. Brain regions with altered GMV were selected as seeds for further Granger causality analysis (GCA). Two-sample t tests were performed using the SPM12 toolkit to compare the GMV and Granger causal connectivity between IGD and control groups (GRF corrected, Pvoxel<0.005, Pcluster<0.05). Then, GMV-based Granger causal connectivity was spatially correlated with PET- and SPECT-derived maps covering multifarious neurotransmitter systems. Multiple comparison correction was performed using false discovery rate (FDR). Compared with controls, IGD adolescents showed higher GMV in the caudate nucleus and lingual gyrus. For the GCA, IGD adolescents showed higher Granger causal connectivity from insula, putamen, supplementary motor area (SMA) and middle cingulum cortex (MCC) to the caudate nucleus, and lower Granger causal connectivity from superior/inferior parietal gyrus (SPG/IPG) and middle occipital gyrus (MOG) to the lingual gyrus. Besides, GMV-based Granger causal connectivity of IGD adolescents were associated with the dopaminergic, serotonergic, GABAergic and noradrenaline systems. This study revealed that the caudate nucleus and lingual gyrus may be the key sites of neuroanatomical changes in IGD adolescents, and whole-brain Granger causal connectivity abnormalities based on altered GMV involved large brain networks including reward, cognitive control, and visual attention networks, and these abnormalities are associated with a variety of neurotransmitter systems, which may be associated with higher reward sensitivity, cognitive control, and attention control dysfunction.

Hikikomori in the Middle East: The role of problematic gaming, social media use, and loneliness

Hikikomori, a form of severe social withdrawal has been found to be associated with behavioral addictions such as gaming addiction and problematic social media use (PSMU). Since literature related to hikikomori is lacking in the Middle East, this study aimed to determine whether there are significant differences in hikikomori-like traits between two different types of social media users and gamers and investigate loneliness as a potential mediator between hikikomori and the two types of problematic behaviors. A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed, collecting a final sample of 220 participants residing in Middle Eastern countries using a mixture of convenience and snowball sampling. Results showed that passive social media users demonstrated significantly greater hikikomori-like traits compared to active users. Furthermore, hikikomori-like traits exhibited significant positive associations with problematic gaming, PSMU, and loneliness. Two separate mediation analyses, the first with PSMU and a second with problematic gaming as predictors, revealed that loneliness acted as a significant mediator between both these problematic behaviors and hikikomori-like traits.