Internet Gaming Disorder Research Articles

Internet Gaming Disorder and Sleep Quality among Jordanian University Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Background Internet gaming disorder is defined as “Persistent and recurrent use of the internet to engage in games, often with other players, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.” It is a new evolving disorder that affects many life aspects; therefore, it needs further investigation among different population groups. IGD was introduced for the first time in 2013 in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and it suggested carrying out further research among different populations. In 2018, Gaming Disorder (GD) has officially become a type of addiction as the World Health Organization released the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) Aims The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of internet gaming disorder (IGD) and its association with sleep quality and academic performance among Jordanian university students aged 18-26. Our literature review revealed a lack of research on this topic concerning this specific population and culture. Therefore, our study aims to contribute to the existing literature and to provide insights that can inform prevention, assessment, and treatment strategies for those affected. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used by employing convenience and snowball sampling; a total of 2473 participants completed an electronic self-administered questionnaire that included the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-SF (IGDS9-SF) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Of these, 432 were excluded based on our criteria. Our inclusion criteria required participants to be Jordanian university students between the ages of 18 and 26, enrolled as undergraduates at Jordanian universities, and free of neurological or psychiatric conditions. Results The prevalence of IGD in this study was 15.2% and was more prevalent among males compared to females (p= <0.001). Poor sleep quality was reported by 64.6% of the study population and was more frequently observed in females. Age and academic achievements (GPA) were not associated with having IGD. When binary logistic regression was used, IGD (OR=1.882) positively predicted poor sleep quality. Conclusion Internet gaming disorder is common among Jordanian university students and is associated with poor sleep quality, and our findings have significant implications for policymakers, educators, and healthcare providers in raising awareness about the IGD and its impact on sleep quality.

Biomarkers of Internet Gaming Disorder-A Narrative Review.

Since game mechanics and their visual aspects have become more and more addictive, there is concern about the growing prevalence of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). In the current narrative review, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar databases for the keywords "igd biomarker gaming" and terms related to biomarker modalities. The biomarkers we found are grouped into several categories based on a measurement method and are discussed in the light of theoretical addiction models (tripartite neurocognitive model, I-PACE). Both theories point to gaming-related problems with salience and inhibition. The first dysfunction makes an individual more susceptible to game stimuli (raised reward seeking), and the second negatively impacts resistance to these stimuli (decreased cognitive control). The IGD patients' hypersensitivity to reward manifests mostly in ventral striatum (VS) measurements. However, there is also empirical support for a ventral-to-dorsal striatal shift and transition from goal-directed to habitual behaviors. The deficits in executive control are demonstrated in parameters related to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In general, the connection of PFC with reward under cortex nuclei seems to be dysregulated. Other biomarkers include reduced P3 amplitudes, high-frequency heart rate variability (HRV), and the number of eye blinks and saccadic eye movements during the non-resting state. A few studies propose a diagnostic (multimodal) model of IGD. The current review also comments on inconsistencies in findings in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and precuneus and makes suggestions for future IGD studies.

The role of attentional control in moderating attentional bias towards game-related stimuli in individuals with a high tendency for internet gaming addiction.

The aim of this study was to elucidate individual difference factors that modulate the attentional processing of game stimuli to explain the heterogeneity of extant findings. The current study examined whether individual differences in components of attentional control (AC-shifting and AC-focusing) moderated the link between internet gaming addiction symptom and attentional engagement to and disengagement biases from game-relevant cues. A total of 75 male undergraduate students who have played League of Legend (LOL) for more than 2 years completed well-established self-report questionnaires of internet gaming disorder symptoms and attentional control. The attentional bias toward game stimuli was measured for attentional engagement and disengagement using the attentional response to the distal vs. proximal emotional information (ARDPEI) task. The results revealed that attentional control was a significant moderator of the relationship between internet game addiction symptoms and attentional disengagement bias. Further analyses revealed a positive relationship between internet game addiction symptoms and attentional disengagement bias only among those with low levels of AC-shifting ability. Contrary to our expectations, AC-shifting also moderated the relationship between internet gaming disorder and attentional engagement bias. The positive relationship between internet game addiction symptoms and attentional engagement bias only appeared among those with low levels of AC-shifting ability. Individual differences in AC-focusing did not moderate the relationship between internet gaming disorder and any attentional bias. This study confirmed that the greater the symptoms of game addiction, the stronger the attentional bias, especially in individuals with low AC-shifting ability. Therefore, it is necessary to examine sub-factors of AC in understanding the nature of attentional bias mechanisms in the development of internet game addiction and consider it as a psychological intervention to improve attentional bias.

Internet Gaming Disorder and Aggression: A Cross-Sectional Study

Internet Gaming Disorder and Aggression: A Cross-Sectional Study

When Healthy Habits Turn Harmful: A Medical Perspective on Exercise Addiction

Behavioural addictions, also known as non-substance-related addictions, encompass a range of compulsive behaviours that closely mirror substance use disorders in their effects on the brain's reward system and the individual's daily life. These addictions include, but are not limited to, gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, compulsive shopping, and the focus of this review - exercise addiction. Exercise addiction is characterized by an intense, uncontrollable urge to engage in physical activity, despite potential negative consequences. Unlike substance use disorders, exercise addiction often remains underrecognized, overshadowed by the widespread promotion of regular physical activity as a healthy lifestyle choice. This review aims to offer a comprehensive overview of exercise addiction, covering its psychological origin and characteristics, diagnostic criteria, co-occurrence with other psychiatric disorders, epidemiology among athletes and management strategies.

Similarities and differences in dynamic properties of brain networks between internet gaming disorder and tobacco use disorder

BackgroundInternet gaming disorder (IGD) and tobacco use disorder (TUD) are two major addiction disorders that result in substantial financial loss. Identifying the similarities and differences between these two disorders is important to understand substance addiction and behavioral addiction. The current study was designed to compare these two disorders utilizing dynamic analysis. MethodResting-state data were collected from 35 individuals with IGD, 35 individuals with TUD and 35 healthy controls (HCs). Dynamic coactivation pattern analysis was employed to decipher their dynamic patterns. ResultsIGD participants showed decreased coactivation patterns within the default mode network (DMN) and between the DMN and the salience network (SN). The SN showed reduced coactivation patterns with the executive control network (ECN) and DMN, and the ECN showed decreased coactivation patterns with the DMN. In the TUD group, the DMN exhibited decreased coactivation patterns with the SN, the SN exhibited reduced coactivation patterns with the DMN and ECN, and the ECN showed decreased coactivation patterns with the DMN and within the ECN. Furthermore, the triple network model was fitted to the dynamic properties of the two addiction disorders. Decoding analysis results indicated that addiction-related memory and memory retrieval displayed similar dysfunctions in both addictions. ConclusionThe dynamic characteristics of IGD and TUD suggest that there are similarities in the dynamic features between the SN and DMN and differences in the dynamic features between the DMN and ECN. Our results revealed that the two addiction disorders have dissociable brain mechanisms, indicating that future studies should consider these two addiction disorders as having two separate mechanisms to achieve precise treatment for their individualized targets.

Supplemental Material for From Childhood Real-Life Peer Victimization to Subsequent Cyberbullying Victimization During Adolescence: A Process Model Involving Social Anxiety Symptoms, Problematic Smartphone Use, and Internet Gaming Disorder

Supplemental Material for From Childhood Real-Life Peer Victimization to Subsequent Cyberbullying Victimization During Adolescence: A Process Model Involving Social Anxiety Symptoms, Problematic Smartphone Use, and Internet Gaming Disorder

Pilot study on Mindfulness-based Intervention in treating Adolescence with Internet Gaming Disorder

Pilot study on Mindfulness-based Intervention in treating Adolescence with Internet Gaming Disorder

Towards an automated approach for understanding problematic gaming.

Video games have become increasingly popular worldwide, attracting billions of gamers across diverse demographics. While studies have highlighted their potential benefits, concerns about problematic gaming behaviors have also emerged. Conditions such as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) have been recognized by major health organizations, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools. However, existing methods, primarily reliant on self-report questionnaires, face challenges in accuracy and consistency. This paper proposes a novel technological approach to provide gaming behavior indicators, aiming to offer precise insights into gamer behavior and emotion regulation. To attain this objective, we investigate quantifiable gaming behavior metrics using automated, unobtrusive, and easily accessible methods. Our approach encompasses the analysis of behavioral telemetry data collected from online gaming platforms and incorporates automated extraction of gamer emotional states from face video recordings during gameplay. To illustrate the metrics and visualizations and demonstrate our method's application we collected data from two amateur and two professional gamers, all of whom played Counter-Strike2 on PC. Our approach offers objective insights into in-game gamer behavior, helping health professionals in the identification of patterns that may be difficult to discern through traditional assessment methods. Preliminary assessments of the proposed methodology demonstrate its potential usefulness in providing valuable insights about gaming behavior and emotion regulation. By leveraging automated data collection and visualization analysis techniques, our approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of gamer behavior, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors. Our findings demonstrate the valuable insights obtainable from a tool that collects telemetry data, emotion regulation metrics, and gaming patterns. This tool, utilizing specific indicators, can support healthcare professionals in diagnosing IGD and tracking therapeutic progress, potentially addressing challenges linked to conventional IGD assessment methods. Furthermore, this initial data can provide therapists with detailed information on each player's problematic behaviors and gaming habits, enabling the development of personalized treatments tailored to individual needs. Future research endeavors will focus on refining the methodology and extending its application in clinical settings to facilitate more comprehensive diagnostic practices and tailored interventions for individuals at risk of problematic gaming behaviors.

The relationship between community violence exposure and traditional bullying among Chinese adolescents: the multiple mediating roles of deviant peer affiliation and internet game disorder

The relationship between community violence exposure and traditional bullying among Chinese adolescents: the multiple mediating roles of deviant peer affiliation and internet game disorder

Pathways from Family Functioning to Internet Gaming Disorder: The Mediating Role of the Dark Triad.

With internet gaming disorder (IGD) becoming more common, there are growing worries about the health of those it affects. This study examines how traits like Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism might connect family functioning to IGD. The research involved 1190 young adults who answered an online survey, sharing their personal experiences. To examine the mediation effects, latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) was used, revealing complex relationships among the variables under investigation. Although all direct and indirect paths were statistically significant, the mediation effects of narcissism were positive only when Machiavellianism and psychopathy were not included as parallel mediators, but negative otherwise. The findings suggest that individuals with strong family functioning could be less likely to internalize manipulative behaviors and show a lack of empathy, traits that could contribute to their involvement in IGD. The results underscore the importance of recognizing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon and provide valuable insights for developing comprehensive strategies to prevent and tackle IGD. Therefore, prevention and intervention efforts should consider the combined influences of family functioning, personality traits, and individual and contextual factors in the online environment to effectively address this problem.

Social Media Disorder Scale: Structure, Reliability and Validity in Indian Context

India is a country that has seen a notable increase in the amount of time its citizens spend on the Internet. One of the primary drivers of internet usage is the widespread adoption of social media platforms. When there is compulsive and unhealthy use of those platforms, it is termed Social Media Disorder (SMD), which has far-reaching implications. However, a valid tool to measure this issue still needs to be created in India. The study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS), initially developed in the Netherlands. The developers used the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 Internet Gaming Disorder since both have the same overarching construct of internet addiction. The nine-dimensional 27-item scale was put through a rigorous validation process while being administered among 552 adolescents in five districts and two states of India. The data collection lasted for three months between March - May, 2024. Construct validity of SMDS was assessed with Exploratory Factor Analysis (first subsample n=280) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (second subsample n=272) using SPSS and AMOS software, respectively. The nine dimensions and 27 items were retained, yielding an internal consistency Cronbach’s alpha of 0.945. This comprehensive validation process has ensured and provided strong evidence that the scale can be utilized in the Indian context to assess SMD.

Knowledge Domain and Emerging Trends in Internet-based diagnosis and treatment services：A Scientometric Review Based on CiteSpace V Analysis

Background: In the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Internet-based diagnosis and treatment services offer a promising technological avenue for effective healthcare delivery. However, there remains a scarcity of bibliometric analyses on Internet-based diagnosis and treatment services within the healthcare domain. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive examination of research advancements, highlighting prevalent themes, and delineating emerging trends in Internet-based diagnosis and treatment research using CiteSpace V. Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was utilized to gather literature on Internet-based diagnosis and treatment within the healthcare sector spanning from 2001 to 2021. CiteSpace V facilitated keyword analysis, created dual-map overlays of journals, generated timeline views of co-cited references, and analyzed literature information. This encompassed variables such as involved countries and institutions, journals publishing relevant research, authors and cited authors, cited references, highly cited works, H-index, average citations, prevalent subjects of interest, and emerging frontiers in the field. Results: WoSCC identified a total of 1259 papers on Internet-based diagnosis and treatment for bibliometric analysis. Annual publications generally exhibited an upward trend. The United States contributed the most publications (465 papers) and the highest number of highly cited papers (9). Poland had the highest average citations per item (42.12). Gerhard Andersson emerged as the most influential author, with 16 publications and a co-citation count of 216. The six primary topics in Internet-based diagnosis and treatment services were health anxiety, randomized controlled trials, IoT platforms, health-related quality, Chinese men, and Internet gaming disorder. The eight emerging topics were medical devices, artificial intelligence, health-related quality, breast cancer, prostate cancer, patient care, treatment decisions, and HIV. With the development of Internet-based diagnosis and treatment technology, major ongoing research trends include the deep application of artificial intelligence in the medical field, enhancing patient satisfaction in clinical practice, improving health-related quality, and treating breast cancer patients. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive examination of Internet-based diagnosis and treatment services within the healthcare sector, offering valuable insights that provide significant guidance for future development in the field.

Comprehensive analysis including in-game spending and violent game playing in patients with internet gaming disorder.

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is receiving increasing attention. In particular, violent gameplay or in-game spending affects the psychiatric conditions and economic difficulties of patients. We conducted regression analysis and path analysis to investigate the associations between a comprehensive list of factors in patients with IGD, including the degree of internet or gaming dependence, developmental problems, family background, severity of depression, sleeping habits, in-game spending, and first-person shooter (FPS) and third-person shooter (TPS) game playing. The participants were 47 Japanese individuals (39 males and 8 females) aged ≤20 years diagnosed with IGD with complete data from the internet addiction test, autism spectrum quotient, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. All participants were asked whether their parents have divorce history, whether they have siblings, whether they play FPS or TPS games, and whether they engage in in-game spending. Firstly, we compared these factors between males and females; secondly, we conducted regression analysis and path analysis in male patients. As for simple comparison between sex, female patients showed greater severity of IGD and depressive score. In regression analysis of male patients, significant associations were found between FPS or TPS game playing and in-game spending. We also created path diagrams. The results of the comprehensive analyses suggest the possibility that bidirectional synergistic effects could be achieved by gradually reducing both violent game playing and in-game spending. The concept of internet dependence has a wide range of meanings, and for each subtype, it is important to consider the background that led to the dependence to make individualized environmental adjustments and provide psychotherapy.

Decreased Serum Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Level in Internet Gaming Disorder.

Vulnerability to internet gaming disorder (IGD) has increased as internet gaming continues to grow. Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a hormone that plays a role in reward, anxiety, and stress. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of CART in the pathophysiology of IGD. The serum CART levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the associations of the serum CART level with psychological variables were analyzed in patients with IGD (n=31) and healthy controls (HC) (n=42). The serum CART level was significantly lower in the IGD than HC group. The IGD group scored significantly higher than the HC group on the psychological domains of depression, anxiety, the reward response in the Behavioral Activation System and Behavioral Inhibition System. There were no significant correlations between serum CART level and other psychological variables in the IGD group. Our results indicate that a decrease in the expression of the serum CART level is associated with the vulnerability of developing IGD. This study supports the possibility that CART is a biomarker in the pathophysiology of IGD.

Adolescent Internet Gaming Disorder and sensitivity to money and social rewards

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a behavioural addiction characterised by excessive exposure to addictive stimuli, resulting in reduced sensitivity of the brain's reward system towards everyday rewards. Online game addiction is prevalent among adolescents; however, it remains unclear if there are variations in reward processing patterns among adolescents with online game addiction.We compared differences in sensitivity to two types of rewards between patients with IGD and patients with Recreational Game Use (RGU) using the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) paradigm and the Social Incentive Delay (SID) paradigm (Experiment 1). Additionally, we used a mixed reward latency paradigm, including both monetary and social rewards, to further explore the processing characteristics of IGD towards a mixture of these two rewards (Experiment 2).There were significant differences in the sensitivity of IGD and RGU to monetary and social rewards. Adolescents with IGD had significantly shorter reaction times to the four mixed rewards compared to RGU, while no significant differences were found between groups regarding sensitivity to specific individual rewards. However, the simultaneous presence of two rewards affected the processing speed and preference of adolescents with IGD.The reward processing characteristics observed in adolescents with online gaming disorder show specificity concerning the type and presentation of rewards, providing a theoretical foundation for diagnosing and treating adolescent online gaming addiction.

Different Characteristics of Psychological and Sleep Symptoms Across Social Media Addiction and Internet Gaming Disorder in Chinese Adolescents- A Network Analysis.

Previous research has explored a variety of mental disorders associated with Internet Gaming Disoder (IGD) and Social Media Addiction (SMA). To date, few studies focused on the network characteristics and investigated mood and sleep symptoms across SMA and IGD of adolescence at a group-specific level. This study aims to identify different characteristics of IGD and SMA and further determine the group-specific psychopathology process among adolescents. We conducted a cross-sectional study to recruit a cohort of 7,246 adolescents who were scored passing the cutoff point of Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, as grouped in IGD and SMA, or otherwise into the control group. Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were assessed for the current study, and all assessed items were investigated using network analysis. Based on the analytical procedure, the participants were divided into three groups, the IGD group (n=789), SMA group (n=713) and control group (n=5,744). The edge weight bootstrapping analysis shows that different groups of networks reach certain accuracy, and the network structures of the three groups are statistically different (pcontrol-IGD=0.004, pcontrol-SMA<0.001, pIGD-SMA<0.001). The core symptom of SMA is "feeling down, depressed, or hopeless", while IGD is "feeling tired or having little energy". Although IGD and SMA are both subtypes of internet addiction, the psychopathology processes of IGD and SMA are different. When dealing with IGD and SMA, different symptoms should be addressed.

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.

Outcome assessment of different reward stimuli in Internet gaming disorder by event-related potentials.

An imbalance in sensitivity to different types of reward stimuli may be an important cause of addiction that is mainly manifested in high sensitivity to addictive substance rewards and blunting of natural rewards. However, contradictions remain in the research results on the sensitivity of individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) to different reward stimuli. Based on participants' neural responses to win and loss feedback (in door task), the event-related potential (ERP) technique was used to investigate the effects of different types of reward stimuli on the assessment of reward-processing outcomes in individuals with IGD. The results showed that in the gain condition, the FB-P3 amplitude induced by game stimuli in the IGD group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the FN amplitude induced by money stimuli was significantly lower than that in the control group. However, the FB-P3 and FN amplitudes induced by food were not significantly different from those in the control group. In the loss condition, there were no between-group differences in the FB-P3 and FN amplitudes evoked by the three reward stimuli. This indicates that the IGD group showed increased hedonic responses to game stimuli and decreased hedonic responses to money but no differences in hedonic responses to food during the reward assessment phase. Therefore, heightened sensitivity to game rewards and diminished sensitivity to monetary rewards during outcome assessment may play a crucial role in the development of IGD.

Tech Gaming Designs, Neurodevelopmental Vulnerabilities, and Risks for Internet Gaming Disorder: What Clinicians Need to Know.

Tech Gaming Designs, Neurodevelopmental Vulnerabilities, and Risks for Internet Gaming Disorder: What Clinicians Need to Know.