Non-problematic Gamers Research Articles

Reconsidering item response categories in gaming disorder symptoms measurement.

Gaming disorder (GD) screening often involves self-report survey measures to detect the presence of symptoms. Studies have shown that gamers' responses vary greatly across survey items. Some symptoms, such as preoccupation and tolerance, are frequently reported by highly engaged but non-problematic gamers, and therefore these symptoms are thought to lack specificity and are suggested to be less important in classification decisions. We argue that the influence of response categories (e.g., dichotomous responses, such as 'yes' or 'no'; or frequency categories, such as 'rarely' and 'often') on item responses has been relatively underexplored despite potentially contributing significantly to the psychometric performance of items and scales. In short, the type of item response may be just as important to symptom reporting as the content of survey questions. We propose some practical alternatives to currently used item categories across GD tools. Research should examine the performance of different response categories, including whether certain response categories aid respondents' comprehension and insight, and better capture pathological behaviours and harms.

Uncovering latent profiles of internet, smartphone and gaming use among young adults and their relationships with psychosocial risk factors

ABSTRACT The present study examined internet users aged 18–24 years based on their generalised (i.e. internet and smartphone) and specific (i.e. gaming, frequency of gaming, time spent in video game sessions) problematic internet use behaviours, and their relations with sociodemographic variables and psychosocial risk factors. The sample included 851 Italian young adults (51.9% females; Mage = 21.62 ± 1.58 years). Five different profiles of young adults characterised by unique patterns of generalised and specific problematic internet use were identified through the latent profile analysis (LPA): (1) non-problematic internet users, (2) normative internet and gaming users, (3) non-problematic gamers, (4) problematic internet users, and (5) problematic gamers. Significant differences were observed among profiles on several auxiliary variables, with problematic internet users and problematic gamers displaying higher levels of psychological distress, emotion dysregulation, dissociative experiences, attachment insecurity and loneliness, as well as lower levels of satisfaction of basic psychological needs, self-esteem, and perceived social support. The study findings support the view that a relatively small subgroup of internet users may need tailored intervention to reduce their maladaptive use of internet services and improve their psychological well-being.

Relationship between Gaming and other game related activities: Italian validation of the Screening Test for Problematic Gaming (STPG)

IntroductionGaming is a common leisure activity among adolescents which may have risky implications. The aim of the present study is to validate the Italian version of a short screening instrument, the Screening Test for Problematic Gaming (STPG), which is composed of three items and it is able to distinguish between problematic and non-problematic gamers in a non-clinical population. MethodsData were collected through the ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) questionnaire. It is a cross-sectional school survey that investigates risky behaviours in a representative sample of Italian high-school students (N = 12,237; 50.8% girls) aged between 15 and 19 years (mean = 17.02 years). ResultsAfter the STPG was translated and adapted for Italian use, Principal Component Analysis and Multiple Correspondence Analysis were performed to investigate psychometric properties of STPG and calculate the optimal scaling for each item. Cronbach’s alpha was good (0.769).Finally, confirmatory factor analysis using Structural Equation Modelling was performed, showing a correlation between STPG score and time/money spent gaming (β = 0.467 and β = 0.238, respectively), places where students played (β = 0.142) and gaming apparatus (β = 0.165). ConclusionsThe STPG could be a short and useful instrument for school surveys, to detect problematic gaming among adolescents early on.

Étude des relations entre régulation émotionnelle (intra- et interpersonnelle), construction de l’identité et usages des jeux vidéo à l’adolescence

ObjectiveThe goal of this study is to investigate the relationships between intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion regulation processes and identity construction regarding video games use among a population of teenagers and young adults. This investigation is made considering gender differences, and is the first to do so in this field of research. MethodsAccording to the scores of the Game Addiction Scale and the game frequency scores, three groups have been formed: non-gamers (NG, n=37, mean age=19.70), non-problematic gamers (NPG, n=133, mean age=18.60) ang problematic gamers (PG, n=37, mean age=20.16). Participants full filled several questionnaires regarding identity construction: the Dimension of Identity Development Scale, the Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale, the Identity subscale of the Erikson Psychosocial Inventory Scale. Regarding emotional processes, the Positive And Negative Affect Schedule, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents, and the Interpersonal Regulation Questionnaire were completed by our participants. ResultsResults show many relationships between emotion regulation processes (intra- and interpersonal) and identity construction processes, regardless of video game use level. Also, specificities within these processes according to video game use appear: the non-problematic gamers being the group in which we find the most significant links. Our findings also emphasize gender specificities. ConclusionOur results confirm the interdependence between both intrapersonal et interpersonal emotion regulation and identity construction. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consider gender and video game use to understand these relationships, as emotion regulation processes differ according to gender. Our results provide useful perspectives regarding psychotherapeutic caring of teenagers and young adults with problematic video game use and put the emphasis on considering gender specificities to adjust the therapeutic support. In fact, important links were found between interpersonal emotion regulation and identity especially regarding negative emotions among boys; while the relationship between negative tendency of the interpersonal emotion regulation were found only among problematic girls gamers. Therefore, therapeutical care should put the emphasis on emotion processes: intrapersonal and interpersonal regulation but also emotion conscientization and clarity, two dimensions linked strongly to identity formation. Also, therapy may integrate parents, considering their involvement in these emotion processes development. Furthermore, we can also note a partial congruence between the two scales measuring the identity construction, highlighting the importance of the joint use of these two tools.

Intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion regulation and identity: A preliminary study of avatar identification and gaming in adolescents and young adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the process of identity formation, emotion regulation (intrapersonal and interpersonal), avatar identification, and gaming in adolescents and young adults. Data (from eight standardized questionnaires) were collected from 37 non-gamers (NGs), 133 non-problematic gamers (NPGs), and 37 problematic gamers (PGs). The results showed that PGs had higher scores in lack of emotional consciousness, lack of emotional clarity, and expressive suppression, while also having lower scores in cognitive reappraisal and interpersonal emotion regulation than NPGs or NGs. They also had higher scores in ruminative exploration and lower scores in exploration in depth. In addition, factors associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) differed by gender. In females, lack of emotional clarity, interpersonal emotion regulation, commitment, and in-depth exploration were associated with IGD. In males, however, negative emotions, lack of emotional consciousness, lack of emotional clarity, suppressive expression, and ruminative exploration were associated with the disorder. These results highlighted the need to consider gender specificities when caring for video game-players and using of therapies or psychotherapeutic techniques to improve their emotional processes and promote their identity-construction.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Insomnia, sleepiness, anxiety and depression among different types of gamers in African countries

Gaming has increasingly become a part of life in Africa. Currently, no data on gaming disorders or their association with mental disorders exist for African countries. This study for the first time investigated (1) the prevalence of insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, anxiety and depression among African gamers, (2) the association between these conditions and gamer types (i.e., non-problematic, engaged, problematic and addicted) and (3) the predictive power of socioeconomic markers (education, age, income, marital status, employment status) on these conditions. 10,566 people from 2 low- (Rwanda, Gabon), 6 lower-middle (Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory Coast) and 1 upper-middle income countries (South Africa) completed online questionnaires containing validated measures on insomnia, sleepiness, anxiety, depression and gaming addiction. Results showed our sample of gamers (24 ± 2.8 yrs; 88.64% Male), 30% were addicted, 30% were problematic, 8% were engaged and 32% were non-problematic. Gaming significantly contributed to 86.9% of the variance in insomnia, 82.7% of the variance in daytime sleepiness and 82.3% of the variance in anxiety [p < 0.001]. This study establishes the prevalence of gaming, mood and sleep disorders, in a large African sample. Our results corroborate previous studies, reporting problematic and addicted gamers show poorer health outcomes compared with non-problematic gamers.

Maladaptive Personality Functioning and Psychopathological Symptoms in Problematic Video Game Players: A Person-Centered Approach.

BackgroundA need exists to increase our understanding of the association between maladaptive personality traits, psychopathological symptoms, game preference, and different types of video game use. In the present study, we used a person-centered approach to identify different subtypes of video game players and we explored how they differ in personality profiles, clinical symptoms, and video game usage.MethodsWe assessed problematic gaming via the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale and self-reported screen time playing video games in a sample of 366 adolescents and young adult gamers. Participants also completed measures on maladaptive personality domains (Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale—20 items), and psychopathological symptoms (DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure) and reported which genre of video games they preferred.ResultsUsing a person-centered, cluster-analytic approach, we identified four clusters of video game players (Occasional, Passionate, Preoccupied, and Disordered) presenting peculiar combinations of problematic gaming scores and time spent online playing video games. Non-problematic gamers (Occasional and Passionate) represented the majority of the sample (62.3% of the participants). Highly involved gamers who exhibited excessive screen time playing video games (Disordered gamers) presented the highest level of maladaptive personality traits and psychopathological symptoms, and were characterized by the greatest use of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games.ConclusionThese results have clinical implications on suggesting the importance to determining whether or not problematic gaming activities reflect a dysfunctional emotion-focused coping strategy to avoid inner unpleasant emotional or a more generally compromised emotional and social functioning.

Internet gaming disorder, motives, game genres and psychopathology

Since Internet gaming disorder recently appeared in the section III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5), little investigation has been performed. Besides, more data on Internet gaming behaviors is needed in French samples. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Internet gaming disorder in a sample of French young Internet users and to explore the relationships between Internet gaming disorder, time spent on the Internet, gaming time and motives, game genre, and psychopathology. Our sample consisted of 418 online gamers recruited online, aged from 18 to 30 years (M = 22; SD = 3) and constituted of 206 women (49%) and 212 men. They completed several scales assessing characteristics of Internet use and gaming behaviors as well as depression and self-esteem. The prevalence of Internet gaming disorder was nearly 2% (n = 8). Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that time spent on the Internet, gaming motives and depressive symptoms were significant predictors of Internet gaming disorder scores, with differences according to gender. Problematic gamers had higher mean scores of social, escape, coping and fantasy motives and psychopathology than non-problematic gamers. This study highlights the relationships between Internet gaming disorder, motives, game genres and psychopathological variables, as differences between gamers with and without Internet gaming disorder. Motives such escape appears as a highly important factor, highlighting why internet gaming disorder could be considered as a dysfunctional coping strategy.

Représentations des risques associés à l’usage des jeux vidéo chez les jeunes adolescents : une étude exploratoire pour aider à penser la prévention

Given the growing use of video games and the growing number of adolescents with Internet gaming disorder (IGD), prevention in this area is necessary. The objective of this study was to investigate the use and most particularly the representations of the risks associated with the use of video games in young adolescents by comparing problematic (PGs) and nonproblematic gamers (NPGs). Gender differences were also explored. Five Parisian middle schools participated in this study and 434 adolescents (231 boys, mage=13.2 years; 203 girls, mage=13.1 years) answered several questions concerning videogames (including the Game Addiction Scale). Among all participants (n=434), 37 students (n=8.8%) could be considered PGs. Of these, 29 (n=78.4%) were boys. Generally, sample students' surf and play a great deal during the week: they spend an average of 2h per day playing video games and 4h per day on the Internet. The number of screens at home is significantly higher in PGs compared to NPGs, the remaining set at a high level (n>10). Most middle school students believe that time spent on video games can have an impact on physical and mental health but they have no impact on academic performance. The two types of video games responsible for problematic use were role-play games and first-person shooter games. Most negative consequences are reported more by girls than boys: eating problems (P=.037), sleep problems (P=.040), vision problems (P=.002), conflicts with parents (P<001), loss of time (P=.003), and lack of school investment (P<.001). For all participants, the main reasons for IGD were poor academic performance, lack of friends, lack of self-confidence and family problems. In NPGs, girls reported more than boys that family problems (P=.003), lack of self-confidence (P=.005) and negative self-image (P=.007) led to IGD. The three main features of the individual with IGD reported by PGs and NPGs is the failure to stop playing, playing instead of fulfilling one's obligations and doing nothing but play. Most of the respondents believed that one can be addicted to video games and that they can have an impact on physical and mental health. Adolescents are more aware of the impact gaming generates on themselves than on their relationship with the environment (school and family). These preliminary exploratory findings indicate that preventive action could be promoted for adolescents. To promote life skills, and given that girls often report more negative consequences than boys, it seems important to include these skills in prevention programs.

Relationships between parental attitudes, family functioning and Internet gaming disorder in adolescents attending school

While recent data suggest a high prevalence of adolescent with Internet gaming disorder, little is known about interpersonal factors that contributes or protect to this disorder. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the relationships between parental attitudes, adolescent perception of family functioning and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and explore gender differences. From a sample of 434 adolescents attending school (n =434; age 13.2 years), 383 non-problematic gamers (NPG, 196 males; 187 females) were compared with 37 problematic gamers (PG, 29 males; 8 females). Family functioning was assessed with the Family Relationship Index and parental attitudes with a questionnaire measuring rules, access to video games, monitoring and banning of video games. NPG have a better family cohesion while PG have more family conflict and a poorer family relationship. While rules about gaming use are important in males, for females, banning is associated with IGD. For both sex, parental monitoring, conflicts and family relationship are associated with IGD. These findings highlight the strong influence of parental attitudes and family functioning on the occurrence of IGD in adolescents and their gender specificities. Thus, prevention programs need to take into account the importance of parents, parenting and gender specificities.

Maladaptive cognitions predict changes in problematic gaming in highly-engaged adults: A 12-month longitudinal study

Understanding the role of maladaptive gaming-related cognitions may assist in screening and interventions for problematic gaming, including Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Cognitive-behavioural interventions that target specific cognitions related to gaming may be more effective than more general approaches that focus only on preoccupation with games. Although past research has identified cross-sectional associations between maladaptive cognitions and problematic gaming, it is less clear whether these cognitions can predict future changes in problematic gaming behaviour. The present study employed an 18-item measure of gaming cognition, assessing perfectionism, cognitive salience, regret, and behavioural salience, to investigate potential changes in problematic gaming over a 12-month period. The sample included 465 Australian adults (84% male, Mage=26.2years). It was found that individuals who became problematic gamers over 12months had higher baseline scores on perfectionism (d=1.20), cognitive salience (d=0.74) and regret (d=0.69) than those who remained non-problematic gamers. Problematic gamers who became non-problematic gamers had lower baseline perfectionism scores (d=0.62) than those who remained problematic gamers. Cognitive change accounted for an additional 28% of variance in problematic gaming scores beyond gender, age, and frequency of gaming. These findings suggest that maladaptive gaming-related cognitions could be screened in clinical trials to aid in case formulation and inform decisions on needed interventions to deliver optimal client outcomes.

The measurement of maladaptive cognitions underlying problematic video-game playing among adults

Research has shown that some individuals can develop excessive patterns of video-gaming, leading to significant psychological and interpersonal problems. Recent reviews of problematic gaming suggest that treatment is best approached from a cognitive-behavioural perspective. However, relatively little research has examined the underlying cognitive factors that might be usefully targeted in an intervention. To address this gap, we present the findings of a study involving N = 485 adult regular video-game players (84% male, Mage = 26 years) who completed a questionnaire about gaming activity, problematic gaming, and problematic cognitions. Gaming cognitions fell on four dimensions: (1) perfectionism, (2) cognitive salience, (3) regret, and (4) behavioural salience. All cognition subscales correlated moderately to highly with two different measures of problematic gaming (r = .49–.76), as well as a measure of emotional distress (DASS-21; r = .25–.35). Large effect sizes (d = .87–1.96) were found when comparing problematic and non-problematic gamers on all four cognition types. This study is among the first to provide empirical evidence for cognitive differences between problematic and non-problematic video-game players, and to identify specific cognitions which could be practically addressed in clinical settings. The implications for the further development and refinement of clinical approaches to problematic gaming, including formulation, assessment, and intervention, are discussed.

OR08-3 * THE INFLUENCE OF PREPOTENT RESPONSE INHIBITION AND DECISION MAKING ON PROBLEMATIC ONLINE GAMING

During the last decade, Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMO) have gained a particular interest. With dozen of millions users playing every day, the prevalence rate for the excessive and problematic usage of MMO is varying from 5 to 15%. Defined in the DSM-5 as Internet Gaming Disorder, the negative repercussions on health and on both family and professional spheres can be heavy. Several studies have highlighted the role of impaired inhibition capacities on the onset and maintenance of problematic behavior. More specifically, the inhibition of prepotent response identified and defined by Friedman and Miyake (2004) as the ability to deliberately suppress automatic behaviors has been reported impaired among excessive players. Another cognitive mechanism that was related to excessive online gambling is decision making abilities. It has thus been proposed that excessive gamers have difficulties to balance short term benefits with future outcomes (e.g., neglecting relationships) The aim of our study is to compare inhibitory control and decision making skills in problematic and non-problematic gamers (previous studies often compared problematic gamers with non-gamers). A secondary objective of the study will be to compare proportion of problematic versus non-problematic players according to the main types of MMOs (MMORPGs, FPS, MOBA).

Quantitation of lipoproteins

Understanding the role of maladaptive gaming-related cognitions may assist in screening and interventions for problematic gaming, including Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Cognitive-behavioural interventions that target specific cognitions related to gaming may be more effective than more general approaches that focus only on preoccupation with games. Although past research has identified cross-sectional associations between maladaptive cognitions and problematic gaming, it is less clear whether these cognitions can predict future changes in problematic gaming behaviour. The present study employed an 18-item measure of gaming cognition, assessing perfectionism, cognitive salience, regret, and behavioural salience, to investigate potential changes in problematic gaming over a 12-month period. The sample included 465 Australian adults (84% male, Mage = 26.2 years). It was found that individuals who became problematic gamers over 12 months had higher baseline scores on perfectionism (d = 1.20), cognitive salience (d = 0.74) and regret (d = 0.69) than those who remained non-problematic gamers. Problematic gamers who became non-problematic gamers had lower baseline perfectionism scores (d = 0.62) than those who remained problematic gamers. Cognitive change accounted for an additional 28% of variance in problematic gaming scores beyond gender, age, and frequency of gaming. These findings suggest that maladaptive gaming-related cognitions could be screened in clinical trials to aid in case formulation and inform decisions on needed interventions to deliver optimal client outcomes.