Problematic Video Game Play Research Articles

Gamers' and non-gamers' perspectives on the development of problematic video game play.

Gaming Disorder was recently included in the 11th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases and Internet Gaming Disorder may be introduced in the sixth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. Much is not understood about how problems with video games develop. This qualitative study aimed to better understand the development of problematic gaming through focus groups. Eleven young adult "frequent gamers," twelve young adult "non-frequent or non-gamers," and five older adult "non-gamers" discussed vulnerabilities and risk factors of problematic gaming. Participants across all groups believed that problematic gaming developed when people used video games as a primary means of meeting basic psychological needs that were unsatisfied, thwarted, or blocked outside of video games. Frequent and non-frequent gamers, compared to older adult non-gamers, were more likely to view video games as a healthy way to meet basic psychological needs and less likely to stereotype gamers. Video games are equipped to meet basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. That is, gamers often experience a sense of agency, skill, and connection to others when playing video games. However, problematic gaming may develop when people with unmet psychological needs rely exclusively on video games to meet them. Treatment and prevention approaches to problematic gaming can benefit from greater attention to helping at risk individuals meet needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness outside of video games.

Comparison of the Video Game Functional Assessment-Revised (VGFA-R) and Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGD-20).

Initially labeled as internet addiction in the mid-1990s (e.g., Griffiths, 1996; Young, 1996), researchers have since focused on how specific online activities result in negative consequences for those who overuse and have problems with online applications such as online gambling and online sex (Griffiths, 2000; Potenza, 2017). More recently, this has been applied to online problematic video game play, often used synonymously with terms such as online video game addiction, online gaming addiction, and Internet gaming disorder (IGD). With the publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), IGD was identified by the APA as warranting further study. The current proposed diagnostic criterion in the DSM-5 requires the presence of five of nine symptoms over a 12-month period. These include: (a) preoccupation or obsession with Internet games, (b) withdrawal symptoms when not playing Internet games, (c) an increasing need over time to spend more and more time playing video games, (d) failed attempts to stop or curb Internet gaming, (e) loss of interest in other activities such as hobbies, (f) continued overuse of Internet games even with knowledge of the impact of overuse on their life, (g) lying about extent of Internet game usage, (h) uses Internet games to relieve anxiety or guilt, and (i) has lost or put at risk an opportunity or relationship because of Internet games (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). However, it is unclear if the disorder represents addiction to the internet or if IGD evaluates specific behaviors occurring within the context of the video gaming (Starcevic and Billieux, 2017; Young and Brand, 2017).

Career Counseling Interventions for Video Game Players

Video games are becoming ubiquitous in Western societies. However, this virtual leisure has received little attention from researchers in career counseling, leaving career counselors relatively unprepared to work with video game players. In this article, we propose three types of interventions to capitalize on the benefits of playing video games to foster the career counseling process. The first intervention aims to identify and transfer the skills that video game players develop through their leisure activity. The second intervention highlights how video game players’ narrative may reveal vocational personality types. The third intervention proposes to turn career counseling tasks into a game to increase motivation to achieve it. The strengths and limitations of these interventions are underlined, as well as the potential of career counseling sessions to help remedy problematic video game play.

Measures of behavioral function predict duration of video game play: Utilization of the Video Game Functional Assessment - Revised.

BackgroundInternet gaming disorder (IGD) was introduced in the DSM-5 as a way of identifying and diagnosing problematic video game play. However, the use of the diagnosis is constrained, as it shares criteria with other addictive orders (e.g., pathological gambling).AimsFurther work is required to better understand IGD. One potential avenue of investigation is IGD’s relationship to the primary reinforcing behavioral functions. This study explores the relationship between duration of video game play and the reinforcing behavioral functions that may motivate or maintain video gaming.MethodsA total of 499 video game players began the online survey, with complete data from 453 participants (85% white and 28% female), were analyzed. Individuals were placed into five groups based on self-reported hours of video gaming per week, and completed the Video Game Functional Assessment – Revised (VGFA-R).ResultsThe results demonstrated the escape and social attention function were significant in predicting duration of video game play, whereas sensory and tangible were not significant.ConclusionFuture implications of the VGFA-R and behaviorally based research are discussed.

Gamers’ insights into the phenomenology of normal gaming and game “addiction”: A mixed methods study

In response to calls for further research into the phenomenology of Internet gaming disorder (IGD), we used a community-engaged consensus development approach to evaluate how members of the “gamer culture” describe problematic gaming and the relationship of these descriptions to the proposed IGD criteria. Two focus groups of gamers were recruited at a video game convention. Participants were asked to submit suggestions for signs of game “addiction”. Participants discussed and ranked the criteria in order of conceptual importance. The rankings were analyzed quantitatively, and then a multidisciplinary team compared the ranked criteria to the DSM-5 IGD proposed criteria. The strongest agreement between participants’ rankings and IGD symptomatology was found for harms/functional impairment due to gaming, continued use despite problems, unsuccessful attempts to control gaming, and loss of interest in previous hobbies and entertainment. There was less support for other IGD criteria. Participants also offered new content domains. These findings suggest that collaborative knowledge-building approaches may help researchers and policymakers understand the characteristics and processes specific to problematic video game play and improve content validity of IGD criteria. Future efforts may benefit from multi-stakeholder approaches to refine IGD criteria and inform theory, measurement and intervention.

Problematic Video Game Play and ADHD Traits in an Adult Population

This study examined the relationship between problematic video game play (PVGP), video game usage, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) traits in an adult population. A sample of 205 healthy adult volunteers completed the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), a video game usage questionnaire, and the Problem Video Game Playing Test (PVGT). A significant positive correlation was found between the ASRS and the PVGT. More specifically, inattention symptoms and time spent playing video games were the best predictors of PVGP. No relationship was found between frequency and duration of play and ADHD traits. Hyperactivity symptoms were not associated with PVGP. Our results suggest that there is a positive relationship between ADHD traits and problematic video game play. In particular, adults with higher level of self-reported inattention symptoms could be at higher risk of PVGP.

Examining the Role of Personality Factors in Problematic Video Game Play Associated with Facebook Games

The current study used the structural components of Facebook games to select predictors of Problematic Video Game Play (PVGP) in relation to Facebook games. Based upon how game design and structure may interact with personality characteristics, the current study examined the effects of hypercompetitiveness, narcissism, reward responsiveness and psychological absorption on PVGP for a group of Facebook gamers. Moreover, the present study also observed how results may differ between Facebook gamers (n = 102), and a group of other (non-Facebook) gamers (n = 132). The Facebook group comprised 84% of females with an average age of 40.39 (SD = 14.00), whereas the other group of gamers consisted of 61% of males with an average age of 24.70 (SD = 7.86). Participants completed an online survey. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that an interaction between hypercompetitiveness and narcissism was the only significant predictor of PVGP for Facebook gamers. In contrast, a second structural model revealed that both hypercompetitiveness and psychological absorption were significant predictors of PVGP for other types of gamers. The findings from this study had important implications regarding the structure of video games and demographic differences between Facebook Gamers and other types of gamers.

Internet and Video Game Addiction: Evidence & Controversy

Background: In recent years child and adolescent engagement in online activities and video games has increased dramatically to the point that it dominates the free time of many youth. Many young people seem unable to control their excessive use of technology in spite of consequences which impair aspects of their daily functioning. Methods: This article summarizes the literature regarding pathological video game and Internet use and presents proposed criteria and recommendations for assessment and treatment. Results: A sizable body of recently published research consistently demonstrates that a minority of youth develop symptoms consistent with a behavioral addiction to the Internet and video games, although there is no officially recognized diagnosis which describes the syndrome. Conclusions: Knowledge of current research findings, including epidemiology, will help enable mental health to recognize and appropriately care for patients suffering from these problems. Keywords: Addiction, computer games, Internet, online, pathological video game play, problematic Internet use, problematic video game play, video games.

Video Games and Sleep: An Overlooked Challenge

Background: Video games (VGs) are increasingly becoming the pastime of choice for American youth. Recent US surveys indicate that up to 99% of adolescents play VGs regularly. Caregivers and clinicians are appropriately concerned about the effects of VGs on children’s well being. Adolescents' play habits may expose them to negative effects associated with VG play on sleep. Methods: This article selectively reviews the literature documenting effects of video game play on sleep. A search of medical literature was carried out by using the keywords “video games” “computer games,” “sleep,” “mental health” and “adolescents.” Results: There is a small but growing body of literature examining the extent of VG play effects on sleep. Timing and duration of VG play are among the most significant circumstances that are associated with changes in sleep onset latency, total sleep duration and sleep efficiency. Findings on effects on sleep architecture are less consistent. Conclusions: VG play at night may lead to delay of sleep onset and interfere with sleep duration and efficiency. These effects appear to be particularly robust in children and young adolescents. Caregiver supervision is crucial in ensuring the appropriate use of VGs. Clinicians have a valuable opportunity to inform the public about these effects of VG play. More research focusing on mechanisms of these effects is needed. Keywords: Child and adolescent, computer games, internet, online, problematic internet use, problematic video game play, sleep, video games.

Video Game Use and Cognitive Performance: Does It Vary with the Presence of Problematic Video Game Use?

Action video game players have been found to outperform nonplayers on a variety of cognitive tasks. However, several failures to replicate these video game player advantages have indicated that this relationship may not be straightforward. Moreover, despite the discovery that problematic video game players do not appear to demonstrate the same superior performance as nonproblematic video game players in relation to multiple object tracking paradigms, this has not been investigated for other tasks. Consequently, this study compared gamers and nongamers in task switching ability, visual short-term memory, mental rotation, enumeration, and flanker interference, as well as investigated the influence of self-reported problematic video game use. A total of 66 participants completed the experiment, 26 of whom played action video games, including 20 problematic players. The results revealed no significant effect of playing action video games, nor any influence of problematic video game play. This indicates that the previously reported cognitive advantages in video game players may be restricted to specific task features or samples. Furthermore, problematic video game play may not have a detrimental effect on cognitive performance, although this is difficult to ascertain considering the lack of video game player advantage. More research is therefore sorely needed.

Do problematic and non-problematic video game players differ in extraversion, trait empathy, social capital and prosocial tendencies?

The increasing popularity of online and multiplayer games has meant that for many, social interaction and cooperation are vital components of the gaming experience. Previous research has suggested that not only has this made gaming more attractive to socially oriented people but also that it may be socially beneficial in terms of social capital and prosocial behaviors. However, for problematic video game players (those showing signs of compulsive or detrimental video game use), this may not be the case, and a number of theories hold deficiencies in socializing in real life as central to the development of this issue. In the present study, an online questionnaire completed by 416 participants assessed problematic video game use, extraversion, trait empathy, online and offline social capital and prosocial tendencies. Contrary to hypotheses, non-problematic, problematic and non-gamers did not differ in empathy, extraversion or prosocial tendencies. Problematic video game play was, however, associated with significantly higher online social capital and lower offline social capital whereas non-problematic players demonstrated only higher online capital than non-players. This highlights the importance of social support but suggests personality is not an influential factor.

Assessing Problematic Video Gaming Using the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Longitudinal Study of Dutch Young People

Although excessive video gaming has been linked to a range of psychological problems in young people, there have been few systematic attempts to conceptualize problem gaming using established psychological theory. The aim of this study was to examine problematic game use (PGU) using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A two-wave, six-month longitudinal study examined relationships between core components of the TPB model, video gaming activity and problematic video-game play. Respondents were recruited from nine pre-vocational and senior vocational schools in the western region of the Netherlands. The sample consisted of 810 video game-playing adolescents and young adults (72.8 % boys) aged 12 to 22 years. The results showed that TPB predictors, including subjective norm, perceived behavioral control (PBC) and descriptive norm, explained 13 % of the variance in video gaming intention. Although TBP variables accounted for a significant amount of variance in PGU scores at baseline, the TPB model was less useful in predicting future gaming behavior and PGU. Perceived behavioral control was found to be the most important factor in predicting problem video-gaming behavior, this has some practical implications with regard to the treatment of problem video-gaming among young people. For example, assessing a client’s perceived lack of control over gaming may be a simple but useful screening measure to evaluate risk of future problem play. Furthermore, treatment strategies may be aimed at helping the client to rebuild self-control.

Video Game Addiction: Past, Present and Future

Gaming addiction has become a topic of increasing research interest. The last decade has witnessed a significant increase in the number of empirical studies examining various aspects of problematic video game play and video game addiction. This paper begins with a brief past history of how research into video game addiction has changed over the last three decades (i.e., the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). It then examines more thoroughly the contemporary research literature by analyzing the (i) prevalence of problematic video game use and video game addiction, (ii) negative consequences of excessive video game use, (iii) factors associated with problematic video game use and video game addiction, and (iv) the treatment of problematic video game use and video game addiction. The paper concludes by looking at the trends in the field and a somewhat theoretical examination of what the future of video game addiction might be.

Problematic Video Game Play in a College Sample and Its Relationship to Time Management Skills and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomology

Although numerous benefits have been uncovered related to moderate video game play, research suggests that problematic video game playing behaviors can cause problems in the lives of some video game players. To further our understanding of this phenomenon, we investigated how problematic video game playing symptoms are related to an assortment of variables, including time management skills and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Additionally, we tested several simple mediation/moderation models to better explain previous theories that posit simple correlations between these variables. As expected, the results from the present study indicated that time management skills appeared to mediate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and problematic play endorsement (though only for men). Unexpectedly, we found that ADHD symptoms appeared to mediate the relation between time management skills and problematic play behaviors; however, this was only found for women in our sample. Finally, future implications are discussed.

160. Problematic Video Game Play from the Adolescent Perspective: Prevalence and Associations with Game Factors and Health Status in a Changing Interactive Environment

160. Problematic Video Game Play from the Adolescent Perspective: Prevalence and Associations with Game Factors and Health Status in a Changing Interactive Environment

The Role of Structural Characteristics in Problematic Video Game Play: An Empirical Study

The research literature suggests that the structural characteristics of video games may play a considerable role in the initiation, development and maintenance of problematic video game playing. The present study investigated the role of structural characteristics in video game playing behaviour within a sample of 421 video game players aged between 14 and 57 years. Players were surveyed via an online questionnaire containing measures of video game playing behaviour, player interaction with structural characteristics of video games, and problematic involvement in video games. The results showed that the reward and punishment features, such as earning points, finding rare game items, and fast loading times, were rated among the most enjoyable and important aspects of video game playing. There was some evidence that certain structural characteristics were stronger predictors of problematic involvement in video games than factors such as gender, age, and time spent playing. This research supports the notion that some structural characteristics in video games may play a significant role in influencing problem playing behaviour. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.